Schweizer 1-35 and other flapped sailplanes

That seems like a workable plan and well thought out.

But, the 6 allowed spoiler deployment up to redline as I recall so
pulling the spoilers was a perfectly legit operation and resulted in
immediate slowing and increased descent rate. Having the spoilers
sucked out and whistling at close to redline did get my attention along
with the hail coming at me from below.

The best solution is 'terminal velocity' spoilers that once deployed,
prevent acceleration to redline. 1-34 had 'em I think. Nice but not
required.

Flaps are workable, spoilers still seem just a bit better to this pilot.

Bob Whelan wrote:
"Maule Driver" wrote ...

I've never flown an HP. Getting sucked into a cloud seems to primarily
be a strong conditions (e.g. Western US) problem. Happened to me in an
LS6... have no idea what I'd do with a flaps-only ship except exceed
redline. Deploying the spoilers at close to redline scared the stuff
out of me as it was, but it worked.


Short of having the magic fairy wave a magic wand, I've a hard time
imagining anything simpler and safer in glider/cloud-avoidance terms. If -
for the sake of limiting this discussion - we ignore *how* one comes to be
in the situation of realizing cloud avoidance is (thought to be) a
necessity, and consider only the (forced) choices of either a) opening
spoilers at high speed for the first time beneath a cloud AND successfully
staying out of said cloud (e.g. Maule Driver!), or b) pulling on full flaps
at low speed AND unsuccessfully NOT staying out of said cloud (not me!), the
coward in me opts for "b)" in a heartbeat. Even with the Zuni's wimpy
large-deflection flaps, there is ZERO risk of exceeding maneuvering speed
and pulling the wings off in a spiral dive, because one must *hold* forward
stick w. full flaps to maintain flying speed.