Polar with spoilers extended?

On Oct 22, 4:46 pm, Marc Ramsey wrote:
Mike the Strike wrote:
These days, if I find myself a bit high, I apply full spoilers and
increase speed. If that's not enough, I add slip. Drag goes up at
least as the square of speed. I've never had a problem slowing down.

For whatever reason (I don't really want to start that flame war again,
although I think the mods to the DDX quietly prove the point), I've
found that the Duo Discus does not take kindly to excessive speed on
approach. There is no elegant way to bleed off the excess energy, you
end up either floating down the runway, or forcing it down hot and
jamming on the brakes. It is best to maintain a proper approach speed
with full dive brakes and slip or S-turn as needed. I've heard that the
Libelle behaves in a similar fashion...

Marc

I should add I am a lot more careful about setting up my approach in
my Discus 2 than I was in my ASW-20, which was equipped with the
"Jesus" flap. I set up my altitude on the downwind leg, and that's
where I'll use the dive brakes with higher speed. I like to be at the
proper altitude when I turn base so that I can get the speed right on
final.

I think we may both agree that you don't want to dive at the runway at
the last moment.

Mike