An aerodynamic experience

On Sat, 25 Mar 2017 23:23:39 -0700, Bret Hess wrote:

Yes, I've heard of your (in)famous yaw strings. That's good physics you
had going on there with static electricity and cycling!

It was made of the normal yellow polypropylene. I wish I had the
foresight to look closely at where the rest of the rope was when I was
pulling it in. My vague impression was that it was aft of the window,
but the whole experience was a bit dreamlike as I pulled it in because I
was astonished. The ring or rope didn't make noise on the canopy that I
remember.

IIRC from a lecture by Prof. Boermans that I attended, there's a fairly
pronounced flow UP in front of the wing root on most gliders and there's
often a separation bubble on top of the root as well. So, was the loose
flapping end of the tow rope above the wing rather than under it as you
seem to have assumed? If so, its likely that the ring end followed it up
when you released it.

As to how the end got inside: is the airflow through the clear view
inward or outward in a G.103? I've flown them a fair bit, but never with
that panel open in flight.


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martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
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