Frise ailerons on sailplanes

Hmm, I just read my previous post and realized I typed "Fox" (the
two-seater) when I meant "Swift" (the single-seat S-1). Oldsheimers, I
guess - too early to be Gin and Tonic induced...

But to answer the question, I'm sure it would be fun, but I wasn't
flying the Swift often enough to feel really comfortable doing it - and
in Arizona I didn't have to take high tows (easy to thermal up to acro
height) so didn't get far enough away from the glider's owner to feel
good about it either!

At risk of topic-creep, how does the Fox compare to the Swift (flying
wise; I know what it looks like)?

Kirk

"Mark James Boyd" wrote in message
news:421d8c46$1@darkstar...
(snip)
And the U-2 was rumored to have twisting trailing edge landing gear,
so landing in a crosswind in a crab was fine.
(snip)
Mark J. Boyd

I have a friend that flew B-52's, C-5A's, and I believe 747's, all with
steerable landing gear. He said that it is a great idea in theory but that
with conventional gear you at least know that if the fuselage is lined up
with the runway then so is the gear. With steerable landing gear you have
to guess at the correction angle setting and then guess again at whether the
gear is aligned with the ground track at touchdown. He said that he
preferred to land with the gear straight whenever it was at all possible.
-Bob Korves

But to answer the question, I'm sure it would be fun, but I wasn't
flying the Swift often enough to feel really comfortable doing it -

That makes sense!

and in Arizona I didn't have to take high tows (easy to thermal up to acro
height) so didn't get far enough away from the glider's owner to feel
good about it either!

I see ;-)


At risk of topic-creep, how does the Fox compare to the Swift (flying
wise; I know what it looks like)?

Here´s what I think (others might see it different):
The Fox has some advantages in the upward lines (due to more inertia). It
rolls a little slower (more span), but not much and the stick forces on
aileron are a tad heavier. I had less problems with rolling circles in the
Fox in the beginning, don´t know how it would be now. My success rate in
stall turns/hammerheads is 100% in the Fox, whereas in the Swift I still
fu.. up ever now and then! My Swift is said to be quite straight, but some
apparently are quite tricky in negative push-up´s. The Fox however is much
easier to push up negative (talk about tailslides with negative entry, my
personal nightmare in the Swift). The Fox flicks like mad, but I had more
problems doing a nice one (stop exactly). Later Foxes are much tamer than
early model Foxes. The early model Fox I flew was good for some amazing
flicks/acclerated stalls, late models are still good, but not that
aggressive. Seating is more comfortable in the Swift but I had no problems
in the Fox either (I´m 5ft30). The fun-factor in the Fox is unbeatable with
the possibility to take somebody up, but for doing competition style
aerobatics, I´m quite happy with my Swift and would not change.

That´s my personal experience after about 50 take-offs in the Fox vs. about
350 in my Swift.

Markus

Thanks for a great description; I'm going to have to get back into a
Swift sometime soon and try that negative push up/tailslide!

My LS6 obviously isn't anywhere close for serious acro, but it does do
nice easy loops and biiiig slooow barrel rolls on occasion.

Come on spring, I need to look up at the ground again!

Kirk

Come on spring, I need to look up at the ground again!

You are soooo right! But the forecast looks more like "even more snow and
temperatures down to -10°F....."

Markus