Schweizer 1-35 and other flapped sailplanes

"Jack" wrote...

(selectively snipped
I've seen several remarks lately in Soaring Magazine and on my home
club's internet forum about the characteristics of [a 1-35]
sailplane. Though not directly bashing this ship, comments made seem to
imply that it's a difficult or dangerous sailplane to fly. I think
that's wrong.

"Roger that last sentence!"
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I have heard others bash flapped ships for my whole soaring life. These
comments always seem to come from those that have very limited
experience in these ships, or had bad advise from those that checked
them out in these designs.

Bingo!...
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I recently bought a PIK-20 and it's previous
owner told me a horror story about his first takeoff - with +45 degrees
flap cranked in on advise from an instructor. Was that the fault of the
flaps or the design?

Indeed...
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So, my wish is... If you've had a bad experience in such a bird, that
you analyse this experience with someone that regularly flys one.
You'll probably find that you didn't get good instruction, or didn't
follow it. I'm living proof. If I can survive 140 hours in a flapped
ship and not just survive but love it... so can you. They're not
dangerous, just different. Not to be feared, but respected. Let's face
it, if you don't respect a 1-26, it'll kill you.

Well said, spot on, and "Roger your wish and sentiments!"
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Stop kicking my old friends... the 1-35s.

IMHO inaccurate/misguided opinions seem to travel faster & wider than the
truth, but the good news is the truth seems to have more sticking power in
those determined to seek it out. Congratulations on being able to find &
apply it in this instance!

Regards,
Bob - no-sweat transition from 1-26 to large-deflection-flaps w. 125 hours -
W.