Schweizer 1-35 and other flapped sailplanes

Ray Lovinggood wrote:
One question for 'flaps only' glider drivers:

On a cross country aero tow, do you ever feel a need
for some type of draggy things to help keep you in
tow position?

If you need a tow speed fast enough to get you home
before the sun sets but that makes it too fast to deploy
flaps, what procedure do you use, if and when necessary,
to keep the towrope tight?

"Too fast to deploy flaps" might be an overly-simplified statement of
the situation. How fast are we talking and how much flap are we
deploying? It doesn't take much flap to create significant drag. In
other words, it is likely OK to deploy a little bit of flap at high
speeds. Or perhaps just return them to neutral if you had them
reflexed.


Another nice "trick" is the ability to make the towplane more visible.
Cranking in a little flap such that the glider assumes a slightly nose
down attitude works nicely and easily.

Regards,

-Doug

Unfortunately, I just had the opportunity for an aero retrieve in my PIK-20.
8 deg. positive flap made for a comfortable tow at 70 - 75 knots and held
good tension during the occasional "snooze".


"Doug Hoffman" wrote in message
ups.com...

Ray Lovinggood wrote:
One question for 'flaps only' glider drivers:

On a cross country aero tow, do you ever feel a need
for some type of draggy things to help keep you in
tow position?

If you need a tow speed fast enough to get you home
before the sun sets but that makes it too fast to deploy
flaps, what procedure do you use, if and when necessary,
to keep the towrope tight?

"Too fast to deploy flaps" might be an overly-simplified statement of
the situation. How fast are we talking and how much flap are we
deploying? It doesn't take much flap to create significant drag. In
other words, it is likely OK to deploy a little bit of flap at high
speeds. Or perhaps just return them to neutral if you had them
reflexed.


Another nice "trick" is the ability to make the towplane more visible.
Cranking in a little flap such that the glider assumes a slightly nose
down attitude works nicely and easily.

Regards,

-Doug

Didn't your stick arm get tired holding the nose down? Mine did as I
recall because you couldn't trim it out. 70 - 75 knots would be nice
but seems like most tow planes in cruise want to go a bit faster.

Glen Kelley wrote:
Unfortunately, I just had the opportunity for an aero retrieve in my PIK-20.
8 deg. positive flap made for a comfortable tow at 70 - 75 knots and held
good tension during the occasional "snooze".