Spoilers or Airbrakes - Whats in a name?

On May 16, 9:31 am, ContestID67 wrote:
I spotted the following statement in Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoiler...%28aircraft%29

"Spoilers differ from airbrakes in that airbrakes are designed to
increase drag while making little change to lift, while spoilers
greatly reduce lift while making only a moderate increase in drag."

I had always used the terms spoilers and airbrakes interchangeable.
This statement makes it seem like they are not. So what does the
typical sailplane have? Spoilers or airbrakes?

- John "67" DeRosa

Oh boy!

According the the original Glasser-Dirks owner's manual for a DG100G,
the sailplane has "spoilers".

On May 16, 8:56*am, Mike wrote:
On May 16, 9:31 am, ContestID67 wrote:

I spotted the following statement in Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoiler...ttp://en.wikip...

"Spoilers differ from airbrakes in that airbrakes are designed to
increase drag while making little change to lift, while spoilers
greatly reduce lift while making only a moderate increase in drag."

I had always used the terms spoilers and airbrakes interchangeable.
This statement makes it seem like they are not. *So what does the
typical sailplane have? *Spoilers or airbrakes?

- John "67" DeRosa

Oh boy!

According the the original Glasser-Dirks owner's manual for a DG100G,
the sailplane has "spoilers".

Don't forget "Dive Brakes"!

On May 16, 8:56*am, Mike wrote:
According the the original Glasser-Dirks owner's manual for a DG100G,
the sailplane has "spoilers".

I suspect that the original owner's manual is written in German and
that the word "spoilers" is not mentioned. I don't have my
Schleicher manual here but I think they call them Klappen. Not being
picky for the sake of it, but pointing out that "spoiler" was probably
the word chosen by the translator not necessarily by the manufacturer.

Andy

Hi All, just to be pedantic... If you only partially deploy any device,
it has a different aerodynamic characteristic.....

The first stage of Flaps gives an increase in Lift.
Second Stage of Flaps gives Lift And Drag.
Final Stage of Flaps gives Huge amounts of Drag, without any more Lift.

A quick look at your 'Barn Doors' will give you a reasonable idea of
what is likely to happen... I cannot imagine that vertical airbrakes
would ever give an increase in lift, even if only just cracked open a
millimeter or so.

Pilot Pete


At 20:14 16 May 2008, Andy wrote:
On May 16, 8:56=A0am, Mike wrote:
According the the original Glasser-Dirks owner's manual for a DG100G,
the sailplane has "spoilers".

I suspect that the original owner's manual is written in German and
that the word "spoilers" is not mentioned. I don't have my
Schleicher manual here but I think they call them Klappen. Not being
picky for the sake of it, but pointing out that "spoiler" was probably
the word chosen by the translator not necessarily by the manufacturer.

Andy