Some gliders safer than others?

Originally Posted by kirk.stant

On Friday, October 25, 2013 12:30:37 PM UTC-5, kirk.stant wrote:

Heck, now I'm going to have to fly our club's 2-33 this weekend just for kicks...you know, living on the edge and all...

Well, I did just that yesterday. Took a tow in our just-annualled (after not flying for over a year) 2-33 (a real nice one, by the way, as 2-33s go) for a late afternoon flight. 3k ft tow, then 30 minutes in weak thermals (out lasting a K-13 and G-103 that launched after me), letting old muscle-memory fly the thing, and ending in a fun, no-spoiler slipped approach to a spot landing, stopping in front of the hangar.

What a piece of junk. No way to trim, either on tow (2-handed push) or thermalling (2-handed pull), having to be pretty much fully cross controlled to slow down enough in a 45 degree bank and work a weak thermal (full aft stick, full top aileron, using the rudder to push the nose around and setup the proper slip angle!), uncomfortable because of the low seatback and back seat rudder pedal housings...at least the visibility from the front is good (cuz it sure isn't from the back!). Everything seems to happen in slow motion - especially roll, since you only have a couple of inches of stick displacement before your leg gets in the way.

Now before you start yelling, I'll admit that I'm not a small guy (although I fit comfortably in my LS6) - and sure a small kid will have tons of room.. That is true. Funny, though, most of our current students are not young kids. They are older, more "mature" guys. Hmmm...

I must say it was fun slipping it down to the ground, because you can really SEE the ground come up and hold that slip to the very last moment...then straighten up, roll the mainwheel on the ground, then when ready let the skid do the work of stopping. Who needs whimpy spoilers or wheel brakes!

Did I have fun? Of course! The thing is a hoot to fly, just like it's fun to drive a really old car - say a 65 Beetle. Is it in any way representative of how you fly a modern glider? Hell no! Is it a good initial trainer? I'll let you CFIGs fight over that, but if my son or daughter suddenly wanted to learn to fly gliders, I would tell them to avoid the 2-33 like the plague until they had their rating, then get checked out in one just to see what it was like in the good old days, before computers, cell phones, or the interwebnet thingy!

Cheers!

Kirk
66

That is some funny as.. sh...