Debunking Glider Spoiler Turns Causing Spin Thinking

In Australia there is a definite fear of using the blue handle during turns in the pattern (circuit).
Seems unjustified to me.
Jim

"In Australia there is a definite fear of using the blue handle during turns in the pattern (circuit).
Seems unjustified to me.
Jim "

I have flown in Australia for some 15 years, instructing for the last six, yet I have never heard such nonsense. Sure if you are very slow pulling g and then open air brakes, you may have problem, but that problem stems from the slow speed.

Paul

At 08:44 02 June 2015, Paul B wrote:


"In Australia there is a definite fear of using the blue handle during
turns in the pattern (circuit).
Seems unjustified to me.
Jim "

I have flown in Australia for some 15 years, instructing for the last
six,
yet I have never heard such nonsense. Sure if you are very slow pulling g
and then open air brakes, you may have problem, but that problem stems
from
the slow speed.

Paul


I have heard of problems changing flap settings in aborted approaches ,but
I always thought the increased wing loading steadied every thing and
increased aileron response.
It is probably prudent to leave the brakes where they are during the turn,
then sort out the approach on the old "one thing at a time " theory, but I
would be reluctant to shutting the brakes for the turn then opening them
after.

I was taught to open the airbrakes to a certain point ⅓-½ at the right time in the pattern to not change the setting , unless of course necessary. If you fly a power plane, do you pump the throttle in the pattern?

Hmmm.... never heard of this either. Flying for ~40 years (in sailplanes) & a CFIG for 8 years.
Maybe the "original issue" was sailplanes that had a noticeable pitch attitude change with change in spoliers/dive brakes (add spoliers, nose pitches up, thus slower/higher AoA?). Rather than point that out, the decision was made to not use them in a turn.

Kind of like training that, "Go fast in the pattern so you don't stall/spin", rather than stall/spin training & recognition.