Debunking Glider Spoiler Turns Causing Spin Thinking

On Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at 12:00:06 PM UTC-5, Kevin Neave wrote:
Hi Dan

It obviously works for you but I'm interested in why you do this.

If you're doing a 180 to finals and opening the airbrakes at the start of
the turn are you not pointing away at this point with the landing area out
of sight behind you?

Kevin, Dan is just doing what he was taught as an Air Force pilot - single steep 180 turn from downwind to final.

In many ways the easiest way to land a plane - when combined with an overhead pattern (which doesn't really work well with gliders, unfortunately) results in the exact same pattern at every landing.

A shame civilian pilots are not exposed to it.

Works great in a Pawnee - 120mph at 500 agl on initial, pitch out just past the numbers, configure on downwind, pull off some power and a nice descending 180 turn will put you on the numbers in minimum time - and it looks good from the ground!

Kirk
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