How do we inspire pilots to truly take up cross country soaring ?

On Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 11:51:06 AM UTC-4, kirk.stant wrote:

Zero Macready? Really? May I suggest you read up a little more on the theory and practice of Macready settings. Reichman is good, also John Cochrane's articles at http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...ring/index.htm

I understand that Zero Macready is totally wimpy, not flying XC, but it gives me a good chance of not landing out, and that is my priority. Having lots of fun though.

I understand that Zero Macready is totally wimpy, not flying XC, but it gives me a good chance of not landing out, and that is my priority. Having lots of fun though.



If you "don't" want to land out you need to "increase" your macready setting, you
have it backwards.

A higher macready setting increases the chances that you will make your chosen field even if you fly through more sink than expected.

I usually just leave mine set on 3 all the time.

On Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 11:12:20 AM UTC-5, son_of_flubber wrote:

I understand that Zero Macready is totally wimpy, not flying XC, but it gives me a good chance of not landing out, and that is my priority. Having lots of fun though.

Nothing to do with being wimpy, it's just not efficient - and flying gliders is all about being efficient!

There are a few situations where MC 0 (or basically L/D max speed) is appropriate; and they usually occur just prior to a landout: trying to stretch a glide late in the day when all the lift has stopped, or down low scratching around for a thermal (with your landout field already picked) - but if you have any altitude to play with you should be flying the MC for the lift you expect to find.

Of course, the MC you use needs to be adjusted with your expectation and altitude - up high, MC 3 or 4 is common, down low, MC 2 or even 1 (if really desperate on a weak day). Again, the classic soaring texts explain all this in detail.

Even flying locally you should be using the correct XC techniques if you expect to master the art.

Cheers,

Kirk
66

On Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 12:12:20 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
On Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 11:51:06 AM UTC-4, kirk.stant wrote:

Zero Macready? Really? May I suggest you read up a little more on the theory and practice of Macready settings. Reichman is good, also John Cochrane's articles at http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...ring/index.htm

I understand that Zero Macready is totally wimpy, not flying XC, but it gives me a good chance of not landing out, and that is my priority. Having lots of fun though.


What he's saying is that it's fine to fly zero MacCready speed, as long as that's not the setting you have input in the box. you want to have something like 2-4 MacCready in the box, and then fly slower than what it's suggesting. that's what gives you an altitude margin.

I watched a kid scrape in realllly low on a final glide and basically do a straight in once, because he input zero maccready then flew 70knots all the way home. he was briefed on maccready after landing.