Accident in Namibia, SH Ventus 2cxm

On Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at 11:58:17 AM UTC+3, wrote:
Le vendredi 15 janvier 2016 22:07:57 UTC+1, Jonathan St. Cloud a écrit :
The rigging is very important on a Nimbus and when I first got mine is was rigged horribly and flew horribly. Fixed the rigging and it was a beauty to fly.


Hi Jonathan,
Very interesting. I have a N4DM since 17 years and 2.500 hours and see no possibility at all to change any setting during rigging. I can't understand how I may "rig horribly"... Thanks for explaining to me and others.
Instead, I can change the setting of the flap angle and the force of airbrake locking by changing the extension of the controls between the fuselage and the inner wing, but this is something that takes time and attention, not simply a rigging. BTW, I actually change the airbrake locking force twice a year, for cold flights in Patagonia and warm ones in Europe. See my book "Dancing with the Wind" page 194 and following (on sale at Cumulus Soaring).

"Rigging" is a set of devices for adjusting positions, angles, tensions etc of aerodynamic surfaces -- or as a verb the use of such adjustments. Originally from sailing ships but later applied to aircraft (which were initially made in very similar ways. The "rigging angle", for example, refers to the angle between the chord of the wing and the fuselage.

What we refer to as "rigging" of gliders is merely the use of precision quick-release mechanisms that are expressly designed to not alter the settings!

At 11:02 02 February 2016, Bruce Hoult wrote:

"Rigging" is a set of devices for adjusting positions, angles, tensions
etc=
of aerodynamic surfaces -- or as a verb the use of such
adjustments.
Origi=
nally from sailing ships but later applied to aircraft (which were
initiall=
y made in very similar ways. The "rigging angle", for example, refers
to
th=
e angle between the chord of the wing and the fuselage.

What we refer to as "rigging" of gliders is merely the use of precision
qui=
ck-release mechanisms that are expressly designed to not alter the
settings=
!
Rigging could be referring to control deflections. These are not
affected by the operation pilots call "rigging" but they can, and do,
change due to wear and to the replacement of parts in the control
linkages. They are adjustable by maintenance personnel. If the
deflections are wrong the glider will not handle as designed and
expected.

Under BGA rules the control deflections on all gliders have to be
checked (and corrected if wrong) at every annual inspection. I expect
other authorities have similar rules.

On Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at 3:47:08 PM UTC+3, James Thomson wrote:
At 11:02 02 February 2016, Bruce Hoult wrote:

"Rigging" is a set of devices for adjusting positions, angles, tensions
etc=
of aerodynamic surfaces -- or as a verb the use of such
adjustments.
Origi=
nally from sailing ships but later applied to aircraft (which were
initiall=
y made in very similar ways. The "rigging angle", for example, refers
to
th=
e angle between the chord of the wing and the fuselage.

What we refer to as "rigging" of gliders is merely the use of precision
qui=
ck-release mechanisms that are expressly designed to not alter the
settings=
!
Rigging could be referring to control deflections. These are not
affected by the operation pilots call "rigging" but they can, and do,
change due to wear and to the replacement of parts in the control
linkages. They are adjustable by maintenance personnel. If the
deflections are wrong the glider will not handle as designed and
expected.

My point, precisely.