Dashing downwind

On Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 11:03:12 AM UTC-5, Soartech wrote:
On Friday, February 26, 2016 at 7:41:16 PM UTC-5, BobW wrote:
On 2/26/2016 6:36 AM, Chris Snyder wrote:
On Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 5:25:33 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
Made it to declared goal of Talihina, OK with not much trouble. Spent a
little more time below 5500 msl than I'd have liked in the last 40 miles
there.


Truly amazing! That's farther than I ever flew in a POWERED airplane.

Thank you all for explaining. There's a lot to learn in this sport!

We're forecast to get 5k' in Central Virginia on Saturday. Maybe I should
give this "downwind dash" a try in the club 2-33.


Here, now - don't be dissing the 2-33! The first guy in the world to ever soar
farther than 1000km, got his Gold distance and Diamond goal in the 2-33's
predecessor, the 2-22. (Exceeded 200 miles! Vulgar downwind dash! A claimed
17:1 [on a good day?].) Guy by the name of Al Parker - you can read all about
some of his more major exploits in "Soaring" mag's archives (great resource
for SSA members!).

Bob W.

17 to 1 ? Now there are hang glider performance levels that equal that! And much easier assembly and transport!

It is called a "SGU-2-22" for a reason, the "U" is for utility (based on L/D) vs. a SGS-2-33 which has the 2nd "S" for sailplane (also based on L/D).

IIRC, the split was 20:1, below that it's a "U", above that it's a "S".

And yes, modern "lots of things" do better than 17:1. Although "powered aircraft" don't usually get that far (engine off glide).

[old trivia.....]