"Nik" wrote in message
ups.com...
Ok, my instructor did a simulated engine failure in the pattern; winds
were around 20kts in the air and 13kts on the ground. Did everything
perfectly; however after we took off again, he told me to maintain 65
kts next time, and I totally disagreed.
The manual says 65 kts for best glide speed; however that is in calm
air. As a glider person, I know adding about 1/2 the headwind component
will give the greatest distance.
After the flight I pulled up the Glider Flying handbook online and it
says:

"...it is apparent that flying a faster airspeed as the headwind
increases will result in the greatest distance over the
ground. If this is done for the polar curves from many
gliders, a general rule of thumb is found, namely, add
half the headwind component to the best L/D for the
maximum distance."

But even after telling him that he said that doesn't apply to power
planes, also saying that manuals never give best glide, and there has
to be a reason for that.

Do you guys have any ideas on how I can really convince him? Any good
sources?

Without trying to second guess your instructor, I am not convinced from your
discussion that this represents a lack of knowledge on the part of your
instructor. He may simply be trying to keep things as simple as possible.
The idea of frequent practiced forced landings without power is to hopefully
give you the skills to do it without thinking in the event that it happens
to you in real life when you will likely be racked with shear terror.
Practicing at the published best glide speed , roughly gives you a constant
attitude "picture" that enables you to focus more outside the aircraft than
on the airspeed indicator. You could have a similar argument about weight
as the best glide speed will be significantly lower if you are flying solo
and especially if the reason for engine failure was no fuel! But are you
going to get out the calculator and calculate the weight corrected best
glide speed when the noise stops? Should an instructor tell you that flying
a Warrior solo would have a best glide speed closer to 65 kts than the
published 73kts? There is enough to learn already without over finessing
things too early in the learning. After all we know the learning really
starts after you get the license.
terry