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#20
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"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 |
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