Woodstock for 1/2/07

[hang_pilot]

I flew Daniel's Mark IV for an extendo.

So glad to hear it's not just taking up space in your basement!

I seem to fly really fast at trim, and I can push out (with surprisingly high bar pressure) to slow down without any mush.

Expect a lot of bar pressure with that wing. I had Adam fly it and he felt it was trimmed appropriately; bar pressure is just part of the deal. Towing was always a great workout on the Mark IV.

For my first soaring flights on that glider, I couldn't understand why I was always so much lower than everyone else. Then I realized I just had to push out much more.

Turning is taking a surprising amount of muscle. I know it's not gonna react as quickly as a Falcon. And maybe that slow response is causing me to put more effort into turning than is necessary.

I think you hit the nail on the head. The handling is not stiff. Once you get dialed into the timing, you'll feel like it turns very easily.

On the good side, I'm not PIOing

That's good. I had some experiences I could have done without PIOing that wing. I feel like it's prone to it, Christy said the same, others have said that I'm dead wrong.

So, what do you think? Do I just need to fix the hang-point and start hitting the weights?

I think you should probably just buy a newer intermediate glider that you can fall in love with and keep the Mark IV for trips to Kitty Hawk or Smithsburg when it's too muddy.

Best,
Daniel

P.S. Brian, it's a 17, should fit him fine.

[Danny Brotto]

For my first soaring flights on that glider, I couldn't understand why I was always so much lower than everyone else. Then I realized I just had to push out much more.

Daniel (and Dave)

I think from this description that the glider is trimmed too fast. With hands-off, a glider should trim at between min sink and max L/D speeds. This is a personal choice (I prefer min sink) but having to push out in thermals or to achieve min sink is annoying. Such a configuration will also result in heavy roll pressure; another symptom that Dave is questioning.

Sometimes an older glider looses its original aerodynamics due to sail shrinkage. A previously sweet flying glider just becomes terrible and no tuning will make it sweet again. I’ve retired 2 otherwise quite serviceable gliders because of this… they are now billboard gliders on Richard Hays’ front lawn.

I agree with Daniel, Dave, go out and buy a Sport 2 155... great glider!

Danny Brotto
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[dbodner]

Daniel, Danny,

Thanks for the input. It's very helpful. I'll probably play with the Mark IV a little, maybe move the hang strap back an inch. In the long run, I don't know if or when I'll get a double surface. But, at least now I know that any troubles I'm having with the Mark IV won't be the reason not to.