1. 28 February 2008Don Puttock1 Use of Airbrakes and Approach Control

2. 28 February 2008Don Puttock2 Airbrakes and spoilers Airbrakes create additional drag. The further out they moved, the greater the effect.

3. 28 February 2008Don Puttock3 Airbrakes and spoilers The high drag reduces the glide performance

4. 28 February 2008Don Puttock4 Airbrakes and spoilers ASK13 (in still air) Airbrakes closed 25:1 Airbrakes open 6:1

5. 28 February 2008Don Puttock5 Airbrakes and spoilers Speed limiting? Few gliders have truly speed limiting airbrakes Many limit the speed to below Vne in a 45° dive or less. For some gliders the dive angle is less than 30°

6. 28 February 2008Don Puttock6 Airbrakes and spoilers The extra drag can cause a decay in airspeed. Steady 55kt To maintain speed the aircraft must adopt a new attitude. No Airbrake 38:1Full Airbrake 8:1

7. 28 February 2008Don Puttock7 Airbrakes and spoilers Opening the airbrakes often have an effect on pitch. Brakes Closed Brakes Open ASK13

8. 28 February 2008Don Puttock8 Airbrakes and spoilers Opening the airbrakes often have an effect on pitch. Brakes Closed Brakes Open Grob 103 The pitch change is type dependent

9. 28 February 2008Don Puttock9 Airbrakes and spoilers The loss in lift caused by opening the airbrakes increases the stalling speed A point worth remembering with a ballooned landing

10. 28 February 2008Don Puttock10 Airbrakes and spoilers Airbrakes on some gliders will “suck” open Hold the “Blue” lever firmly and once unlocked do not let go, resist any tendency for them to move uncommanded,

11. 28 February 2008Don Puttock11 Airbrakes and spoilers Opening the Airbrakes in high g redistributes the wing bending loads Lift Distribution

12. 28 February 2008Don Puttock12 Airbrakes and spoilers Spoilers disrupt the airflow causing a reduction in lift The spoilers are normally opened against a spring –let go and they close Spoiler Wing

13. 28 February 2008Don Puttock13 Airbrakes and spoilers Tailchutes increase the drag dramatically

14. 28 February 2008Don Puttock14 Airbrakes and spoilers Trailing edge brakes Can have a rapid and pronounced effect on speed and pitch

15. 28 February 2008Don Puttock15 Approach Control

16. 28 February 2008Don Puttock16 Approach Control Purpose of the approach To intercept and maintain a 2/3 airbrake approach. To maintain airspeed through the wind gradient. To “round out” at a desired location.

17. 28 February 2008Don Puttock17 Approach Control Advantages----opportunity to adjust in both directions Clearing obstacles/landing short.

18. 28 February 2008Don Puttock18 Approach Control Scraping in over the fence with zero brake is not safe. Creeper approach---no margin for error

19. 28 February 2008Don Puttock19 Approach Control Effect of the wind on approach path

20. 28 February 2008Don Puttock20 Approach Control Effect of wind gradient on speed It why we have additional speed for our approach.(1.4Vs+ ½ wind)

21. 28 February 2008Don Puttock21 Approach Control Selecting a reference point

22. 28 February 2008Don Puttock22 Approach Control (Normal)

23. 28 February 2008Don Puttock23 Approach Control (Normal)

24. 28 February 2008Don Puttock24 Approach Control (Normal)

25. 28 February 2008Don Puttock25 Approach Control (Normal)

26. 28 February 2008Don Puttock26 Approach Control (Normal) ES Normal approach

27. 28 February 2008Don Puttock27 Approach Control (wrong)

28. 28 February 2008Don Puttock28 Approach Control (wrong)

29. 28 February 2008Don Puttock29 Approach Control (wrong)

30. 28 February 2008Don Puttock30 Approach Control (wrong)

31. 28 February 2008Don Puttock31 Approach Control (wrong) ES Approach looks right but speed decaying

32. 28 February 2008Don Puttock32 Approach Control (wrong)

33. 28 February 2008Don Puttock33 Approach Control (wrong)

34. 28 February 2008Don Puttock34 Approach Control (wrong)

35. 28 February 2008Don Puttock35 Approach Control (wrong)

36. 28 February 2008Don Puttock36 Approach Control (wrong) ES Approach looks right but speed increasing

37. 28 February 2008Don Puttock37 Approach Control (Undershoot)

38. 28 February 2008Don Puttock38 Approach Control (Undershoot)

39. 28 February 2008Don Puttock39 Approach Control (Undershoot)

40. 28 February 2008Don Puttock40 Approach Control (Undershoot)

41. 28 February 2008Don Puttock41 Approach Control (Undershoot) ES Undershooting

42. 28 February 2008Don Puttock42 Approach Control (Overshoot)

43. 28 February 2008Don Puttock43 Approach Control (Overshoot)

44. 28 February 2008Don Puttock44 Approach Control (Overshoot)

45. 28 February 2008Don Puttock45 Approach Control (Overshoot)

46. 28 February 2008Don Puttock46 Approach Control (Overshoot) ES Overshooting

47. 28 February 2008Don Puttock47 Approach Control Top Tips Longer approaches give you time to settle. Airbrakes change your rate of descent Attitude (via the stick) gives you airspeed. Make few adjustments to the airbrakes--- consider before acting. Select a reference point (RP)

48. 28 February 2008Don Puttock48 Approach Control (Normal)

49. 28 February 2008Don Puttock49 Approach Control (Normal)

50. 28 February 2008Don Puttock50 Approach Control (Normal)

51. 28 February 2008Don Puttock51 Approach Control (Normal)

52. 28 February 2008Don Puttock52 Approach Control (Normal)

53. 28 February 2008Don Puttock53 Approach Control (Normal) ES Normal approach