4. LESSON 21 – FLYING FAST

  • Be gentle with stick and rudder

Before we practise how to fly fast, it is important that you know the operating limitations of your glider. These limitations include the manoeuvring speed (the maximum airspeed at which you can still make a full flight control deflection without damaging the glider), the maximum speed for flying in rough air (turbulence in very strong thermals, turbulence in ridge lift or wave rotor) and the airspeed you should never exceed. Your instructor will explain the various airspeed limitations of your glider to you, but you can also find them yourself in the Aircraft Flight Manual (see Chapter 1.10).

To get to and from higher speeds make the attitude changes gradually.

  • Technique for speed control is unchanged 
  • Nose will be lower (of course)
  • More air noise
  • Controls more sensitive
  • Smaller control movements needed