PO 407 Flight Operations

1. PO 407Flight Operations 407.01 Introduction and Winds

2. Outline • Soaring • Gliders other than the 2-33 • PIC responsibilities • How to determine wind direction and speed while airborne • Minimum sink speed and best L/D speed • Gliding for maximum distance in different conditions • Effects of high winds and thunderstorms

3. Soaring - Canada • Is considered a sport and popular throughout the world • Soaring Association of Canada (SAC) is the National association for glider pilots in Canada • About 25 SAC clubs across the country • Longer flights/greater distances

4. Soaring - World • Competitions, including world competitions • Popular online competitions – uploading computer records of flights • Aerobatic competitions

5. Other Gliders • Past construction: wood, fabric, and metal • Now: fiberglass or composites • Commonly referred to as sailplanes • Some common gliders include • Blanik (L13 and L23) • ASK-21 • Grob G103 • DG 1000

6. Blanik L-23

7. Grob G103

8. DG 1000

9. ASK 21

10. PIC Responsibilities • Some clubs and organizations (like the ACGP) provide structure or rules • Ultimately the pilot’s responsibility to ensure safe flying

11. Responsibilities • Dress appropriately • “IMSAFE” checklist • Currency • Licenses • Check the weather (current and forecast) • Glider properly rigged and complete a DI

12. Responsibilities Cont. • Check the documents • Clean the aircraft if necessary • If new (or not recent) to the glider, obtain a thorough briefing and training • Brief passengers (if applicable) • Confirm weight and balance

13. Determine Wind Direction and Speed When Airborne • Reported wind from ATC/FSS • Wind sock • Smoke • Flags • Ripples in trees, water or crops • Cloud movement • Path of shadows over ground • Dust off roads • Drift (if below 1000’)

14. Glide Distance How far can YOU glide?

15. Definitions • Best Glide Speed or Best L/D: • The airspeed which results in the flattest glide angle for a particular glider in still air • Glide Ratio: • Ratio of units of distance traveled forward per unit of altitude lost • Minimum sink speed: • Speed at which you will lose the least amount of height over a given time

16. Speeds to Fly • No wind – fly best L/D • Against the wind – add one half the estimated wind speed to your best L/D • With the wind – slow down by one quarter of the estimated tailwind (no slower than minimum sink) • In lift – decrease speed as lift increase (no less than minimum sink) • In sink – increase speed as sink increases (do not exceed VNE)

18. Calculations • We can only calculate approximate distances that a glider can cover using the altitude, glide ratio, approx. wind speed, and speed to fly • Example: • Flying in a 2-33A at 3000’ AGL, flying speed-to-fly in a 20 MPH tailwind, approximately how many nautical miles will you travel before you reach circuit altitude?

19. Steps • Calculate usable altitude and distance • Calculate speed to fly • Calculate groundspeed • Divide groundspeed by speed to fly • This gives you your wind-distance modifier • Recalculate distance multiplying by modifier • Convert to NM

20. Example Solution • Glide Ratio: 23:1 • Height: 3000’-1000’ = 2000’x23 = 46 000’ • Speed-to-fly (20mph tailwind) 50 - 5 = 45mph • Ground Speed (V+/- Wind) 45 + 20 = 65 mph • Ground Speed / Speed-to-fly = 65/45 (13/9) • 13 / 9 X 46 000 = 598,000 / 9 = 66 444 • 66 444 / 6080 = 11 NM (10.928289 NM)

21. Example 2 • Calculate your glide distance assuming the following: • SGS 2-33A • Headwind of 15 kts • 4000’ altitude, and you want to reach 1000’. • Answer: 8.4 NM

22. Example 2 Solution • Glide Ratio: 23:1 L/D: 50mph Headwind: 15kts • Altitude: 4000-1000=3000 • Distance: 3000x23=69 000 • Spd to Fly =57.5 (50+15/2) • Grnd Spd =42.5 (57.5-15) • 42.5/57.5 = 0.739 x69 000 = 51 000 • Final Answer: 51000/6080 = 8.4 NM

23. Questions?