How the tests are made at dustoftheuniverse.com
Many pilots, and professionals have over the time asked me
about the testing I make in my blog and how it is possible to get an assessment
on gliders.
In this special area I am flying there is really some special
conditions that allowed me to understand better the gliders I am testing.
Surely I will ‘not’ write a complete report in a normal and
easy XC flight.
For me a glider is tested in: ‘Strong conditions’ and ‘Difficult
conditions’, and that’s exactly what my flying spots frequently offer.
‘Strong conditions’ will enable me to understand better the
cohesion of a glider in strong, punchy lifts and the ability of the glider to
be controlled in these situations. After one flight in strong conditions will
give a quick idea of the glider. But that’s not even 5 % of the tests! In
strong conditions all gliders including speed gliders will climb to base
eventually.
But the most important to me for evaluating a glider is the ‘Difficult
conditions’ tests…
I mean in difficult conditions to test fly a glider:
1-Against a sea breeze on low altitude with very weak
thermals .The better glider will always move forward and dig in that weak
thermal rather than bumping into it and staying in a stationary flight.
Sometimes when
I say that a glider is reluctant to enter some thermals, I don’t mean in strong
thermals…I mean when encountering a weak thermal and having that head wind or
sea breeze, the glider in question doesn’t really dig forward enough to climb.
Some will need more time to creep forward and climb, others will enter better
that air mass if this sea breeze doesn’t exist. And to get a conclusion for
that, my friend with whom I fly for 20 years and know well his skills, will be
next to me with a glider known for its qualities, and I will be with the new
testing glider.
For many flights side by side, we both could see clearly the
differences in gliders who can be more fluid and efficient in those conditions.
2- In the lee side, with broken thermals and sudden lifts,
especially slightly at ridge level, where the breeze from the other side is
mixed with the lee thermals, here the ability to maneuver the glider is
critical, as the lee side produces some turbulence and the thermals will be disoriented,
and that will surely make the handling of a glider highly affected. In those
conditions flying also side-by-side and exchanging some comments “If possible sometimes” ;-) about the feeling of the glider and its
ability to turn inside that turbulent core.
3- The glide comparison:
In calm air many pilots are still looking for that glide number
on paper.
That’s completely wrong. We all are flying the gliders in
moving air, and that number is meaningless.
That’s why I do those glides in real flights next to my
friend on another reference glider side by side with the videos that you are
viewing.
But the conclusion for the B ,C.or D comparisons are the one
to look at ,because those are made after many flights in
-Head wind glides
-Long turbulent glides
-With or without accelerator
The results are seen more clearly, and sometimes it could
change a bit if I sensed some flaws…
Manufacturers need to produce gliders that sells…They seek
and hope to get always positive feedback from mags or individuals which is normal!
But sometimes it won’t be the case.
Not all the gliders in one cat could have the best
performances or the best handling!!
A few can cope with the negative. It is a big business after
all, but in order to be totally free I am buying the gliders for testing, and also
writing whatever I feel under a glider.
On the other side, Manufacturers have their reputation to
look at. I don’t think anyone will release a single piece of equipment with
their brand name unless they are 100 % sure of its quality.
A small word for lesser lines:
The recently tested gliders having lesser main lines or
attachment points lacks of cohesion in ‘very strong and turbulent air’. Some B gliders
are still manageable but the pilot under them won’t have the complete authority
of control in those conditions. Still better cohesion for the ones having 3A’s
3B’s ……
A small word for tested gliders in the B,C,D category.
The certification is just an idea. It won’t tell anything
about the safety of the glider. Looking at the certification videos will give a
50 % idea of the situation. But remember, you are flying the glider in a moving
environment that will put the glider in different angles to the horizon. The
collapses encountered at that angle will be a bit different than on the
certification videos.
The best is to read and listen to the manufactures
recommendations and of course your trusty instructor.
Flying the gliders in normal conditions won’t get any
results as all of us will eventually get low, or stuck in a valley breeze in
the lee side…and in those tricky conditions the glider we fly matters a lot,
because it will help us continue our flight or ended sooner.
My tests will be more precise to describe the difference
between gliders because I believe that the best glider is the one that delivers
each pilot the fun he requires.