11/01/2024
A light pilot story:
– Hey Thomas, I don’t understand. When I fly with you, I have no problem staying at cloudbase, not to mention that I’m often the first there. However, when we need to reach the next thermal I’m so slow compared to you! Sometimes I just can’t, especially if there is a little bit of wind. I know my glider is smaller but I’m 50 kg all up and it is certified from 45 kg. What’s the matter with me?
– Classic, Judy. It’s certified from 45 kg but what is the flat area?
– Mmmh let me check… 22 m2 they say.
– Wow, OK… Sounds like the lowest certified weight, but certainly not the smallest glider. Look, I’m 80 kg, and I fly a 24. Middle of the certified weight range. So… let’s do the math, I’m flying at 3.3 kg/m2, and you are at… 2.3 kg/m2! You’re flying a hot air balloon! I can barely imagine, it’s like if I was flying a 35 m2 glider!!
– What? It’s like if you were flying alone a tandem glider, with your 80 kg all up. How can my glider be certified at 45 kg with such a big surface?
– Certification is one thing, but you have to really take care of the surface loading when looking at your next glider. It is possible to find EN-A or EN-B certified gliders between 18 and 20 m2 flat area, not 22!
– And what would that change exactly?
– Well, you would benefit from “a normal flying behavior”. You would lift up your glider to take-off more easily, you would core thermals far better (without losing your amazing climbing ability), and last but not least, you would take less risk in windy conditions, not only to be able to move into the wind safely but also during take-off and landing.
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