Straight Glide

Lesson Objective

The candidate must be able to fly the glider on a specified heading, and continually maintain that heading, at a desired airspeed of the instructor's choosing. The candidate must do so with smooth control inputs, so that the glider is in constant coordinated flight.

Regulatory Requirement

Content

• relationship of attitude to airspeed
• the skill of tracking toward a landmark or heading at the instructor's choosing.
• the skill of maintaining wings level without inadvertent yawing motions
• the ability to adjust to atmospheric disturbances.
• the skill of maintaining a specific heading, and airspeed, with only occasional reference to the instruments.
• the selection of the appropriate amount of crab to counteract any winds aloft.

Completion Standards

• exhibit knowledge of the elements related to straight glides, including the relationship of pitch attitude and airspeed.
• track toward a prominent landmark at a specified airspeed.
• demonstrate the effect of flaps, spoilers, or dive brakes, if equipped, in relation to pitch attitude and airspeed.
• exhibit smooth, coordinated control, and planning.
• maintain the specified heading, +/-10 degrees, and the specified airspeed, +/-10 knots
• when tracking to a point, select the appropriate amount of crab in crosswinds

Prerequisite Study

• Glider Flight Manual, Straight Glides, page 7-22.
• Learning to Fly Gliders, Shallow banked turs and short straight glides, page 19.
• Learning to Fly Gliders, Crabbing during cruising flight, page 28.