Camber questions...

[Wildewinds]

I have a couple questions about camber.

Let's say I set the camber so that I get the longest air time in completely dead air (theoretically speaking, of course). Is this my optimal camber setting for thermals? Does it change with more wind?

[Neil Stainton]

Yes. Maybe even more camber could be used when circling in a thermal as the lift coefficient may be higher.

No. The plane is circling, and drifing downwind, so the strength of the wind is immaterial to the airflow over thw wing.

Neil.

[histarter]

I have a couple questions about camber.

Let's say I set the camber so that I get the longest air time in completely dead air (theoretically speaking, of course). Is this my optimal camber setting for thermals? Does it change with more wind?
Good enough and very logical! ;)

I tend to mark this position with a piece of tape, and will blindly set the camber when working lift off in the distance. More camber will only be used when low in altitude, and lift dimension is small! (something you do not have to worry about in the upper air). A spiralling model moves downwind as fast as the wind, and spiral stability will overcome disturbances, so wind is not a factor to degrade climbout! Decreasing camber for the return from downwind is wise - to set up for the next snag of a closer thermal to reset min sink camber and climb. :)