Texas Buzzard
May 03, 2008, 11:32 AM
Nothing I have read here mentioned the charateristics of the Glider itself.
Lets build two gliders both having the same wy(mass). Build one for optimum glide potential - possibly higher aspect ratio and a high lift airfoil ( yes and more drag), smaller stab and long tail boom.
The other with lower aspect ratio and a semisymtretrical low drag airfoil without concern for max. glide. The w.s. is maybe 80% of the "thermal" ship.
Now will these two ships have the same max. launch height? I think now.
The question was about the max. launch height for ONE DLG. I think the answer is between about 60 and 80 degrees. Use some if the lift vector to gain height. BUT, the only way to get an answer is to use the Empirical method since there are so many variables including the varibales you have during the launch.
You may think you are launching at a certain angle BUT I bet you are off over 50% of the time. We are not machines. :) :rolleyes:
Lets build two gliders both having the same wy(mass). Build one for optimum glide potential - possibly higher aspect ratio and a high lift airfoil ( yes and more drag), smaller stab and long tail boom.
The other with lower aspect ratio and a semisymtretrical low drag airfoil without concern for max. glide. The w.s. is maybe 80% of the "thermal" ship.
Now will these two ships have the same max. launch height? I think now.
The question was about the max. launch height for ONE DLG. I think the answer is between about 60 and 80 degrees. Use some if the lift vector to gain height. BUT, the only way to get an answer is to use the Empirical method since there are so many variables including the varibales you have during the launch.
You may think you are launching at a certain angle BUT I bet you are off over 50% of the time. We are not machines. :) :rolleyes: