How Fast?

[Bryan Quick]

I just calculated the rate of climb in a thermal I was in today at 562 ft/min over 1.43 minutes from data I got from my zlogger.

It wasn't the fastest I've climbed. A week and a half earlier the thermal velocity was markedly greater.

What's the best climb you have logged?

Bryan

[schrederman]

Not sure if this is what you're looking for, but I once climbed at 1750 fpm over a brush fire. I was in the glider, a Schweizer 1-35C. I had to calculate it because the variometer only went to 1000 fpm. It was surprisingly smooth in the core... but I smelled like burned grass until I could get to the shower. I haven't started using a logger, yet for R/C but I may, soon.

Jack

[IBWALT]

... but I smelled like burned grass until I could get to the shower. Jack

Jack you must have been in the "jelly roll center" of that thermal. :D :D :D

Walt

[schrederman]

60 degrees bank and the stick on the backstop! Looks like it's stood on the wingtip... The jelly center is always the place to be... and... there's no place like cloudbase!

MMMMAAAANNNNN!!!! I sure miss my glider!

[Robglover]

I recently read an old report of a full scale glider climbing at 8000 ft/min. Bet that was quite a ride.

[Libelle201B]

I recently read an old report of a full scale glider climbing at 8000 ft/min. Bet that was quite a ride.
Robglover, I have read (Exploring the Monster) that wave can reach 4000'fpm+. There was a trace that showed a 7000' per minute "change" in vertical velocity, turbulance. If you read that a glider climbed at 8000' fpm, that would be 133' per second rate of climb.
:)

[Robglover]

Robglover, I have read (Exploring the Monster) that wave can reach 4000'fpm+. There was a trace that showed a 7000' per minute "change" in vertical velocity, turbulance. If you read that a glider climbed at 8000' fpm, that would be 133' per second rate of climb.
:)

That comes from "The Joy of Soaring" by Carle Conway, published by the Soaring Society of America. Page 65.

He stated that no one knows the maximum rate of climb precisely. Over 8000 fpm has been recorded in South America.

Great book. Lots of fun to read if you love soaring.

[Libelle201B]

That comes from "The Joy of Soaring" by Carle Conway, published by the Soaring Society of America. Page 65.

He stated that no one knows the maximum rate of climb precisely. Over 8000 fpm has been recorded in South America.

Great book. Lots of fun to read if you love soaring.
Rob, I have the revised edition. Page 75. Not trying to be argumentative, but I suspect that 8000' fpm was not recorded by a glider pilot. (it doesn't suggest that) I think it was probably recorded by a weather balloon, and probably in the heart of a developing Qnim, or at least I would hope so. Or by the updraft strength required in order to support a 5" diameter hail stone. (last part of the paragraph)
:)

[Robglover]

Rob, I have the revised edition. Page 75. Not trying to be argumentative, but I suspect that 8000' fpm was not recorded by a glider pilot. (it doesn't suggest that) I think it was probably recorded by a weather balloon, and probably in the heart of a developing Qnim, or at least I would hope so. Or by the updraft strength required in order to support a 5" diameter hail stone. (last part of the paragraph)
:)

Sorry, I was under the impression that this discussion was dealing with RC sailplanes and the highest rate of climb possible. My bad.

[schrederman]

Rob, you're right... My initial comment kind of hijacked the thread... my bad...

JW

[Bryan Quick]

FWIW I've seen a VSI pegged in both directions. ;)

I was just wondering if anyone has used data from their logger to calcullate and compare rate of climb rather than min sink.

tks-

Bryan

[Libelle201B]

FWIW I've seen a VSI pegged in both directions. ;)

I was just wondering if anyone has used data from their logger to calcullate and compare rate of climb rather than min sink.

tks-

Bryan
Bryan, there was a barograph trace posted on another thermal thread. A DLG gained about 3000' in just under 20 minutes. I figure that to be about 145' per minute. Nothing spectacular rate of climb wise, but a very good trace. This technology designed to fit into RC sized planes is a great thing in my opinion. Anyone willing to spend the time and the extra bucks, can now get a reasonable glide polar for their particular sailplane. Maybe not so interesting for the average soaring pilot, but great for the techno oriented, and maybe the builder/manufactorer wanting to promote their product. :)

[bobthenuke]

I recently purchased an Eagle Tree Pro system based on the premise that it's capable of calculating Netto verticle movement. Obviously this doesn't come without the cost of leaving the owner/pilot of developing a polar for the glider in question, which is exactly what I propose to do since the system logs Rate of Climb and Rate of Decent.

I fully expect that it will take quite a bit of flying on any one particular glider to come up with a reasonably accurate polar, but I think it'll be worth it and will be a lot of fun as well. Having flown my full size with a Netto vario, I can't think of anything more fun than to have the same feature in the "toy" sailplanes.

Speaking of kick-a$$ thermals, I recall one that was so sudden and violent that I had to release from tow at <600' AGL (there's a reason for those rudder pedal stirrups!). I really believed for a second that I had been hit by another aircraft; it was *that* hard. I don't remember even bothering to think about ROC over and above the fact that anything related to it in the cockpit was pegged, and for quite awhile. These "trash haulers" are fairly common in the SW, and should I ever move they'll be sorely missed. I also got sucked into a storm once, but that's a tale for the grandkids...all I can say is that it's a wonder I'm still here and that the sailplane survived it too. :)

-bob

PS...sorry if I also highjacked the thread with a tail of thermal flying. It's hard not to do, as the other guys like Jack can attest to it's tough not to discuss vertical acceleration that you can actually "feel".