Advanced Walkalong Glider Flight Technique

Once the traditional Walkalong glider technique has been mastered, experiments can be carried out with a neutral to slightly aft center of gravity (CG) to center of lift position. By holding the paddle more behind the glider, a down trim is applied and stable flight is achieved. If the glider gets away, unstable phugoid ocillations take over and the aft CG causes stalls of increasing severity. The advantages of aft CG are slower flight and more agile maneuvering which make it easier to keep up with the glider and the glider is more responsive to turn and bank control inputs. How can the glider be stable only in the paddle lift?  This works because the lift from a walkalong gliding paddle is not even and the part of the glider closer to the paddle like the elevons in the rear experience more lift than the nose. This produces a forward trim. So the optimum trim for flight with a paddle will be too far aft when the glider is in free flight. Why the improved turning ability? The only explanation I can think of is that the walkalong glider is flying closer to stall speed and when the turn is initiated, the inside wing is travelling slower and experiences more drag (on the back side of the flight polar), providing the torque in the yaw axis. If the glider is flying faster, the inboard wing will experience less drag as the reduction in speed is not enough to make it stall and the added lift on the outboard wing (increased angle of attack) results in more adverse yaw. Back to home page Copyright Phil Rossoni, 11/20/2004

Sponsored in part by: