Terrible L/D

This spring I flew an upwind (about 10kt average) thirty mile jaunt in the club's 1-34. It was my first X-C. Afterward I loaded the IGC data into SeeYou and was astounded at the stats. Embarrasingly, I turned left 96% of the time, and 60% of the flight was spent circling. But what really openned my eyes was my average L/D! The old 1-34 acheived about 12:1 for an average.

Ouch!

Now I'm drooling over glider ads again. Gonna be a while.

You cheat, just how did you double the LD of that old bus? ................

You should fly with Prof Roe in his 34. He is a left turner as well. What was your stat for percentage of time spent circling? This is the stat that will decrease as your skills improve.

Are you talking about the BASA 34? Did I meet you at Minden?

Obviously he never flew hang gliders, eh Nick?

Was it the 1-34 or the nut behind the stick? Be honest.

Maybe the wings are twisted (would explain the left-turn tendancy and poor performance).

What were your interthermal speeds?

I spent about 60% of my time circling.

The glider is Buzzard Wings and is owned by the Utah Soaring Association.

Here is a picture of me climbing Mt. Nebo about 1.5 hours into the flight...
http://www.ssa.org/PhotoGallery/430.jpg

Hi Dan. I see you stole Carter's handle. Did you go to Jane's wedding?

I don't think xc is all about LD. More performance could just get one in more trouble on one's second xc. Whadda ya think as you are a glass snob?

My hang gliding buddy Tim just soloed and I am pushing him to fly a season in my 34. It is so idot proof. Then we may be able to buy something in glass once we both put the boneheads behind us.

Did you see my dude report of Diamond Distance? Wahooo! No question the 34 can do it, no flaps, no water. If it will do 500k, 50k should be easy for it.

Now if Arleene, the badge lady, would get back to me. I think Prof Roe has her ear with his 300 to goal. He has a 34 as well. The 34 is turning into quite a badge earner. I am shittin' bricks waiting. Of course I didn't send a IGC file, just a pile of forms, pictures and baro trace. They probably have to find some AARP member to figure it all out.

SGS 1-34 #006

Wednesday 06-05-02 302.3km diamond goal triangle from Elsinore CA.

Left turns: 70% Circling: 34% Mean L/D: 30.5

John Roe 'ZR'

Boy that clogged the ol' phone line. I hope that is not a turnpoint photo. I would love to see the plane.

I see Professor Roe at 34% of the time turning durring his 300. I findabout 40% will keep me moving on and is what it took for my 300 and 35% for the 500. Interthermal L/D was 38 at 61mph. I also see my first xc attempts were like yours at 60%. The improvement just comes with time and experience.

I wish we were all flying together. I would be so cool to team fly xc.