Final

GlidesUS Team

Region 1 CompsDoug Jacobs

Final Glide – In Theory

Simple: Keep flying climb and glide on courseLeave the last thermal

When you can fly the McCready speed andreach the goalPlus a safety margin

Wind now a factorGlide angle over the groundFlatter with a tailwindSteeper with a headwind

As is wing loading and bugsSet your calculator accuratelyWhich requires practice

Why so important?Not, for badge and distance flightsVery, for speed tasks and competition

Significant improvement to average speed

Final Glide in PracticeKnow your calculator:

Elevation - Terrain heightArrival Height - Energy to Land SafelySafety Margin - Extra Altitude

Common ErrorsClimbing in weak lift – off McCready setting

Keep the thermal selection disciplineGoing straight home – up a sink street!

Keep flying the energy lines down to arrival heightTaking too much

And steaming home at 130kts, doing 15:1Taking too little

And trying to oomph up on the glideslope

Psychological Pressures are intense on Final Glides

Glide angle visually flat in modern glass“I’ll never make it”Especially downwind

Excessive sink might be encountered

Flying very fast, very loud, very lowAnd the turbulence gets rougher lowerAnd the pilot’s IQ starts to fade

Tunnel visions/narrowed focus dangerous

Must fly the airplane to a safe landing, not just a good finish

Final Glides in ContestsFinal Glides around cornersFinal Glides around corners

Enough height for FG before last TP reachedEnough height for FG before last TP reachedHeadwind/tailwind switchover at TPHeadwind/tailwind switchover at TP““Steering” TP’s to direct finishing trafficSteering” TP’s to direct finishing traffic

Final Glides in MAT’s, AAT’sFinal Glides in MAT’s, AAT’sWant FG to be the largest proportion of Want FG to be the largest proportion of overall flight possibleoverall flight possible

Why? – Because it’s your fastest legWhy? – Because it’s your fastest legHow? – come in just after Minimum TimeHow? – come in just after Minimum Time

- we’ll discuss further in Contest Strategy- we’ll discuss further in Contest Strategy

Final Glide

Hobbs 18M Nationals 2006

Long final glide addsSignificantly to avg speed

You’ve got to practice, practicePracticeTo get a

Good Finish!