Mastering Glider Flight Dynamics

Which airspeed is used to determine the minimum sink rate from the polar?

Never exceed speed
Stall speed
Maneuvering speed
Best L/D airspeed (correct)

Which factor must glider pilots take into account when planning their landing?

Ground roll
Wind speed (correct)
Density altitude
Altimeter setting

What effect does a headwind have on the ground roll during landing?

Lengthened ground roll
Shortened ground roll (correct)
Increased sink rate
No effect on ground roll

What should a glider pilot do when landing in a strong headwind?

Accept a steeper approach angle (D) Signup and view all the answers

What should a glider pilot do when landing with a tailwind?

Extend spoilers or drag brakes (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors affect glider performance during the launch phase, landing, and free flight phase?

All of the above (D) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to glider performance when barometric pressure drops?

Takeoff and climb performance decreases (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of computing density altitude in glider performance charts?

To determine the performance of the glider at a given pressure altitude and temperature (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor primarily limits the maximum range and duration of powered flight for self-launching gliders?

Fuel capacity (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does wind affect the range of a glider during powered cruising flight?

Headwind reduces range (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of increased weight on a glider's takeoff and climb performance?

Increased weight decreases takeoff and climb performance (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of extending the air brakes fully upon touchdown during windy and gusty landings?

To prevent the glider from becoming airborne through a wind gust (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor primarily determines the rate of climb for a ground-launched glider?

The strength of the ground-launching equipment (A) Signup and view all the answers

What effect does adding water ballast have on a glider's best L/D airspeed?

Increases it (B) Signup and view all the answers

What determines the rate of climb for self-launching gliders?

Design, powerplant output, and glider weight (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors affect glider performance during launch?

Density altitude, weight, design, and wind (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct way to compute density altitude using the chart?

Correct for nonstandard pressure and temperature, then find the intersection of pressure altitude and density altitude on the chart (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which conditions result in high density altitude?

High elevations, low atmospheric pressure, high temperatures, high humidity (B) Signup and view all the answers

What effect does temperature have on density altitude?

Increased temperature increases density altitude (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to the information provided, what happens to the stall speed of a glider if the weight is doubled?

The stall speed increases by more than 40 percent (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate new stalling speed of a glider that weighs 840 pounds, if the original stalling speed is 40 knots?

57 knots (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the increased weight of a heavy glider affect its ability to climb in thermals compared to a light glider?

The heavy glider is unable to climb as fast as the light glider (C) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the stall airspeed, minimum controllable airspeed, minimum sink airspeed, and the best L/D airspeed of a glider if the operating weight is increased?

They all increase by a factor equal to the square root of the increase in weight (A) Signup and view all the answers