ENERGY GAIN IN PITCHING MANEUVERS

Authors

  • Wolfram Gorisch

Keywords:

Aerodynamics, Structures, Design, Safety

Abstract

In 'Teclhnical Soaring', Vol. V, No. 4, June 1980, pages 39-45, Frank Irving has analyzed the energy loss of sailplanes in pitching maneuvers. A pull-up flight maneuver temporarily increases the load factor and hence increases the drag. As far as drag is concerned, the influence of load factor deviations from unity has satisfactorily been treated in the above-mentioned paper. 8ut load variation also significantly affects energy transfer when the glider traverses moving air masses. In this author's opinion this effect is most important and deserves full consideration. In the following I shall focus on the energy extraction from the movements of the atmosphere and on the influence of the load factor on it, rather than on drag effects.

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