Volume 32 No 1 Feb-Mar 1981.pdf - Lakes Gliding Club

mllll~.The object of Total Energy ,(TE) is to removeltle effects of airspeed changes on the variodisplay. What remains is tile liftorsinKwhlchwould be seen ifyou were actual,ly 'holding aconstant airspeed instead of manoeuvring.Total E,nergy is no,t just for contest pitots.Any sailplane used for soaring needs TEcompensation. Students have enoughtrouble trying to form a mental image ofwhat. a thermal looks I~ike without tlle confusinginputs due to varying airspeed.As one. advances in thermailing techniques,one fil1ds that the achieved rate ofclimb can ,often be increased by cont,;nuollsmanoeuvring including some abrupt speedchanges. Only with good TE can this bedone.Finally, the TEcompensator allows thecross-country pilot to use the glide stretchingDolphin flight manoeuvre and tets himeval,uate thermal strength accurately evenwhile pulling upin achandel.lethermalentiyfrom cruisililg speeds.As yoU' may Know, .RICO offers ElectronicTotal Energy Compensation. However, wealso oUer systems that operate perfectlywell from a good Total Energy probe. Weoffer a choice!BUT which is best? Tlhe correct answer isneither or either. Electronic Total Energyrelies on a first class stat,ie system in theglider, which it is not always possible toachieve. Probe Total 'Energy, on he otherhand, is easier to get right but can sufferfailure in rain, cloud or icing conditions.THE CHOICE is up to you. If you need asystem purely for fair weathelr VMC flyingthen the VAS is for you but, if you feel youneed to be completely free of reliance on aprobe, then the VACS will suit you best. It willcost you a little more but you will know thatyo'u possess the best that aerospace technologycan supply. R,EMEMBER. Bolh theVAS and VACS models give you a flightdirectorfacility aswell as the ability tohavearead-out of air mass.VARIOMETER SYSTEMSRICO MODEL VASVARIOMETER AND FLIGHT DIRECTORItI"We also produce basic variometers which can be laterupgraded at small cost to VAS or VACS standard.In add iUon, RICOvarliometersgiveyou these spec ial featu res:* Self-contained in just one 'unit to fit a standard size panelcut-out.* Separate and adjustable Up and Down audio.* Variable "quiet band".* Automatic audio volume boost linked to airspeed.* 10 volts to 16 volts power supply acceptable.* 2 year warranty.* -Repeater units for 2-seaters available for around £40.* Each unit easily adjusted to suit·different types of glider.Manufact,ured by:REDWOOD INSTRUMENT COMPANY368 Rutherford Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94061, USASofe UK Agents - Stockists & Repairers:John Del,afield, Dlckie FeakesTel: East Bridgford (0949) 20306 (evenings)Of write:Box S.G.570. Cheiron Press Ltd., 7 Amersham HiH. High Wycombe, Bucks.for further information26SAILPLANE & GLIDING