The Handbook of Glider
Aerobatics
Authors: Peter Mallinson
and Mike Woolard
Book, Hardback, 128 pages,
b/w photographs and 3
dimensional line drawings, Published in
August of 1999
Dimensions: 7.44 x 9.69 x 0.63 inches (189 x 246 x 16 mm)
A manual for
students and a guide for instructors
This book provides a
reference point for use in conjunction with aerobatic instruction.
It aims to give an understanding of the important subjects that are
essential for safe and successful aerobatic flying. The book is
divided into two main sections and an appendix. The first part
deals with theory and includes safety considerations, flight envelopes,
glider design and Aresti - the commonly used system of representing
aerobatic figures in graphical form. The second part describes how
to fly twenty of the most common figures. This includes eleven
basic figures for beginners and nine advanced figures for more
experienced pilots. The appendix gives a step-by-step guide to
constructing flight envelopes for various gliders.
About the Authors
(from back cover)
Peter Mallinson and Mike Woollard both started flying gliders at
Nympsfield in Gloucestershire in their late 20s and their flying careers
progressed along parallel paths. They both spread their wings to include
powered aviation at an early stage and were soon flying a Fournier RF4D
motor glider. This aeroplane with its delightful aerobatic
qualities undoubtedly encouraged them in their common fascination for
aerobatics. In 1989 they attended a course in glider aerobatics
run by the Polish champion, Joseph Solski and were instantly inspired by
his remarkable flying and instructing skills.
Peter Mallinson
Peter is a Research Zoologist by profession although with an initial
engineering background. He describes his lifelong love of flying
as 'generic', although he wonders whether it may have been influenced by
his childhood environment as the son of an RAF pilot.
He
started flying in 1977 at the age of 28 at Nympsfield, which remains his
home club. He sees aerobatics as a natural progression in the
process of learning to fly aeroplanes and launched seriously into
aerobatics following the 1989 course. He has travelled extensively
in Poland and Germany pursuing further training and after seeing the
advanced state of the sport on the continent and has been determined to
promote the sport of Glider Aerobatics in the UK. He has spent
many hours teaching aerobatics at Nympsfield and other clubs around the
country and was appointed BGA (British Gliding Association) Regional
Aerobatic Examiner in 1995.
Mike Woollard
Mike is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with a deep rooted and
professional interest in aerodynamic and technical matters related to
aviation. He is Chairman of the British Gliding Association
Technical Committee. He started gliding at Nympsfield in 1980 at
the age of 27, moving in 1992 to the Cambridge Gliding Club at Gransden
Lodge. He holds a BGA Advanced Aerobatic Instructor's rating.
Much of his aerobatic flying experience has been gained 'hanging in the
straps' of various aerobatic two-seater training gliders in which he
regularly instructs, or in his favorite aerobatic practice mounts, the
RF4D and the Fox.
He is also a keen
cross-country pilot, flying a Standard Cirrus glider which he shares
with his wife Susan.
Reviews
"This is a masterly treatment of a subject neglected in British gliding
for decades but which has drawn increasing attention in recent years. .
. Beautifully presented and meticulous, it would be very hard to beat
what is certain to become the bible of the unpowered aerobatics art.
Even aerobatic aspirants who demand an engine up front as well as
kinetic energy would benefit from digesting it." - PILOT
"The authors have produced a volume which is set to become a standard
reference work for the future. . . fulfills the needs of both the
students and the instructor, and is written in an easy style with
excellent diagrams and photographs throughout." - FLYER
"It should be on every pilot's bookshelf, whether or not you are keen on
aerobatics. The content is well structured and the layout is good . . .
It's easy to read and concise; I liked the style of writing. The
authors' enthusiasm comes through and you actually want to go flying." -
SAILPLANE AND GLIDING
". . . this is a book no self-respecting Fox pilot can afford to be
without, and if the subject doesn't grab you, then the copious
collection of pictures of just about every silent aerobatic mount in
existence will surely speak to your soul." - SILENT FLIGHT |
