'Flying by the seat of your pants!' - Schneider SG38 Eon Primary Glider

The Shuttleworth Collections Schneider SG-38/Eon Primary glider put through its paces with a superb pilot demonstration of grace and energy management, during the Shuttleworth Family Airshow 2018 at Old Warden. Literally 'flying by the seat of your pants'!
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[@tomarmstrong1281]

The truth is that experienced and knowledgeable pilots will know that 'flying by the seat of the pants' is a real thing.

[@travelbugse2829]

Lovely! but I am always mystified by the canvassed triangular section over the wing. Was that to reduce drag on the main truss? Must have made side-slipping a bit of a headache.

[@HighFlight]

It's an inverted 'V' king post designed to take the upper and lower bracing wires for the wings. Presumably it was found better by trial and error to have the section above the wing canvassed. I don't know whether it reduces drag or effects side slipping.

[@johnrenton3463]

Beautifully framed and shot! Rather him than me, that approach looked fast...

[@HighFlight]

Thanks. It was a very good display.

[@paulmurphy42]

In the 1930s, if the pupil's first flight was solo, and if he had never been up with an instructor, then how could they be sure he wouldn't stall or spin? I know the very low wing loading must be part of the answer, but even so..?

[@HighFlight]

Maybe it was a case of 'survival of the fittest'? I understand that the SG38 was mainly 'bungee launched' from hillsides and pilots were not expected to fly great distances etc. The SG38 was also suspended or supported on a frame for training prior to flying it. There's some interesting references online to its use by the Deutschen NSFK before and during WW2.