JS1 vs Ventus cT: The Low Level Ridge Race

[@colinkellynz]

Thanks Tim. As someone looking to buy, it is great to see how little difference 26 years and 100K plus makes.

[@PureGlide]

Exactly! If we were flying around at 120knots all the time then it would matter, but not so much around the Waikato. And all our comps are handicapped anyway!

[@stephaniekent8483]

I remember in the 80s racing along that ridge to Thames and back, I was in an ASW 19 Kilo Charlie from the Auckland gliding club, 6 of us racing right on max rough air most of the way 120-140 knots, DGs -LS4s etc we were down to 500 feet at one point and I was checking paddocks and telegraph poles as they whizzed by, when another pilot, Graeme Wilson, in his LS 4, shot underneath me dumping water! great memories and we all got back to airfield safely for a beer.

[@PureGlide]

Thanks Stephanie! It sure is good fun, although not so much at 500 feet when you don't want to be there :)

[@stephaniekent8483]

@@PureGlide indeed for sure, I loved seeing the Falls on your video and was at the lookout not long ago, loved it on a strong ridge day when the water went back up wow!:) happy landings !

[@eglide73]

You’re right, decision making is the difference. That’s why Sebastian Kawa is the greatest.

[@PureGlide]

Exactly! And it doesn't matter which glider he's in :)

[@wesk123]

I was always surprised quite how well lower performance gliders would go against the ASH-25 I flew. What seems to make the biggest difference (in pure performance terms) is the very small, almost incremental 50ft here, 100ft there suddenly gets you to the next good thermal when the lower performance means you have to stop and scratch in 1knt - like you going around that spur at 3:59 and the JS-1 carried straight over. Was almost always thrashed by a much better flown 15m glider in any case! Of course, 25m wings are great for big gaps, not so good for 100knt cruising.

[@PureGlide]

Yeah again at lower speeds there's not a lot of difference between $25,000 and $150,000, and even less between $100,000 and $250,000! All depends on the weather too, some gliders suit light thermal conditions, while others are better at going fast on a ridge/wave line.

[@GTroy]

love the video, the scenery...can't wait for my club to open. subbed and can't wait to see more

[@PureGlide]

Thanks GTroy! Yeah hope it’s not too long before you can fly again

[@chrisgodding8114]

Really appreciate the instruction on your videos. Thank you.

[@PureGlide]

You are welcome!

[@southseasailing]

Very cool! Thanks Tim.

[@PureGlide]

Thanks for watching!

[@aehsrose]

Absolutely superb, please keep them coming!!!!!

[@PureGlide]

Thanks! I'll try, now I should do some actual work..

[@aehsrose]

@@PureGlide Now your talkin' stupid!!

[@KestrelPilot]

Nice video, Tim. Always good to 'fly' with someone else to learn a bit more.

[@PureGlide]

Absolutely!

[@derekwagstaff8348]

Was watching you lot galavanting while Im quarantined in Mexico...not jealous at all....then lo and behold, a video. Nice one guys!

[@PureGlide]

Thanks Derek! Don't worry sounds like you'd be quarantined if you were in NZ too shortly...

[@ChessInTheAir]

Very nice flying! Great scenery, too!

[@PureGlide]

Thank you!

[@willhibbardii2450]

Thanks for the ride Tim... Break over... Back to work...

[@PureGlide]

Thanks! I should do the same...

[@markburton5170]

Also I normally fly my Arcus at about 80 knots. Interesting demonstration of how little benefit I get from the modern aerofoil at that speed!

[@PureGlide]

Yeah might be worth flying a touch faster - but check the numbers, maybe try following a speed director on your vario for a bit to see what is best for the conditions?

[@markburton5170]

@@PureGlide To some extent I set the McReady to keep the vario quiet at my chosen speed! 1.5 gives 80 knots, 2.5 gives 90 knots. That would be a good day in the UK. Actually, I like quite a wide quiet band, I think I have 'SC tab' set to 3 knots.

[@MikelLee]

You are probably not reviewing comments on this video as it's a bit old, but if you are, it would be nice to know if these gliders had water ballast in them, and calculated wing loading. As you are aware that also makes a big difference in speed vs L/D From a fellow Ventus CT owner :-)

[@PureGlide]

You're in luck, I see all comments :) I can't remember sorry, likely no water in both, we weren't planning to race, just a casual day of flying.

[@tobias5821]

engineers: Let's make a very ergonomic flight stick! pilot: How to grab this thing???

[@PureGlide]

lol pretty much

[@markburton5170]

Why do you have the clearnav as well as the lx? The verios were totally in sync on your video. I just have a winter Vario as well as my lx9000.

[@PureGlide]

The ClearNav cNv thing is for sale, but hasn't sold yet!

[@archives767]

what app do you use on your smartphone when you're flying?

[@PureGlide]

Hi it's a tracking website I made for New Zealand: gliding.net.nz/tracking

[@archives767]

@@PureGlide thank you

[@Poddair737]

I think if you had been folowing the ridge more aggressivly it had been faster!

[@justinbarber4567]

Your ship is 1987?

[@PureGlide]

Sure is from 1987!

[@justinbarber4567]

@@PureGlide I have a little knowledge but I thought you were flying a later generation sailplane. Even more impressed.

[@PureGlide]

Yeah it’s pretty good for it’s age! The flaps help a lot.

[@lautoka63]

Nice. I think that aerodynamics are, until boundary layer blowing is used effectively, at a stage of marginal gains. It'd be interesting to see a performance vs. dollars plot.

[@PureGlide]

Yes it would be!