I gotta say this movie is top notch for anyone remotely interested in sailplane competition.
The generation of gliders shown in this video were among the most difficult aircraft to fly safely, and many had atrocious handling qualities. For instance, turning left required initial right aileron application to drag the left wing back and down with adverse yaw. Spin recovery? Forget it. VNE? Who knows. Everybody modified their own ships to gain an edge, and some were never test flown with their final mods before the competition.
One of the aircraft in the video had about a 50:1 glide ratio with nothing for glide slope control beyond a drogue chute. That's like locking the power on a C172 at 2100RPM and descending to the numbers with no slipping. You can add full flaps if you need them, but they'll extend instantly upon deployment and you have no option to retract them again. Sounds easy, especially after a 5 hour competition in 100+ degree Texas summer heat. Might as well pop the canopy vent and smoke a cigarette on final.
Anyway, the BeeGees soundtrack only adds to the experience in this brilliantly executed film. Like a lot of good movies, you have to watch it a few times to capture every nuance, but it does a great job of documenting a truly historic era in sailplane racing.
If you don't appreciate it, you need to get a glider ride. Ask me and I'd be happy to hook you up.
Cheers,
M
