Good full-scale practice, once centered in the thermal, is to simply check whether the thermal has a much faster core by making tighter coordinated turns (obviously with steeper bank angle) for a couple of turns and see if the variometer indicates a higher rate of ascent. If so, try turning even tighter, until no further gain is made. You're finding the point where the losses in the vertical lift component caused by the steeper bank are no longer outweighed by centering tighter into the fastest part of the core. Detecting this increased rate of ascent in a model is another story, unless you have a vario.
The upshot is: efficient coordinated turns are most important, and each thermal / sailplane combination has its own ideal bank angle. Regards Richard Knott Bell Equipment Co. South Africa Wheeled Loader Marketing, Specials & Aftersales Support +27 (35) 907 9325 (ph) +27 (35) 907 9611 (fax) +27 (0) 82 775 8061 (mobile)
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
