Talk:Rolladen-Schneider LS2

Trailing-edge flaps

In three places, this article states that the LS2 was designed with “trailing edge air brakes”. This wording has been used since the article was created 16 years ago. It is not correct. The LS2 had camber-changing flaps at the trailing edge of the wing inboard of the ailerons. When fully extended, these flaps provided sufficient drag that they could be used to control the landing approach path, similar to the role of spoilers/air brakes in the majority of gliders in the Standard Class at the time.

Prior to 1973 the Standard Class rules permitted a single device for landing approach control; and a lift-enhancing device was not permitted. Consequently, Standard Class gliders had spoilers/air brakes installed on either the upper wing surface or on both upper and lower surfaces. In 1973 the Rules were amended to remove the prohibition on any lift-enhancing device. At the World Gliding Championship in 1974 in Waikerie there were two Standard Class gliders with trailing-edge flaps but no other spoiler/air brake: the LS2 and the PIK-20. In 1974 the Rules were amended, this time to again prohibit lift-enhancing devices in the Standard Class, and to introduce the Racing Class or 15-metre Class in which both spoilers/air brakes and a lift-enhancing device were permitted.

Standard Class gliders with trailing edge air brakes do exist: the Glasflügel Hornet and the Glasflügel Club Libelle are 2 examples. The LS2 is not among them.

I intend to amend the LS2 article to remove mention of air brakes and replace with mention of flaps. Dolphin (t) 12:51, 8 November 2021 (UTC)