On 12 Aug 2003 14:46:22 GMT, Ray Lovinggood
wrote:

The club, 'DJK' in Landau in der Pfalz, Germany, had
many GREAT winch operators!

Although I know you are biased, thx a lot for the compliment, Ray!

The only instrument, I
think (hey, this was from 1983 till 1986), was a tach
and maybe a engine coolant temperature gauge. I think
they operated mainly by sight and sound. Yep, they
were great operators! I think their rules stipulated
at least 100 operations with an instructor before they
could operate solo.

The 100 launches (on at least 10 deifferent days) are standard
requirements in Germany before you are able to work as a winch driver.
And in 2003 we have a 280 hp turbo Diesel winch that is easily able to
catapult any glider into the air - and we still use the same hightech
gauges you mentioned - the winch is basically driven with the RPM
meter and visally (rope slack).



Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
(who misses winch launching in the Land of Aero Tows)
.... simply go back to the club of your youth...


Bye
Andreas