On 27 Jun 2005 07:05:00 -0700, wrote:


For pilots who winch launch regularly, the definition of normal flight
attitudes is greatly expanded. But I think you'll all agree that it is
a highly specialized type of flying (even if you are used to it). Pull
on the stick to go faster. Push to go slower. If the cable breaks, no
messing around... stick right forward until the nose is well below the
horizon, then ease it back gently, paying attention to your airspeed.
Abrupt control motions, significantly reduced g, large angles of nose
up and nose down, close to the ground, special considerations regarding
turns... sounds to me like a pretty threatening environment, sort of
like taking off downwind at gross from a short runway. Deserves some
special consideration. And occasional reexamination to prevent the
complacency of experience.

Well...
1. Have you ever flown a model glider without radio control? The one
that you pull up with a rope, simulating a winch launch?
Works like a charm. In *any* halfways correctly trimmed real-size
glider you can let go the stick - and your glider will do the launch
for you. Try that in an aerotow.
How many tow pilots did you say have been victims due to
overcontrolled gliders in the last 50 years?

2. It looks as if you are simply afraid of winch launching due to lack
of training/experience. Having more winch launches than I care to
count, my experience is that *any* student pilot learns winch
launching a lot easier than aerotowing.

3. I had more than enough aerotows where any engine problem of the tow
plane would have led to a bad crash because we were low over an
unlandable area. I prefer by far the winch launch where the complete
airfield is head of me in case of a low cable-break.

4. Recovery from cable-breaks is an extremely straight forward
procedure. Very easy to perform with some training.
What did you say you are doing if you have a rope break in an aerotow
at the end of the runway in 100 ft with unlandable area in front of
you?

5. Sure a winch launch is a highly specialized type of flying. But
isn't flying without any engine at all even more highly specialized?
Imagine that - no engine means that you cannot perform a go-around if
you misjudged your landing approach...

6. Accident statistics definitely prove that winch launching is by far
one of the less risky things you can do if you fly gliders.



Bye
Andreas