Kiting:
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I have never kited anyone on our winch. I do wonder whether it would be nec=
essary to take the winch out of gear in order to pay out the cable and what=
effect that would have on the pilot.
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I imaging a series of payouts with the glider lowering the nose during the =
procedure, followed by take-in sessions, and finally some swearing when the=
winch driver realises that he has now lost control of a very long length o=
f cable.
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For a glider with stall speed 40 kts and optimum winch speed ?1.5 x stall s=
peed =3D 60 knots.
If the cable is hanging down 45 degrees below the horizon, and the glider i=
s pointing 40 degrees above the horizon, then I anticipate an upper level w=
ind speed of about 45 kts+ is needed for kiting.
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I think we launch fine up to about 20 kts ground wind speed. I have launche=
d in 25kts but the instructors are starting to put the toys away, and I thi=
nk we have stopped launching at 30 kts. So not too much wind gradient need=
ed, but it does require the pilot and winch driver not to break the weak li=
nk on the initial climb.
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Imagine reacting rapidly to a broken weak link when pointed skywards at 100=
ft, with a 30 kt headwind!
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Rory
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