On Jun 26, 2:08*pm, Tom Gardner wrote:
On Jun 26, 7:56*pm, Frank Whiteley wrote:

Don Ingraham has shared some pictures of the winch clinic herehttp://www.crosscountrysoaring.com/welcome22.html

A video of some of the launches is herehttp://www.soaringchapters.org/minnesota/mn_winch.wmv
Frank Whiteley

Can I suggest that the people taking the video might like to consider
what would happen to the cable when it breaks under tension at just
the wrong height. I've watched the cable snake along the ground
alongside and (say) 40ft behind our winch. *Quite entertaining (and
even pretty), but I was glad I was off the ground in another vehicle!

Tom Gardner

You bring up a valid point. Solid steel wire is the worst and needs a
wide clear zone for auto tow, reverse pulley, or winching. 7/7 (and
7/19 to a slightly lesser extent) needs a clear zone also, especially
on the drum side and aft. I wouldn't have my truck attached with any
steel, even with drum covers. The dyneema and spectra ropes have no
recoil and negligible mass. Even then, when I put the camcorder on
the drum side, it was left unattended on a tripod, nor would I allow
anyone on that side during launching. When winching, we need folks
switched on, at both ends of the rope, to what's happening on, above,
and in the traffic vicinity of the airfield. As this was a new
activity there, it was NOTAMed. At one point, we had a large tractor,
towing a tank and spray gear cross the airport. Bill announced
holding for heavy equipment on the runway. The FBO replied what heavy
equipment? Then took a look. The treads of the tractor actually
flicked the winch rope, but didn't snatch it fortunately. We
explained things as he passed by.

Frank Whiteley