On Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:56:40 -0800, wrote:

2800 feet is still enough for a 1000 foot launch in a plane with a cCG
hook. Good for pattern work and landing practice.

A little more is better for xc, but not a lot more is needed. I'm a
flatland pilot and almost always go xc off the winch. We use about 3000
ft of cable and don't normally get less than 1100, or 1200 if we're near
Vwinch at the top and can zoom an extra 100+.

And as landing practice is the most expensive cost of learning to soar
{all those pesky aerotows just to get landing practice :´)} a winch
launch is a good way to get landing practice.

Absolutely. I learnt on the winch. My only pre-solo aero tow was for a
spin demo. That was a good summer, so all my spin training was from the
winch plus a good thermal. I wasn't cleared for solo aero tow until I'd
been solo a year.

Don't know as I have never ridge soared off a winch launch but it would
be great! I think that most pilots would be safer if they learned to fly
at lower heights(AGL).

The height you need for winch launching depends a lot on the local
geology. Here's the (small) list I've flown at:

Sutton bank. This field is on top of an almost vertical cliff, so the
winch just lobs you over the edge at about 400 ft. If the ridge is
working that's plenty.

Dunstable. The field is at the bottom of a 3-400 ft ridge. Its food marks
the airfield boundary, so anything over 700 ft will see you comfortably
onto it and 4-500 ft should do the trick in a westerly.

Portmoak. The field is maybe a mile from The Bishop, which is an 1100
foot ridge. If its working you launch almost directly away from it.
1000-1100 ft is plenty. You turn right and fly onto the ridge, arriving
above 800 ft. 2-3 beats round the first bowl puts you above the top from
where you can see enough to get safely round the corner onto the main
ridge.

I certainly still have a habit of getting low once per long flight.

Likewise.
IMO that's another reason for going xc off the winch: if you can get away
from it on a given day then there is a very good chance that you'll be
able to do it again if you get low out on the task.

This is in contrast to the sort of day where there's nothing below
2000ft. If you aero tow to 2500 to start an xc you'll not know that its
worms below 2K and getting low well mean an unpleasant discovery followed
by a visit to les vaches.


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martin@ | Martin Gregorie
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