At 19:30 22 March 2009, Del C wrote:
At 18:22 22 March 2009, Willy VINKEN wrote:
Can anyone tell me more about how a Standard Cirrus handles when
winched?
We use a GMC V8 325 HP petrol engine with standard automatic gearbox.
No problems until now with K8, K6 and Astir Jeans.
I plan to fit my Cirrus with a CG hook. Cirruses imported to France
where all equipped with a nose hook.

Willy VINKEN OO-ZNY

As long as you don't get an overpowered winch launch it's fine. The
ailerons are slightly ineffective at low speed, so try to choose a fit
looking wing runner if you can. If it's one of the all-flying tailplane
versions, just hold the stick about two-thirds forward and leave it
there
until you are established in the full climb. Just concentrate on keeping
the wings level and the glider running straight during the ground run
and
rotation. If there is any chance of dropping a wingtip onto the ground,
pull off immediately. It will naturally rotate quite enthusiatically
after
lift off, but avoid ramming the stick hard forward to contain this, as
this
is what can stall the tailplane.

Don't try to winch launch on a nose hook, because it will give a very
poor launch, and there is no back release mechanism on a the type of
nose
hook fitted to this type.

The Standard Cirrus doesn't have the best positioned shoulder strap
mountings, so make sure you do your safety harness up as tightly as
possible to avoid slipping back up the seat, due to the acceleration.

Derek Copeland


I concur with Derek. I brace my right arm against my thigh and hold the
stick part way down so any bumps on the ground run will have much less
effect. (I learnt on a UK hill site). Mine has a all flying tail and I do
what Derek describes. I don't need to adjust the position of the stick
(in terms of pitch) until well into the climb and that is just fine
tuning.

Yes, tighten the straps before launch and press firmly back on the pedals
before launch to compress parachute/back rest arrangements (I have 50mm of
dynafoam behind me) to ensure you don't slip back on launch.

No problems with a V8 power Tost winch.

Fitting winglets last season made the ailerons more responsive at low
speed.

Read the flight manual about launching (which basically says what Derek
and I have). Also look at the Standard Cirrus website
http://www.standardcirrus.org
and also look at the Std Cirrus Forum. There is a search facility so look
for 'launch'.

The Std Cirrus hook is well protected by 2 parallel metal strips.
Practice getting the cable on yourself so you can describe to helpers how
they should fit the cable. They tend to get a bit confused because they
can't see the hook like K8s and Astirs etc.

As my first CFI says: Its a glider - go any fly it as you would a glider!





Gavin
Std Cirrus, CNN now G-SCNN, #173
LSV Viersen, Keiheuvel, Belgium