On Jun 23, 5:42*pm, Andy wrote:
On Jun 23, 4:18*pm, ucsdcpc wrote:

have a look at the simulation videos on the BGA website

http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/saf...nch-safety.htm

you don't have a lot of time to find the release knob if a wing drops

Maybe not, but it's hard to believe the wing drop simulations are
representative. *What reasonably trained pilots would stuff the wing
into the ground and then continue to hold full aileron into the low
wing? *It would be interesting to see the same scenario simulated with
an external upset causing the wing drop and full recovery aileron
being applied at and after wing tip contact. *Throw in various amounts
of drag on the low wing tip to simulate short grass, long grass, etc
and then introduce pilot release before, at, and after wing tip
contact, and I'd start to believe it was a useful training aid.

Andy

It's realistic in the sense that the most likely way a wing would go
down is if the pilot does, in fact, "stuff it down". Unfortunately,
you just have to watch a few takeoffs to see it happen. One of my
frustrations is pilots who seem to have no idea where their ailerons
are until a wingtip hits the ground.

If the pilot consciously centers the ailerons as part of the pre-
takeoff checks and lets the wing runner balance the glider, the glider
will just stay balanced on its own for several seconds after the wing
runner lets go - long enough to get aileron control on either aero
tow or winch. That's good practice with any launch method.