ContestID67 wrote:
I have to take umbrage at practicing something that is such an
incredibly rare event.

I have never even heard of a single tow rope release failure (but I am
sure that they have happened) let alone a double release failure.
Practicing slack rope and rope break (basically a single failure)
recoveries is important. But we simulate these at a decent altitude
which allows time and height to recover in case of something going
badly. Practicing what this video shows invites trying to recover at
the worse possible time - just a few feet above the ground. Would you
practice a much-more-likely-to-occur spin ... but at 100 feet?

Anyone know of a real life double release failure?

My $1.99.

- John DeRosa

I think practicing this is pretty darn stupid, why risk a collision
between two perfectly fine aircrafts during decent and ground roll ?

The risk of a slippery glass glider catching up with the towplane during
decent is simply not worth it.

Better things to practice that have a much higher probability includes;
tow plane power loss (at safe height, do wing rocking - glider pilot
should react correctly, i.e release), spin entry/recovery, air brake
deployment during tow at safe height, landing with full airbrakes
deployed and of course, procedures for rope break at various heights,
etc etc

Being an instructor myself, I had a very interesting ride with a
(talented) student when I pulled the release handle to simulate rope
brake at around 330ft/110m in strong straight side-wind (i.e. 90 degrees
from takeoff direction).

The student turned around to land downwind, which was OK. But he turned
the wrong way since he didn't turn into the wind. Since we were
practising at a very large airfield I let him continue and he corrected
his position before landing since he was well off the centerline once
the turn was finished.

The student realized his mistake at an early stage but did the right
thing and continued the turn instead of consuming height trying to
reverse the turn. This particular student will NEVER do this mistake
again since he got to experience what happens when doing it the wrong way.

An example of practicing a probable scenario that at a fairly low risk
gives much in return for the student.

Double release failure ?! Bah !

/AndersP