On Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:13:53 -0700, Andy wrote:

On Jul 14, 9:57Â*am, Martin Gregorie
wrote:

I almost asked about it earlier in the thread and then decided that was
obvious - you'd turn the same way as usual because that's what the tow
pilot is expecting. So, is this the correct answer and, if not, what is?

With a crosswind and only the takeoff runway as a landing option the
choice should usually be into the wind.

A turn into a crosswind will reduce the deviation of the glider from the
extended runway centre line and reduce the distance required to return
to the runway centre line for landing. It therefore reduces the
altitude loss for the course reversal.

Imagine a 90 deg cross wind that equals the glider's airspeed. A turn
into wind can be accomplished on the runway extended center line. Now
consider how far the glider must go to complete the turn if made
downwind.

I initially thought into wind, i.e. opposite to what I'd mentally run
through in my pre-winch-launch eventualities, was the answer.

Then it occurred to me that, if the cross wind was such that turning into
it caused you to turn opposite to the local aero tow release convention
and the tow pilot wasn't looking or was dealing with a situation at his
end that had forced the tow to be abandoned, you could easily end up in
conflict with the tow plane. Not a good place to be.


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martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
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