On Friday, February 1, 2013 7:25:41 PM UTC-7, wrote:
More...do the winch operations that pull the light line for a retrieve winch have more control for a parachute drop in the case of a weak link break?



In a perfect world, its never a line break someplace else, but seems like if a chute took off crosswind after a link snapped, there's a little time to have the retrieve end to snag it back.



BTW. When we train winch drivers we have little contests "flying" the chute down to a specific spot in front of the winch. Some of them get pretty good after ten tries. (Our minimum requirement to operate the the fishing reel solo) Karen

Karen, retrieve winches do not use parachutes. If there is a rope break, each winch will have a portion of the rope to pull in. The retrieve rope attaches to the main rope about 100m in front the glider and the retrieve winch is positioned well to the side of the runway center line so the retrieve rope is never directly under the glider. A good retrieve winch operation has better control of the rope(s) than one using a parachute and no retrieve winch.

IFAIK, there are no retrieve winch operations in the US right now but two sites are close to testing of their new retrieve winch designs. Retrieve winch operations in the UK have claimed a sustained launch rate of one per minute as long as there are gliders in the launch queue. That may work out closer to one every two minutes but that's better than a couple of tow planes can do.