On Friday, June 21, 2013 8:16:25 AM UTC-6, JohnDeRosa wrote:
Can anyone comment if the "steep nose high attitude" was intentional? Were the previous launches straight line low hops which would seem to be safer? Low hops would keep both the glider and the (very important) automobile in the same camera frame. Could something have occurred in the cockpit which forced a dramatic change in pitch attitude?



Which, to me, points back to the length of the rope (234ft) and the tow car driver stating that "The pilot planned to become airborne and then circle back to the airport to land.". Really? Circle back using a 234ft launch rope? He would have only gotten, what, 100feet high? I would seriously doubt that this experienced of a glider pilot (CFIG) would have announced that he could "circle back" even if he thought he would get 200-300 ft sling shot like launch. If not then it flies in the face of what the driver said.



- John "Speculation" D.

Cle Elum Runway 7/25
Dimensions: 2552 x 40 ft.

With a runway this short, a pilot would have to climb very steeply to get any height at all. I'll guess the Caddy towing a DG1000 would need at least 1000' to reach 70mph and another 500' or so to stop. Add 234' of rope length and that leaves less than 700' of runway for the glider to climb - maybe much less.

OTOH, runways this short are used for winch launch. You could expect at least 1000' AGL launches. But then, the Caddy wouldn't have a leading role.