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Old October 10th 13, 12:44 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Dan Marotta
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Posts: 4,601
Default Keep your hand off the release handle during aero tows!

My LAK-17a has wheels like the first picture in this link:
http://www.williamssoaring.com/catal...ane-parts.html

They work great on pavement, but are useless on grass.


"Soartech" wrote in message
...
JC wrote:
The answer: either retractable or disposable pogo sticks on the wingtips,
or mid-wing. Something that keeps the wings level to 25 mph and then
either drops off or retracts into the wing.


Along this line, many self-launchers have small in-line skate wheels on
the wingtips so they can start with the wing already touching the runway.
Perhaps a simple retrofit could save your gel-coat (or your life).
As for dropable pogo sticks, hang gliders that aerotow often use a 3
wheeled launch cart(with a wide stance)to keep the wing level until it
flies away from the cart. No one wants to lift their sailplane into a cart
so this won't work for us. :-)