On Thursday, February 20, 2014 1:21:58 PM UTC-6, Steve Leonard wrote:

Time to start working on a secondary pull system (sorry, Kirk. No explosive bolts or missles. Would be more fun, though.) using attitude and elevator positon. Or maybe attitude and pitch rate. Need to keep it as simple (fewest inputs and software) as possible. I do like the idea of initial tests of set values to turn on a light in the cockpit for the pilot to see that the automatic system will have operated. Got any reasons not to start at 10 degrees nose down pitch attitude and half way to max nose up elevator travel?

No pyrotechnics? How are we going to grow the sport without pyrotechnics (and a TV reality show...).

How about:

1. Tow gliders vertically with helicopters (It's been done..)
2. Have the towplane push the glider with a reverse towbar setup.
3. Mount the glider on top of the towplane - space-shuttle/747 style.
4. Two words: Electromagnetic catapults.
5. Automatic BRS on towplane triggered by sudden pitch-down.
6. Custom design towplane made from 2 Pawnee fuselages, F-82 style; would make it easy to mount tow hook near CG on center wing.
7. "Tail-gunner" facing backwards in towplane with both hands on tow release. Better not **** that guy off before you launch!
8. Use F8F Bearcats for towplanes - they would climb so steeply that if the glider kited, it would only level off the towplane (and then the glider's wings would come off as you accelerated through glider's Vne - Better release quick!).
9. Use webcam on tail of towplane to track glider and release him when he gets out of position (displacement, rate, or combination of both). As added incentive, use bluetooth to set off smoke bomb in glider cockpit if release is triggered.
10. Take all glider pilots up in a two-seat towplane (with a briefed student and instructor in the glider) and at a safe altitude demonstrate what an upset looks and feels like from both ends of the string.

I like #8, myself, but I think #10 would work pretty darn good.

Kirk
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Tuggie