Steve, that's a very good hypothesis, could well be right, it certainly
fits the facts as well as the conclusion we reached did. Fit an angle of
attack indicator to a tow-plane and go and try it.

At 20:21 20 February 2014, kirk.stant wrote:
On Thursday, February 20, 2014 1:21:58 PM UTC-6, Steve Leonard wrote:
=20
Time to start working on a secondary pull system (sorry, Kirk. No
explos=
ive bolts or missles. Would be more fun, though.) using attitude and
eleva=
tor 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
te=
sts of set values to turn on a light in the cockpit for the pilot to see
th=
at the automatic system will have operated. Got any reasons not to start
a=
t 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
(a=
nd 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
m=
ake it easy to mount tow hook near CG on center wing.
7. "Tail-gunner" facing backwards in towplane with both hands on tow
releas=
e. 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
relea=
se quick!).
9. Use webcam on tail of towplane to track glider and release him when he
g=
ets out of position (displacement, rate, or combination of both). As
added=
incentive, use bluetooth to set off smoke bomb in glider cockpit if
releas=
e is triggered.
10. Take all glider pilots up in a two-seat towplane (with a briefed
studen=
t 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
66
Tuggie