These folks could make something http://www.atlinc.com/inflatables.html

On Thursday, June 5, 2014 9:37:22 AM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
Remember the "ejection seat" developed by DG several years back? It

involved a bladder which was quickly inflated by a CO2 cartridge and

lifts the pilot high enough to simply roll out in an emergency. I don't

see why a less energetic version could not be developed. Something

inflated much more slowly by a battery powered pump run off of the

ship's battery. With something like this, one wouldn't have to wait for

a hoist or crane to be rolled out.



I find I can still get out of my ship by pulling a foot back and getting

a firm plant on the cockpit floor but, eventually, I might have to start

unstrapping my parachute to climb out.



Dan Marotta



On 6/5/2014 7:14 AM, son_of_flubber wrote:

I understand that the post is focused on hand controls, and those are of course a great thing to implement, but the issue of adaptation to disabilities in soaring is in fact a much broader and bigger issue.



For example, the disability that is on the rise in the present growing-older/weaker/heavier USA glider pilot population is simply the inability to get into and out of the glider.



I know older rowers who quit sculling because they cannot get into or out of their boats any more. I know some glider pilots who can barely get out of their gliders and it would be a shame if they quit. Has anyone started to use a hoist to get pilots into their gliders?



Has anyone done some simple modifications that make it easier to get in and out of the glider? A sky-hook would come in handy lots of days.