On 6/15/2014 8:18 PM, Tom Claffey wrote:
While I agree that landing straight ahead is best if there is room, your
sequence of events is wrong. On an aerotow the question whether to land
ahead or turn should be made on every launch! "Then ask the question" will

lead to overload and grief! On tow, once you have decided you cannot land
ahead then it may be a turn to an off-field landing if possible, followed
by a
180 turn back to runway when safe. (That will invariably be at least 200')

I repeat: after a failure is not the time to be thinking about where to
go!

Tom




No, what I was taught and what I teach applies to ALL launch failures,
winch, auto tow, and aerotow as detailed above. The first action is to
select the appropriate attitude, at least approach attitude and make sure
that you have a minimum of approach speed. Then ask the question, "Can I
land ahead" If and ONLY if the answer is NO or NOT SURE should any other
action be considered.




That's how I was taught - first immediate action - fly the glider. Then
assess.

I was sent solo in a T21 at Portmoak, flying off winch from the SW end,
accompanied by a sandbag in the RH seat. Two 360 degree turns and a good
landing. Woohoo.

Ok - now for the second solo flight - cable break at 300 feet. All I
remember of my thought processes at the time was to get the nose down
out of full climb immediately before speed bled off, get rid of cable
and then assess - unsure about straight ahead (20/20 hindsight - full
spoiler and land would have worked), too low for short circuit (maybe),
so I made a 90 degree left turn to get some room, turned back to right
and landed across the main onto the alternative area across from the
hangars, passing in front of the winch.

I explained my thought process to the instructor and we reviewed what I
had done - got a slow nod and a well done lad. Good enough for me and a
credit to my instructors. Was sent back up once we had towed the T21
back to the launch point.