At 16:47 28 October 2015, wrote:
On Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at 10:56:18 AM UTC-5, kirk.stant wrote:
In the spirit of lively RAS discussions, I submit that the US gliding
com=
munity needs to switch to hillside bungee launching - the benefits would
be=
immense!
=20
1. Launches would be essentially free (except for some sweat equity -
but=
most US glider pilots could use the exercise...)
=20
2. Good for the environment (except for some extra CO2 from the sweaty
bu=
ngee crew).
=20
3. It would provide an instant "shovel ready" infrastructure project -
bu=
ilding all those hills next to flatland gliderports.=20
=20
4. It would have a beneficial impact on the health of glider club
members=
..
=20
5. It would let more glider pilots share the fun of soaring, since the
av=
erage flight time would be measured in single digit minutes, allowing
great=
er use of club gliders.
=20
6. Low altitude thermalling skills would be hugely improved!
=20
I'm off to find a nice long bungee cord, our club's K13 already has the
b=
ungee nose hook installed! All I need now is a hill...
=20
Kirk
66
=20
(PS: Greased-board launches off a cliff are overlooked, too!)

Kirk, leave it to us Chicagoans to provide an answer to your plight.
Here
=
in the burbs we have a former trash dump that has grown to about 300'
over
=
the years it was in use. Was then transformed into a methane producing
encl=
osed heap with a power station at the base. There's your launch mountain,
m=
an! Nevermind that it's under the B-airspace, who cares.
41=B0 43.810' N 88=B0 4.925' W
I like your brilliant proposal, btw. The RC boys from oll over
Chicagoland
=
already use this thing for ridge soaring. To add to your well-made
argument=
s: why not combine the immensely popular car-towing with a long bungee
cord=
???!!!
Herb, J7

Ah yes, Auto-Bunjy, done that.

Bungying is not free, 'cos of the cost and life of a Bungee.
(How many correct ways of spelling Bungy are there?)

Try contacting http://www.vintagegliderclub.org/ there is almost certain to
be lots of info on this classic launch method.