On Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:21:35 -0800, Scott Williams wrote:

I must agree with Don Johnstone,
todays winches are very powerful.

IME the control systems in the winch are the most important factor
provided that the winch has enough power to avoid running it flat out for
most of the launch.


Does this result in higher launches or just much more rapid ones?

I learned on a Supacat (240hp diesel V-8), straight drive, driver's
judgement and hand on the throttle were all that controlled the winch.
Now we have a Skylaunch (380hp LPG converted V-8), automatic gearbox,
analog launch controller which the driver can override. The Supacat used
steel cable while the Skylaunch has always used HD poly rope. I've
regularly flown my Libelle and club gliders (K21, Puchacz, Junior) off
both winches. Initial acceleration rates are similar and so are release
heights, but by and large the Skylaunch gives more consistent launches.

Oddly enough, Supacat launches were faster, typically just below Vwinch,
while the Skylaunch launches are about 5 kts slower, which feels a lot
nicer.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
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