Winch Launch Fatality

On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:30:05 +0000, Del C wrote:

When I had a flapped Nimbus 2, I always set the flaps to zero for the
ground run and selected the first stage of positive once I was
established in the full climb. That way I could keep my hand on the
release knob during the ground run. The rapid acceleration of a winch
launch gives you almost instant control.

For aerotows I started in full negative and notched the flaps back as I
gained speed and control.

I should have made it clear that was for aero tow: starting the roll in
position 2 (-6 degrees) and going to position 3 (zero) once the ailerons
are fully effective is SOP for an ASW-20 on aero tow.

I flew winch launches entirely in position 3 - zero flap.

Martin


At 14:23 26 June 2009, Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:15:04 +0000, Big Wings wrote:

Flapped gliders where the setting needs to be changed from negative
during the ground run are an interesting case. Starting (aerotow)
launches in negative reduces the probability of a wing drop, but
one's
hand is in the wrong place to react if it does. What is the best
option
for those guys?

Good question.

When I had an ASW-20 I kept my hand on the release until the ailerons
bit, moved the flap lever to position 3 and put my hand back on the
release with minimum delay. I always assumed this was close to the
optimum, but was that a correct assumption?


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martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
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