Safety of winch launch vrs. aero tow?

JJ, you've had some bad experiences and I'm sorry for that. But you have to
realize that there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of winch
launches all around the world that go off without a hitch simply because the
people involved know what they are doing.

The subject under discussion is a club that is thinking about trying a new
launch system, winch launching and now pay-out winch. My point in posting on
this subject is to show what can happen when unskilled club members try a new
system.
JJ Sinclair

"JJ Sinclair" wrote in message
...


JJ, you've had some bad experiences and I'm sorry for that. But you have
to
realize that there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of winch
launches all around the world that go off without a hitch simply because
the
people involved know what they are doing.

The subject under discussion is a club that is thinking about trying a new
launch system, winch launching and now pay-out winch. My point in posting
on
this subject is to show what can happen when unskilled club members try a
new
system.
JJ Sinclair

OK, JJ, If they are unskilled and insist on REMAINING unskilled, I'll give
you the point. Everybody starts out unskilled, however - I don't hold that
against them.

I don't think you are dissing ground launch, you're just warning that any
group needs to realize that there is a steep learning curve ahead of them.
I'll agree with that.

They've learned to fly gliders however, so they can't be dumb. I think they
can learn to operate a winch safely and enjoyably IF they take the trouble
to learn the art and science of it. There are lots of books to read and
this medium, the internet, connects us with the world where there is a
wealth of knowledge about ground launch.

If someone wanted to do the world of ground launch a great favor, they would
start a web site where the collective wisdom of the world could be displayed
so that anyone wishing to undertake winch launch could go there and get an
education.

Any volunteers?

Bill Daniels

I say learn and enjoy.

Bill Daniels

If someone wanted to do the world of ground launch a great favor, they would
start a web site where the collective wisdom of the world could be displayed
so that anyone wishing to undertake winch launch could go there and get an
education.

Ok it may not be the collective wisdom of the world. But there is
quite a bit of information on winch launching at:

http://www.northwestsoaring.com/sitemap.shtml

Let me know if I am missing anything really important about Winch
Launching here.

Brian Case
CFIIG/ASEL

"Brian Case" wrote in message
om...
If someone wanted to do the world of ground launch a great favor, they
would
start a web site where the collective wisdom of the world could be
displayed
so that anyone wishing to undertake winch launch could go there and get
an
education.

Ok it may not be the collective wisdom of the world. But there is
quite a bit of information on winch launching at:

http://www.northwestsoaring.com/sitemap.shtml

Let me know if I am missing anything really important about Winch
Launching here.

Brian Case
CFIIG/ASEL

Good site - congratulations.

About your 2003 procedures - you must have had a bad experience with gusty
wind conditions. This is why I have been advocating airspeed telemetry.

Bill Daniels

OK, the threads on this topic are branching out pretty good, so again I feel the
need to post that most if not all of the collected wisdom in the world concerning
ground launch in all of its phases is already available in one place.

This place is between the covers of one slim volume by the same name and was
authored by the great Derek Piggott. I just Googled "ground launch piggott" and
up popped maybe a half dozen people who wanted to sell me one. The first was NSM,
our National Soaring Museum:

http://www.soaringmuseum.org/estore/...353463656.html

Get one today! (Book, that is)

And after you read it, don't go out and "do this at home" as they say. Get
somebody that knows how to show you the ropes (har, har) and then the book will
make much more sense.

Disclaimer--- I own stock in both Piggott Enterprises and NSM.

Just kidding

BJ

Brian Case wrote:

If someone wanted to do the world of ground launch a great favor, they would
start a web site where the collective wisdom of the world could be displayed
so that anyone wishing to undertake winch launch could go there and get an
education.

Ok it may not be the collective wisdom of the world. But there is
quite a bit of information on winch launching at:

http://www.northwestsoaring.com/sitemap.shtml

Let me know if I am missing anything really important about Winch
Launching here.

Brian Case
CFIIG/ASEL