Winching - Reverse Auto Tow

"John Spargo" wrote in message
...


Can anyone direct me to Clubs / Web sites using this method of launching -
Interested in finding out more about this method, particularly from clubs
that operate from gravel/dirt strips

Thank you


John Spargo


Over the years Cotswold GC and Essex & Suffok GC in the UK used this method.
Cotswold abandoned it 2-3 years ago in favor of a winch. Not sure about E &
S. Differently designed between sites. E & S was over engineered in my
opinion. Cotswold's system was elegant in it's simplicity. I've stowed
some images of that here.
http://www.soarcsa.org/thinking_page...ey/default.htm

Both systems were used on paved surfaces.

Frank Whiteley
Colorado

F.L. Whiteley writes
I've stowed some images of that here.
http://www.soarcsa.org/thinking_page...erse_pulley/de
fault.htm

Heh. I noticed this truck hidden behind the Butts on Saturday, rusting
away quietly with brambles growing over it. Realised it was a now
disused winch system. Didn't realise it was the one they used to use for
auto-tows, though in hind sight should've guessed. Having said that, I
hadn't realised the club discontinued auto-tows as recently as the turn
of the millennium (I only joined at the beginning of last month).

Nice to see pictures of the thing in all its old glory. Thank-you.

--
Bill Gribble

/----------------------------------\
| http://www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk |
| http://members.aol.com/annsweb |
| http://www.shatteredkingdoms.org |
\----------------------------------/

Peter Skelly was the designer, builder, maintainer as far as I know.
Believed there were two complete systems and were replaced when the pickup
trucks finally wore out. Those were elegant in design, operation, and
simplicity and very inexpensive to operate. Only limitation is available
space. Put them on a 10K runway and wow!

Frank

"Bill Gribble" wrote in
message .. .
F.L. Whiteley writes
I've stowed some images of that here.
http://www.soarcsa.org/thinking_page...erse_pulley/de
fault.htm

Heh. I noticed this truck hidden behind the Butts on Saturday, rusting
away quietly with brambles growing over it. Realised it was a now
disused winch system. Didn't realise it was the one they used to use for
auto-tows, though in hind sight should've guessed. Having said that, I
hadn't realised the club discontinued auto-tows as recently as the turn
of the millennium (I only joined at the beginning of last month).

Nice to see pictures of the thing in all its old glory. Thank-you.

--
Bill Gribble

/----------------------------------\
| http://www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk |
| http://members.aol.com/annsweb |
| http://www.shatteredkingdoms.org |
\----------------------------------/

Sorry that's Essex GC. Essex & Suffolk GC (my first club BTW, where I
learned to soar) operates a winch out of Wormingford. When at Whatfield,
two tow planes were used.

Frank Whiteley

"F.L. Whiteley" wrote in message
...

"John Spargo" wrote in message
...


Can anyone direct me to Clubs / Web sites using this method of
launching -
Interested in finding out more about this method, particularly from
clubs
that operate from gravel/dirt strips

Thank you


John Spargo


Over the years Cotswold GC and Essex & Suffok GC in the UK used this
method.
Cotswold abandoned it 2-3 years ago in favor of a winch. Not sure about E
&
S. Differently designed between sites. E & S was over engineered in my
opinion. Cotswold's system was elegant in it's simplicity. I've stowed
some images of that here.

http://www.soarcsa.org/thinking_page...ey/default.htm

Both systems were used on paved surfaces.

Frank Whiteley
Colorado