A aviation & planes forum. AviationBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AviationBanter forum » rec.aviation newsgroups » Soaring
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Winch Launch Fatality



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old June 23rd 09, 05:58 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
bildan
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 646
Default Winch Launch Fatality

On Jun 23, 10:10*am, T8 wrote:
On Jun 23, 11:14*am, Martin Gregorie
wrote:

Apart from anything else, your hand should be on the release knob during
the launch


This is surprising to me -- a non-winch-qualified pilot. *Do you do
the same for aero tow?

-T8


It's a good idea for aero tow. We can all think of accidents where a
life would have been saved if the pilot had pulled the release before
becoming airborne. It's not only where you put your hand, it's also a
mindset to pull off if something doesn't feel right.

For example, there are several accidents over the years where pilots
took off with disconnected controls. It's much easier to tow a glider
back to the start line than sweep up the pieces.
  #2  
Old June 24th 09, 03:23 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
toad
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 229
Default Winch Launch Fatality

On Jun 23, 12:58*pm, bildan wrote:
On Jun 23, 10:10*am, T8 wrote:

On Jun 23, 11:14*am, Martin Gregorie
wrote:


Apart from anything else, your hand should be on the release knob during
the launch


This is surprising to me -- a non-winch-qualified pilot. *Do you do
the same for aero tow?


-T8


It's a good idea for aero tow. *We can all think of accidents where a
life would have been saved if the pilot had pulled the release before
becoming airborne. *It's not only where you put your hand, it's also a
mindset to pull off if something doesn't feel right.

For example, there are several accidents over the years where pilots
took off with disconnected controls. *It's much easier to tow a glider
back to the start line than sweep up the pieces.


There is one less Discus in the world because the pilot had his hand
on the release on a bumpy day. He "in-advertently" pulled the release
at low altitude and crashed into the trees. The pilot was not
injured, but the glider was totaled. If you want to keep your hand on
the release, then hold it some way that prevents turbulence from
releasing it for you.

Todd
3S
  #3  
Old June 24th 09, 04:05 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
bildan
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 646
Default Winch Launch Fatality

On Jun 24, 8:23*am, toad wrote:
On Jun 23, 12:58*pm, bildan wrote:



On Jun 23, 10:10*am, T8 wrote:


On Jun 23, 11:14*am, Martin Gregorie
wrote:


Apart from anything else, your hand should be on the release knob during
the launch


This is surprising to me -- a non-winch-qualified pilot. *Do you do
the same for aero tow?


-T8


It's a good idea for aero tow. *We can all think of accidents where a
life would have been saved if the pilot had pulled the release before
becoming airborne. *It's not only where you put your hand, it's also a
mindset to pull off if something doesn't feel right.


For example, there are several accidents over the years where pilots
took off with disconnected controls. *It's much easier to tow a glider
back to the start line than sweep up the pieces.


There is one less Discus in the world because the pilot had his hand
on the release on a bumpy day. *He "in-advertently" pulled the release
at low altitude and crashed into the trees. * The pilot was not
injured, but the glider was totaled. *If you want to keep your hand on
the release, then hold it some way that prevents turbulence from
releasing it for you.

Todd
3S


First, we're really only talking about an aero tow ground roll. Once
airborne in turbulent air, keeping a death grip on the release isn't a
good idea. Even this isn't always possible with gliders that need
spoilers retracted or flaps moved from negative during the ground
roll. Still, it's a good idea to have "muscle memory" in your left
hand so it can find the release in a hurry. More important is to have
a mindset to pull off if you sense a problem during the ground roll.

Even on a winch ground roll, I don't like a full grip on the release,
just hand contact with it. That way the pilot is unlikely to pull it
inadvertently but can pull it intentionally if needed.
  #4  
Old June 24th 09, 04:39 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
toad
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 229
Default Winch Launch Fatality

On Jun 24, 11:05*am, bildan wrote:
On Jun 24, 8:23*am, toad wrote:





On Jun 23, 12:58*pm, bildan wrote:


On Jun 23, 10:10*am, T8 wrote:


On Jun 23, 11:14*am, Martin Gregorie
wrote:


Apart from anything else, your hand should be on the release knob during
the launch


This is surprising to me -- a non-winch-qualified pilot. *Do you do
the same for aero tow?


-T8


It's a good idea for aero tow. *We can all think of accidents where a
life would have been saved if the pilot had pulled the release before
becoming airborne. *It's not only where you put your hand, it's also a
mindset to pull off if something doesn't feel right.


For example, there are several accidents over the years where pilots
took off with disconnected controls. *It's much easier to tow a glider
back to the start line than sweep up the pieces.


There is one less Discus in the world because the pilot had his hand
on the release on a bumpy day. *He "in-advertently" pulled the release
at low altitude and crashed into the trees. * The pilot was not
injured, but the glider was totaled. *If you want to keep your hand on
the release, then hold it some way that prevents turbulence from
releasing it for you.


Todd
3S


First, we're really only talking about an aero tow ground roll. *Once
airborne in turbulent air, keeping a death grip on the release isn't a
good idea. *Even this isn't always possible with gliders that need
spoilers retracted or flaps moved from negative during the ground
roll. *Still, it's a good idea to have "muscle memory" in your left
hand so it can find the release in a hurry. *More important is to have
a mindset to pull off if you sense a problem during the ground roll.

Even on a winch ground roll, I don't like a full grip on the release,
just hand contact with it. *That way *the pilot is unlikely to pull it
inadvertently but can pull it intentionally if needed.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


Just remember to give these cautions to any pilot that you tell "keep
your hand on the release" during takeoff.

Todd
3S
  #5  
Old June 24th 09, 08:53 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Surfer!
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 81
Default Winch Launch Fatality

In message
,
toad writes
snip

There is one less Discus in the world because the pilot had his hand
on the release on a bumpy day. He "in-advertently" pulled the release
at low altitude and crashed into the trees. The pilot was not
injured, but the glider was totaled. If you want to keep your hand on
the release, then hold it some way that prevents turbulence from
releasing it for you.


Since a launch can fail at any point, inadvertently releasing shouldn't
lead to totalling the glider...

--
Surfer!
Email to: ramwater at uk2 dot net
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pay out winch launch to 2500ft agl.. WAVEGURU Soaring 8 June 5th 07 07:06 AM
Winch Launch Videos Mike Schumann Soaring 2 January 19th 06 11:27 PM
LIppmann reports a 950 meter winch launch with their Dynatec winch line - anything higher? Bill Daniels Soaring 20 December 27th 04 12:33 AM
Electric winch fatality story in August Soaring Bill Daniels Soaring 0 August 14th 04 02:37 AM
Winch launch M B Soaring 0 October 30th 03 07:33 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:57 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2025 AviationBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.