Wingtip to Runway light protector Concepts

They do make flush runway lights, last time I looked it was about $500 per light though. As lights get broken work with airport management to get them replaced with flush mounted lights. Granted a slow developing solution, but should be part of the solution plan along with others mentioned above.

Flush light won't work so well we're it snows.

I used to joke that one reason I landed out so much was because airport's were so dangerous. Airplanes, runway lights, and other hazards are everywhere at municipal airports that just don't exist in a nice farmer's field.

I was kidding...sorta

Snow? Forgot about that stuff. That is the white stuff, I see it from the air when flying over the mountains. I did grow up in Idaho, skiing, climbing..etc. But I guess the last 30 years living in San Diego, I forgot about the effects of weather below 65 degrees.

On Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at 7:12:35 AM UTC-8, Tony wrote:
Flush light won't work so well we're it snows.

I used to joke that one reason I landed out so much was because airport's were so dangerous. Airplanes, runway lights, and other hazards are everywhere at municipal airports that just don't exist in a nice farmer's field.

I was kidding...sorta

On 1/3/2017 8:12 AM, Tony wrote:

I used to joke that one reason I landed out so much was because airports
were so dangerous. Airplanes, runway lights, and other hazards are
everywhere at municipal airports that just don't exist in a nice farmer's
field.

I was kidding...sorta


Heh...historically, runways - like roads - exert a powerful pull on lower-time
glider pilots when it comes to "choosing an ideal XC landing field." When I
edited my club's monthly newsletter for a number of years, a continual safety
drumbeat was words to the effect: the only certain thing about an active
(paved) runway (designed for powerplanes) is a (presumably) known (relatively)
decent surface. Particularly in the high plains and intermountain west, it's
easy to find narrow paved strips with nearby lurking light standards, each and
every one salivating at the thought of glider wingtips. "Runway complacence"
definitely not recommended!

Bob W.

Years ago I operated a Nimbus 3 off of the little airport at Montague. The runway lights had claimed at least two glider wing kills that I knew of and my long wings were at high risk. I purchased some 6 inch diameter PVC pipe and split some 8 foot sections in half with a table saw. I would shove the near side end into the gravel and lay the far side end on top of the light. It worked for me on the one occasion I needed it and only left a slight scuff on the bottom of the wing. I covered four lights on each side in the probable impact zone and had my wing runner remove them after launch. Cheap and easy. I know others borrowed them and I think they helped. Rex Mayes came along later and did it the right way, but not many small airport FBO's are also the glider operation.
Dale

The maximum spacing between runway edge lights is 200'. Airport operators

are unlikely to spend the extra money for tighter spacing.

200' hopefully is enough space to stop the glider from a speed where you
still
have aerodynamic control.

On your first glider landing on pavement you will discover a longer ground

roll, especially if there's a downhill gradient.

I was thinking I could steer the glider off between the lights but ran out
of
energy as the slow speed passing the last light was not enough to get off
the
side.

But there's other nasty stuff that can lurk alongside paved runways.

Those with better skills can turn off onto a taxiway - watch out for props.


Better to stop on the runway and assess where you can safely pull off the
glider.

It helps to know the local airports and which ones are not suitable.

I've got a better idea to solve the runway light problem... Let's put a push-button switch on the left and the right side of the control column. If holding the stick hard over is not seeming sufficient to raise a wing over a runway light, then push the button on the down wing side of the stick for additional lifting force.

The push-button controls a solenoid valve that releases a jet of compressed gas through a nozzle on the underside of the wing that needs lifting. Most of us out west already carry a bottle of compressed gas that is used for another purpose. All that would be needed is plumbing in the wings as well as a nozzle outboard on each wing. The nozzle could be taped over to avoid adding drag. Such cold gas thrusters have been used for space vehicle attitude and other purposes; there is a body of design information on the subject.

Besides solving the runway light problem, a wing thruster could be used to address various other matters of urgency related to low speed roll control during takeoff and landing and might also be used to facilitate safe take off without a wing runner.

(you heard it first on RAS)

On Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 11:27:26 AM UTC-5, Steve Koerner wrote:
I've got a better idea to solve the runway light problem... Let's put a push-button switch on the left and the right side of the control column. If holding the stick hard over is not seeming sufficient to raise a wing over a runway light, then push the button on the down wing side of the stick for additional lifting force.

The push-button controls a solenoid valve that releases a jet of compressed gas through a nozzle on the underside of the wing that needs lifting. Most of us out west already carry a bottle of compressed gas that is used for another purpose. All that would be needed is plumbing in the wings as well as a nozzle outboard on each wing. The nozzle could be taped over to avoid adding drag. Such cold gas thrusters have been used for space vehicle attitude and other purposes; there is a body of design information on the subject.

Besides solving the runway light problem, a wing thruster could be used to address various other matters of urgency related to low speed roll control during takeoff and landing and might also be used to facilitate safe take off without a wing runner.

(you heard it first on RAS)

I think your idea blows! LOL
Full development of the idea would automate so that it is actuated when the stick is at a specified position, say 90% of available motion, and speed below a specified level, say 40 mph or so.
UH

On Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 8:27:26 AM UTC-8, Steve Koerner wrote:
I've got a better idea to solve the runway light problem... Let's put a push-button switch on the left and the right side of the control column. If holding the stick hard over is not seeming sufficient to raise a wing over a runway light, then push the button on the down wing side of the stick for additional lifting force.

The push-button controls a solenoid valve that releases a jet of compressed gas through a nozzle on the underside of the wing that needs lifting. Most of us out west already carry a bottle of compressed gas that is used for another purpose. All that would be needed is plumbing in the wings as well as a nozzle outboard on each wing. The nozzle could be taped over to avoid adding drag. Such cold gas thrusters have been used for space vehicle attitude and other purposes; there is a body of design information on the subject.

Besides solving the runway light problem, a wing thruster could be used to address various other matters of urgency related to low speed roll control during takeoff and landing and might also be used to facilitate safe take off without a wing runner.

(you heard it first on RAS)

Haha!
Perhaps Steve got the calendar mixed up 1/4 versus 4/1.
Jim

On Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 8:27:26 AM UTC-8, Steve Koerner wrote:
I've got a better idea to solve the runway light problem... Let's put a push-button switch on the left and the right side of the control column. If holding the stick hard over is not seeming sufficient to raise a wing over a runway light, then push the button on the down wing side of the stick for additional lifting force.

The push-button controls a solenoid valve that releases a jet of compressed gas through a nozzle on the underside of the wing that needs lifting. Most of us out west already carry a bottle of compressed gas that is used for another purpose. All that would be needed is plumbing in the wings as well as a nozzle outboard on each wing. The nozzle could be taped over to avoid adding drag. Such cold gas thrusters have been used for space vehicle attitude and other purposes; there is a body of design information on the subject.

Besides solving the runway light problem, a wing thruster could be used to address various other matters of urgency related to low speed roll control during takeoff and landing and might also be used to facilitate safe take off without a wing runner.

(you heard it first on RAS)


NASA calls that RCS (Reaction Control System). Might be useful during flight in the atmosphere too. I'm thinking about all those times when I realized I'd rolled into the thermal in the wrong direction...

;-)

9B