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#11
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On Thu, 18 Mar 2004 20:42:21 GMT, "mat Redsell"
wrote: And in part I do think that we have taken a wrong road with high wing loading. for example with the Monarch we are able to tow it aloft with 160 lbs of tension at a speed of about 15 mph with a wind down the runway of about 10 mph. This requires a very small rope and small horsepower. Nothing better than runing 125 kts between clouds with a 50 kg/m^2 wing loading in my ASW-27 after a $2 winch launch on my club's 280 hp Diesel winch. vbg Bye Andreas |
#12
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#13
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Ulrich,
See if you can find a contact at "The Soaring Centre", Husbands Bosworth in UK. Some years ago they built their own 4-drum winch. I saw it a few years ago, and it was a most impressive machine. Unfortunately I don't have any contact info for them, but they do have a web site at: http://www.thesoaringcentre.co.uk/index.htm Cheers, John G. (Australia) "Ulrich Neumann" wrote in message om... "mat Redsell" wrote in message ... I really think this idea has merit.... but should we also consider lowering the wing loading so that the horsepower requirements are much less? I also think that the future of soaring is rather bleak without winch alternatives. Mat, I don't think that the road-block for whole winch idea is horse-power. Horse-Power is available in abundance at a reasonable cost - see Bill Daniels' write-up on this subject. Even with a high HP winch, older, smaller and lighter gliders can be launched. It is only when you have a fully watered open ship or heavy double seat trainer on the other end of the cable when you need the extra uhmpf! I think the biggest problem to overcome is the mind-set that the winch has to be built (cobbled together) in one weekend from parts supplied exclusively from the local junk-yard. Lets apply some sound engineering, craftsmenship and parts, that are commercially available for years to come. Ulrih Neumann |
#14
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mat Redsell wrote:
My statement was very confusing... what I really meant was without the winch I think that we will be in troubles down the road for affordable tows.... And in part I do think that we have taken a wrong road with high wing loading. for example with the Monarch we are able to tow it aloft with 160 lbs of tension at a speed of about 15 mph with a wind down the runway of about 10 mph. This requires a very small rope and small horsepower. http://www.continuo.com/marske/ look under articles for : ultralight design parameters design parameters of the ultralight glider I'd love to see a winch design that uses a 100hp or less engine, can be easily bolted on the back of an old pickup, and has engine and parts that are low maintenance and (especially engine) easy to acquire (either locally or via shipping). Alternately, how about a "spare tire" that is really a winch drum. a stable sturdy "jack" and some way to route the cable to ensure it winds up nice. Might not work (thoughts of side loads tipping my car over come to mind!), but it sure is fun to play with the thuoght! -- ------------+ Mark Boyd Avenal, California, USA |
#15
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"Mark James Boyd" wrote in message news:405aa3e8$1@darkstar... I'd love to see a winch design that uses a 100hp or less engine, can be easily bolted on the back of an old pickup, and has engine and parts that are low maintenance and (especially engine) easy to acquire (either locally or via shipping). Alternately, how about a "spare tire" that is really a winch drum. a stable sturdy "jack" and some way to route the cable to ensure it winds up nice. Might not work (thoughts of side loads tipping my car over come to mind!), but it sure is fun to play with the thuoght! -- ------------+ Mark Boyd Avenal, California, USA Mark, unfortunately, the physics of a winch launch says that it takes about 1 kWh or 3,600,000 Joules to launch a glider. The peak power demand places yet another constraint on the minimum HP that must be available. Those numbers point to a 400 to 500 HP engine to be able to provide launch service to any glider in the existing fleet. Although the initial cost of a well engineered winch is high (nearly as much as a tow plane) the long term costs are only a few percent as much a tug. The good news is that the total energy consumed for one launch (About 1 liter of diesel fuel equivalent) is tiny compared to any other launch method except bungee launch. (Excluding, of course, the beer you have to provide the bungee crew.) A glider winch is a highly specialized piece of machinery that needs the kind of engineering Ulrich is asking for. Please avoid the temptation to cobble some junk together to make a barely workable winch. That sort of thing has given winch launch a bad name in the USA. A well run winch operation is very attractive to newcomers to the sport. It shows a lot of ground activity that is visible to the onlookers and the rides are a real thrill. Lets get winching! Bill Daniels |
#16
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Bill,
I think you need to revisit your numbers. Here at Nympsfield (UK) we have a Supacat winch with a 250 horse Diesel that easily provides enough power for the biggest gliders on site (DG505, DuoDT, Nimbus3DT) (And pretty scary in a Libelle if the winch driver is *over enthusiastic*) The previous engine was 180 HP, this was a bit marginal for the Heavy Glass, but more than enough for any single seat (We have a 1000m field & regularly get 1500', even nil wind) :-) KN At 15:36 19 March 2004, Bill Daniels wrote: Mark, unfortunately, the physics of a winch launch says that it takes about 1 kWh or 3,600,000 Joules to launch a glider. The peak power demand places yet another constraint on the minimum HP that must be available. Those numbers point to a 400 to 500 HP engine to be able to provide launch service to any glider in the existing fleet. |
#18
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On Fri, 19 Mar 2004 08:24:24 -0700, "Bill Daniels"
wrote: "Mark James Boyd" wrote in message news:405aa3e8$1@darkstar... I'd love to see a winch design that uses a 100hp or less engine, can be easily bolted on the back of an old pickup, and has engine and parts that are low maintenance and (especially engine) easy to acquire (either locally or via shipping). Alternately, how about a "spare tire" that is really a winch drum. a stable sturdy "jack" and some way to route the cable to ensure it winds up nice. Might not work (thoughts of side loads tipping my car over come to mind!), but it sure is fun to play with the thuoght! -- ------------+ Mark Boyd Avenal, California, USA Mark, unfortunately, the physics of a winch launch says that it takes about 1 kWh or 3,600,000 Joules to launch a glider. The peak power demand places yet another constraint on the minimum HP that must be available. Those numbers point to a 400 to 500 HP engine to be able to provide launch service to any glider in the existing fleet. Although the initial cost of a well engineered winch is high (nearly as much as a tow plane) the long term costs are only a few percent as much a tug. The good news is that the total energy consumed for one launch (About 1 liter of diesel fuel equivalent) is tiny compared to any other launch method except bungee launch. (Excluding, of course, the beer you have to provide the bungee crew.) A glider winch is a highly specialized piece of machinery that needs the kind of engineering Ulrich is asking for. Please avoid the temptation to cobble some junk together to make a barely workable winch. That sort of thing has given winch launch a bad name in the USA. A well run winch operation is very attractive to newcomers to the sport. It shows a lot of ground activity that is visible to the onlookers and the rides are a real thrill. Lets get winching! Bill Daniels If you have a diesel driving through a fluid flywheel you don't need that much power: we have a Supacat with a 245 hp Deutz V8 aircooled industrial diesel and torque converter (no gearbox). This can launch an ASH-25 or just about any Nimbus. With a 15 m glider, K-21 or Grob you'd expect 1200-1400 ft on a 1000m run in calm conditions and over 2000 ft if its blowing a bit. I'd agree with everything you've said about the specialised nature of a glider winch, the heavy duty engineering and the costs. -- martin@ : Martin Gregorie gregorie : Harlow, UK demon : co : Zappa fan & glider pilot uk : |
#19
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Martin Gregorie wrote:
If you have a diesel driving through a fluid flywheel you don't need that much power: we have a Supacat with a 245 hp Deutz V8 aircooled industrial diesel and torque converter (no gearbox). This can launch an ASH-25 or just about any Nimbus. With a 15 m glider, K-21 or Grob you'd expect 1200-1400 ft on a 1000m run in calm conditions and over 2000 ft if its blowing a bit. I think the difference is that Bill is considering operating at much higher density altitudes. In the western US, there are many glider operations where summer density altitudes are in the 8000+ foot range. Marc |
#20
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You have to remember folks that these are American horsepower units. About
2:1 is a good ratio against proper European horses! :-) Ian "Kevin Neave" wrote in message ... Bill, I think you need to revisit your numbers. Here at Nympsfield (UK) we have a Supacat winch with a 250 horse Diesel that easily provides enough power for the biggest gliders on site (DG505, DuoDT, Nimbus3DT) (And pretty scary in a Libelle if the winch driver is *over enthusiastic*) The previous engine was 180 HP, this was a bit marginal for the Heavy Glass, but more than enough for any single seat (We have a 1000m field & regularly get 1500', even nil wind) :-) KN At 15:36 19 March 2004, Bill Daniels wrote: Mark, unfortunately, the physics of a winch launch says that it takes about 1 kWh or 3,600,000 Joules to launch a glider. The peak power demand places yet another constraint on the minimum HP that must be available. Those numbers point to a 400 to 500 HP engine to be able to provide launch service to any glider in the existing fleet. |
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