Almost perfect payout winch launch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5WDiHHgua8

Boggs

If we had slowed down a little, and tightened up the tension a bit, we could have added a couple hundred more feet? What do you think about the "Payout Winch"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5WDiHHgua8

Boggs

I think I want one!

Here's the payout launch from the glider end. The launch starts at about 3 minutes in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3ga-XJ_cdw

Boggs

On Monday, May 6, 2013 10:46:40 PM UTC-6, Waveguru wrote:
If we had slowed down a little, and tightened up the tension a bit, we could have added a couple hundred more feet? What do you think about the "Payout Winch"?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5WDiHHgua8



Boggs

I think if you had a real winch and learned how to use it safely, you'd get a lot higher.

At 14:07 07 May 2013, Bill D wrote:
On Monday, May 6, 2013 10:46:40 PM UTC-6, Waveguru wrote:
If we had slowed down a little, and tightened up the tension a bit, we
could have added a couple hundred more feet? What do you think about the
"Payout Winch"?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5WDiHHgua8



Boggs

I think if you had a real winch and learned how to use it safely, you'd
get
a lot higher.

I think that is the most complicated and potentially dangerous method of
winch launching that I have ever seen.
I am completely sold on winching, having made over 10000 launches on many
types of winch over the years. I have to say that some of the winches I
have used, including a converted Rover car have been less than ideal, and
perhaps a little unwise, but this has to be the most foolhardy version I
have ever come across.
I would be the first to admit that there are several potential hazards in
winch launching but a system as complex as that is an accident just waiting
to happen. Please stop it guys, get a proper conventional winch if that is
the way you want to go, or go to a straight forward auto tow.

On Tuesday, May 7, 2013 11:02:14 AM UTC-5, Don Johnstone wrote:
At 14:07 07 May 2013, Bill D wrote: On Monday, May 6, 2013 10:46:40 PM UTC-6, Waveguru wrote: If we had slowed down a little, and tightened up the tension a bit, we could have added a couple hundred more feet? What do you think about the "Payout Winch"? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5WDiHHgua8 Boggs I think if you had a real winch and learned how to use it safely, you'd get a lot higher. I think that is the most complicated and potentially dangerous method of winch launching that I have ever seen. I am completely sold on winching, having made over 10000 launches on many types of winch over the years. I have to say that some of the winches I have used, including a converted Rover car have been less than ideal, and perhaps a little unwise, but this has to be the most foolhardy version I have ever come across. I would be the first to admit that there are several potential hazards in winch launching but a system as complex as that is an accident just waiting to happen. Please stop it guys, get a proper conventional winch if that is the way you want to go, or go to a straight forward auto tow.

i'm interested to hear more about your opinion. Gary's payout winch basically has built in tension control in that if, say, the glider hits a thermal on the climb, instead of the line loading up and breaking, it just lets out more line so you get to use that thermal to climb higher.

hang glider guys use payout winches a lot to launch in the flat lands.

On 5/7/2013 9:23 AM, Tony wrote:
On Tuesday, May 7, 2013 11:02:14 AM UTC-5, Don Johnstone wrote:
At 14:07 07 May 2013, Bill D wrote: On Monday, May 6, 2013 10:46:40 PM UTC-6, Waveguru wrote: If we had slowed down a little, and tightened up the tension a bit, we could have added a couple hundred more feet? What do you think about the "Payout Winch"? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5WDiHHgua8 Boggs I think if you had a real winch and learned how to use it safely, you'd get a lot higher. I think that is the most complicated and potentially dangerous method of winch launching that I have ever seen. I am completely sold on winching, having made over 10000 launches on many types of winch over the years. I have to say that some of the winches I have used, including a converted Rover car have been less than ideal, and perhaps a little unwise, but this has to be the most foolhardy version I have ever come across. I would be the first to admit that there are several potential hazards in winch launching but a system as complex as that is an accident ju
st waiting to happen. Please stop it guys, get a proper conventional winch if that is the way you want to go, or go to a straight forward auto tow.

i'm interested to hear more about your opinion. Gary's payout winch basically has built in tension control in that if, say, the glider hits a thermal on the climb, instead of the line loading up and breaking, it just lets out more line so you get to use that thermal to climb higher.

hang glider guys use payout winches a lot to launch in the flat lands.


Their stall speed is a lot slower. I am not sure that I understand how
you could use a payout winch with a glider unless the truck is driving
at a tremendous speed.

On Tuesday, May 7, 2013 12:46:40 AM UTC-4, Waveguru wrote:
If we had slowed down a little, and tightened up the tension a bit, we could have added a couple hundred more feet? What do you think about the "Payout Winch"?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5WDiHHgua8



Boggs

How long is the runway? With a well-built conventional winch, you can typically achieve a release height of 45-50% of the line length.

Uli
Winchmeister of the Carolina Soaring Assoc.

My limited experience with launching a hang glider via a payout winch was that we only got about 1/3 of the runway length and that was with good headwind. About 900ft on a 2800ft or so runway.

Most issues and accidents with hang gliders and payout winches happen due to "lockout" when you get turned and can't recover. Without control surfaces it gets bad in a hurry.

Vehicle speeds were about the same as with a static line. 20-30mph depending on the headwind.

The launch is crazy exciting though. You're laying in your harness, on the back of a pickup racing down a runway/road. At 35mph airspeed or so (I don't remember specifics) you hit a release and pop off the truck instantly to about 20 ft, then slowly start winding out. Just like a glider ground launch, once high enough you maximize your climb angle.

When you hit thermals, the tension was pretty constant so you just surged higher as the drum let more line out.

We are working on getting our glider winch going. I will let you know how I think they compare once we have our ducks in a row and are launching with it.

Morgan

On Tuesday, May 7, 2013 9:52:21 AM UTC-7, GM wrote:
On Tuesday, May 7, 2013 12:46:40 AM UTC-4, Waveguru wrote:

If we had slowed down a little, and tightened up the tension a bit, we could have added a couple hundred more feet? What do you think about the "Payout Winch"?







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5WDiHHgua8







Boggs



How long is the runway? With a well-built conventional winch, you can typically achieve a release height of 45-50% of the line length.



Uli

Winchmeister of the Carolina Soaring Assoc.