Winch launch speed versus height gain

A weak link break at 100' with a 30 Knot headwind is no different than a
normal weak link break at the same altitude. The only difference is that
your speed over ground is much lower, giving you a lot more runway ahead of
you to land on.

Mike Schumann

"Rory O'Conor" wrote in message
...



Kiting:
=20
I have never kited anyone on our winch. I do wonder whether it would be
nec=
essary to take the winch out of gear in order to pay out the cable and
what=
effect that would have on the pilot.
=20
I imaging a series of payouts with the glider lowering the nose during the
=
procedure, followed by take-in sessions, and finally some swearing when
the=
winch driver realises that he has now lost control of a very long length
o=
f cable.
=20
For a glider with stall speed 40 kts and optimum winch speed ?1.5 x stall
s=
peed =3D 60 knots.
If the cable is hanging down 45 degrees below the horizon, and the glider
i=
s pointing 40 degrees above the horizon, then I anticipate an upper level
w=
ind speed of about 45 kts+ is needed for kiting.
=20
I think we launch fine up to about 20 kts ground wind speed. I have
launche=
d in 25kts but the instructors are starting to put the toys away, and I
thi=
nk we have stopped launching at 30 kts. So not too much wind gradient
need=
ed, but it does require the pilot and winch driver not to break the weak
li=
nk on the initial climb.
=20
Imagine reacting rapidly to a broken weak link when pointed skywards at
100=
ft, with a 30 kt headwind!
=20
Rory
=20
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