On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:03:51 -0600, "Wayne Paul"
wrote:


"Bret Ludwig" wrote in message
roups.com...

As I pointed out, there is more to an airplane than an engine.
Indeed, there are airplanes without engines. We call them
sailplanes.


Yes but they need towing up by an airplane that does.


Bert,

Here is a picture of a homebuilt Schreder HP-16T being launched using 1,500
feet of rope hooked to a pickup truck.

http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder/HP...P/N16VP_6b.jpg
Good Lord, but that is one BIG photo at full resolution but it doesn't
show the truck . :-))

Not too many years ago (less than 10, maybe 5) they had a sail plane
operation over at Mt Pleasant MI (MOP). No tow plane and apparently
not much money so they used a pickup truck, rope, and pulley
arrangement for launch. The pulley was anchored down toward the
departure end of the runway. This left the pickup going West while the
sail plane went east. It really shortens the amount of runway needed.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
Local area pilots have used this technique at the Nampa, ID and Ontario, OR
airports as well as from the Alvord Desert dry lake.

Wayne
HP-14 N990 "6F"



Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com