That's a normal climb rate for winch launching. I know of no break-up on
winch launch during the last 26 years, and there are thousands of winch
launches done every weekend in Europe.

"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
news:AFg1h.4183$WB4.3314@trndny04...
90 seconds to 5200 feet AGL on a winch beats the hell out of 20 minutes
on aero tow. That's especially true when the typical cost is $10 for the
launch.

That sounds a bit frightening - 3500 fpm! What are the stresses on the
glider to get that kind of climb rate? How far away is disaster if the
pilot twitches a bit on the controls or hits some wind shear or a thermal?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

"Transponders in Sailplanes" on the Soaring Safety Foundation website
www.soaringsafety.org/prevention/articles.html

"A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org