Belgian winch launch video

[Frank Whiteley]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dw6r_1r91M

On top in 2 minutes at Weelde.

[Tuno]

You said "on top in 2 minutes" and I didn't know what you meant until
I saw the video. On the wire for two minutes! WOW!!! I'd like to know
the details -- length and type of cable? Brand of winch? Altitude
gained?

Makes our winch at the Prescott club look woefully inadequate!

2no

[Frank Whiteley]

On Jan 17, 3:08*pm, Tuno > wrote:
> You said "on top in 2 minutes" and I didn't know what you meant until
> I saw the video. On the wire for two minutes! WOW!!! I'd like to know
> the details -- length and type of cable? Brand of winch? Altitude
> gained?
>
> Makes our winch at the Prescott club look woefully inadequate!
>
> 2no

Prescott does very well, IMVHO.

Well, no details yet except that it looks like they got to 1450m. On
top meant VFR above the clouds, naturally;^)

Puts the whee! in Weedle though.

More info on the website http://www.kac.be/StandardPage.aspx?RID=214

[Tim Taylor]

On Jan 17, 3:20*pm, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
> On Jan 17, 3:08*pm, Tuno > wrote:
>
> > You said "on top in 2 minutes" and I didn't know what you meant until
> > I saw the video. On the wire for two minutes! WOW!!! I'd like to know
> > the details -- length and type of cable? Brand of winch? Altitude
> > gained?
>
> > Makes our winch at the Prescott club look woefully inadequate!
>
> > 2no
>
> Prescott does very well, IMVHO.
>
> Well, no details yet except that it looks like they got to 1450m. *On
> top meant VFR above the clouds, naturally;^)
>
> Puts the whee! in Weedle though.
>
> More info on the websitehttp://www.kac.be/StandardPage.aspx?RID=214

Looks like about 3030 meters of 5 mm Dyneema. Can't tell details on
the type of winch used or size of the engine.

A nearly 50% height to length ratio is very good.

[Tim Taylor]

On Jan 17, 3:08*pm, Tuno > wrote:
> You said "on top in 2 minutes" and I didn't know what you meant until
> I saw the video. On the wire for two minutes! WOW!!! I'd like to know
> the details -- length and type of cable? Brand of winch? Altitude
> gained?
>
> Makes our winch at the Prescott club look woefully inadequate!
>
> 2no

Looks like they are using a MEL Leopard with about 290 HP (220 kw).

http://www.machinefabriek-el.nl/storage/MEL%20Gliderwinches%20GB.pdf

[Andy[_1_]]

On Jan 17, 2:32*pm, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dw6r_1r91M
>
> On top in 2 minutes at Weelde.

Look like there were on top half way up the launch. Nice video, nice
launch, but being "on top" not so great when the weather is such that
you can reach up and almost touch cloud base without getting out of
your lawn chair. ( I know, why would you even be in a lawn chair in
weather like that).

I spent a month back in England late last year. Certainly made me
appreciate the weather in my adopted Arizona.

Andy

[Vorsanger1]

What I don't understand is why so many of these soaring videos are
accompanied by an ear-splitting soundtrack. Is this music or am I
just an old fart ? The latter, I guess.

Cheers anyhow, Charles

[bildan]

On Jan 17, 4:16*pm, Tim Taylor > wrote:
> On Jan 17, 3:20*pm, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jan 17, 3:08*pm, Tuno > wrote:
>
> > > You said "on top in 2 minutes" and I didn't know what you meant until
> > > I saw the video. On the wire for two minutes! WOW!!! I'd like to know
> > > the details -- length and type of cable? Brand of winch? Altitude
> > > gained?
>
> > > Makes our winch at the Prescott club look woefully inadequate!
>
> > > 2no
>
> > Prescott does very well, IMVHO.
>
> > Well, no details yet except that it looks like they got to 1450m. *On
> > top meant VFR above the clouds, naturally;^)
>
> > Puts the whee! in Weedle though.
>
> > More info on the websitehttp://www.kac.be/StandardPage.aspx?RID=214
>
> Looks like about 3030 meters of 5 mm Dyneema. *Can't tell details on
> the type of winch used or size of the engine.
>
> A nearly 50% height to length ratio is very good.

It isn't possible to use 3000 meters of steel cable - it weighs too
much. Dyneema makes all the difference. It'a opening up a new
chapter in winch launch.

The MEL "Leopard" is a winch specifically designed to use Dyneema
"plastic rope". It's an excellent design.

However, 1450 Meters is not particularly good. Other launches have
gone as high as 1700 meters. They could have gone higher but there
were airspace limitations in effect at 1700 meters.