Anyone Ground-Launched a Russia Glider?

[[email protected]]

Hello,

I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch strictly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you climb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling & unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose, but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.

Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose hook?

Thanks in advance,


Stephen

[Frank Whiteley]

On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 9:05:04 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch strictly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you climb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling & unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose, but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
>
> Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose hook?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
>
> Stephen

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ac4/info is a Russia glider yahoo group.. You might get a response there. However, I don't recall anyone ground launching one on the group.

[Peter Whitehead]

On Friday, 25 August 2017 06:00:47 UTC+1, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 9:05:04 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch strictly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you climb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling & unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose, but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
> >
> > Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose hook?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> >
> > Stephen

Stephen, I would advise strongly against it. The only exception would be a "nose" hook with a back release like the Twin Lark IS28B2 (which also has a proper winch hook). You would, in that case, get a lousy launch but it shouldn't kill you. I wouldnt let my son use such an arrangement, and it also fails the "I would try it myself" test. Run a mile. I own five old gliders, two of which have the "compromise" hook, and they certainly do the porpoising on the winch or aut-tow as you describe. I have two IS29d's, one with just a compromise hook and the other with a "winch hook" as well, the difference on the launch ( height as well as behaviour) is huge.
The wheel has been invented, go for a round one, not a square one. Pete

[Pete Smith[_5_]]

This will only end in a broken glider and pilot

At 06:27 25 August 2017, Peter Whitehead wrote:
>On Friday, 25 August 2017 06:00:47 UTC+1, Frank Whiteley wrote:
>> On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 9:05:04 PM UTC-6,

>w=
>rote:
>> > Hello,
>> >=20
>> > I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We
launch
>stri=
>ctly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not
>comfortable=
> ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's
and
>=
>a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG.
When you
>c=
>limb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling
>&=
> unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the
>nose,=
> but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it
>can=
> be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to
the hook
>=
>location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp
on
>=
>the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
>> >=20
>> > Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the
nose
>=
>hook?
>> >=20
>> > Thanks in advance,
>> >=20
>> >=20
>> > Stephen
>
>Stephen, I would advise strongly against it. The only exception would
be a
>=
>"nose" hook with a back release like the Twin Lark IS28B2 (which also
has
>a=
> proper winch hook). You would, in that case, get a lousy launch but it
>sho=
>uldn't kill you. I wouldnt let my son use such an arrangement, and it
also
>=
>fails the "I would try it myself" test. Run a mile. I own five old
>gliders,=
> two of which have the "compromise" hook, and they certainly do the
>porpois=
>ing on the winch or aut-tow as you describe. I have two IS29d's, one
with
>j=
>ust a compromise hook and the other with a "winch hook" as well, the
>differ=
>ence on the launch ( height as well as behaviour) is huge.=20
>The wheel has been invented, go for a round one, not a square one.
Pete
>

[WB]

On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 10:05:04 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch strictly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you climb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling & unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose, but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
>
> Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose hook?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
>
> Stephen

Please don't ground launch anything by the nose hook. I have a lot of ground launch experience, auto tow and winch, and the very idea of ground launching with the nose hook scares the crap out of me. There have been some horrifying accidents where gliders went into the ground at high speed because the nose hook failed to release.

I do know of one instance of ground launching a Russia. It was an autolaunch situation and there was some slack and subsequent hard jerk on the rope during the initial launch. The Russia over rotated and stalled at low altitude. Busted the glider up. Luckily the pilot did not get severely injured. The glider was repaired and flew again.

[[email protected]]

Don't ground launch with a nose hook, super dangerous.

Also, if you can afford a Russia, look for something with more performance for the same price. Like a Libelle or a Std, Cirrus.

Have fun at Hobbs!

[Frank Whiteley]

On Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 9:09:52 AM UTC-6, WB wrote:
> On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 10:05:04 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch strictly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you climb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling & unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose, but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
> >
> > Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose hook?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> >
> > Stephen
>
> Please don't ground launch anything by the nose hook. I have a lot of ground launch experience, auto tow and winch, and the very idea of ground launching with the nose hook scares the crap out of me. There have been some horrifying accidents where gliders went into the ground at high speed because the nose hook failed to release.
>
> I do know of one instance of ground launching a Russia. It was an autolaunch situation and there was some slack and subsequent hard jerk on the rope during the initial launch. The Russia over rotated and stalled at low altitude. Busted the glider up. Luckily the pilot did not get severely injured. The glider was repaired and flew again.

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20001208X08846&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=LA

[Martin Gregorie[_5_]]

On Wed, 30 Aug 2017 16:34:55 -0700, collinshea1345 wrote:

> Don't ground launch with a nose hook, super dangerous.
>
> Also, if you can afford a Russia, look for something with more
> performance for the same price. Like a Libelle or a Std, Cirrus.
>
.... and, all H.201 Std Libelles have both nose and belly hooks.
So do H.205 Club Libelles, which are cheaper, have bigger cockpits,
better airbrakes and a little less performance.

I can't comment about Std. Cirrii I've never flown one and there are none
at my club. We currently have two Std Libelles and one Club Libelle on
site.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

[[email protected]]

I would hope that no gliding operation that offered ground launches would know enough to refuse to hook up any glider to a nose hook or any other hook without a back-release function and/or not authorised for winching or auto-towing - irrespective of the pilot's opinion on the matter.

[WB]

On Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at 10:44:13 PM UTC-5, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> On Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 9:09:52 AM UTC-6, WB wrote:
> > On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 10:05:04 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch strictly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you climb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling & unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose, but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
> > >
> > > Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose hook?
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance,
> > >
> > >
> > > Stephen
> >
> > Please don't ground launch anything by the nose hook. I have a lot of ground launch experience, auto tow and winch, and the very idea of ground launching with the nose hook scares the crap out of me. There have been some horrifying accidents where gliders went into the ground at high speed because the nose hook failed to release.
> >
> > I do know of one instance of ground launching a Russia. It was an autolaunch situation and there was some slack and subsequent hard jerk on the rope during the initial launch. The Russia over rotated and stalled at low altitude. Busted the glider up. Luckily the pilot did not get severely injured. The glider was repaired and flew again.
>
> https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20001208X08846&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=LA


Hi Frank,

Thanks for posting the link to the NTSB report. Confirmed what I remembered.. My club trained that Russia pilot on ground launch with a typical 2:1 pulley system. During the accident flight, he was testing a 3:1 advantage pulley setup. Pretty much a hard landing and ground loop after the pitch up and stall.

[kinsell]

On 08/29/2017 09:09 AM, WB wrote:
> On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 10:05:04 PM UTC-5, wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch strictly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you climb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling & unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose, but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
>>
>> Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose hook?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>>
>> Stephen
>
> Please don't ground launch anything by the nose hook. I have a lot of ground launch experience, auto tow and winch, and the very idea of ground launching with the nose hook scares the crap out of me. There have been some horrifying accidents where gliders went into the ground at high speed because the nose hook failed to release.
>
> I do know of one instance of ground launching a Russia. It was an autolaunch situation and there was some slack and subsequent hard jerk on the rope during the initial launch. The Russia over rotated and stalled at low altitude. Busted the glider up. Luckily the pilot did not get severely injured. The glider was repaired and flew again.
>

So the Russia over-rotated with a nose hook. Wonder what would have
happened with a cg hook? I'll bet an even worse result. This accident
wasn't caused by the nose hook, it was caused by not having the slack
out of the rope prior to launch. And probably lack of a weak link.

[Frank Whiteley]

On Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 1:45:51 PM UTC-6, WB wrote:
> On Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at 10:44:13 PM UTC-5, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> > On Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 9:09:52 AM UTC-6, WB wrote:
> > > On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 10:05:04 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> > > > Hello,
> > > >
> > > > I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch strictly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you climb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling & unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose, but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
> > > >
> > > > Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose hook?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Stephen
> > >
> > > Please don't ground launch anything by the nose hook. I have a lot of ground launch experience, auto tow and winch, and the very idea of ground launching with the nose hook scares the crap out of me. There have been some horrifying accidents where gliders went into the ground at high speed because the nose hook failed to release.
> > >
> > > I do know of one instance of ground launching a Russia. It was an autolaunch situation and there was some slack and subsequent hard jerk on the rope during the initial launch. The Russia over rotated and stalled at low altitude. Busted the glider up. Luckily the pilot did not get severely injured. The glider was repaired and flew again.
> >
> > https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20001208X08846&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=LA
>
>
> Hi Frank,
>
> Thanks for posting the link to the NTSB report. Confirmed what I remembered. My club trained that Russia pilot on ground launch with a typical 2:1 pulley system. During the accident flight, he was testing a 3:1 advantage pulley setup. Pretty much a hard landing and ground loop after the pitch up and stall.

Wally,

I had looked for a report years ago and never found one, so was surprised to find it now. At the time I was vendor relations contact for the EAA Regional at Longmont. Tried to get Bill Ard to show up. We had a member with a Russia and we put in on display with pictures of Brad Hill's kit build effort. Only got second hand information that someone in Wyoming had tried to ground launch and cart-wheeled. We later heard the glider would be repaired, which Applebay Aviation did. I spoke with the current owner who gave me some follow-up about the repairs, but he was dealing with his daughter's situation in Houston, so we'll catch up later. I agree with all that if a hook can't back release, no ground launching. I have winched some gliders with nose and chin hooks, but all could back release, 2-33, 2-32, 1-26, 1-34, HP-14, and Jantar Std 2 (where the hook was rotated to prevent back release at 700ft instead of 1500ft). Same models that could be fitted with CG hooks did much better.

Frank

[Frank Whiteley]

On Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 5:47:02 PM UTC-6, kinsell wrote:
> On 08/29/2017 09:09 AM, WB wrote:
> > On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 10:05:04 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch strictly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you climb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling & unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose, but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
> >>
> >> Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose hook?
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance,
> >>
> >>
> >> Stephen
> >
> > Please don't ground launch anything by the nose hook. I have a lot of ground launch experience, auto tow and winch, and the very idea of ground launching with the nose hook scares the crap out of me. There have been some horrifying accidents where gliders went into the ground at high speed because the nose hook failed to release.
> >
> > I do know of one instance of ground launching a Russia. It was an autolaunch situation and there was some slack and subsequent hard jerk on the rope during the initial launch. The Russia over rotated and stalled at low altitude. Busted the glider up. Luckily the pilot did not get severely injured. The glider was repaired and flew again.
> >
>
> So the Russia over-rotated with a nose hook. Wonder what would have
> happened with a cg hook? I'll bet an even worse result. This accident
> wasn't caused by the nose hook, it was caused by not having the slack
> out of the rope prior to launch. And probably lack of a weak link.

Dave,

You may be right about that. We don't know the type of rope involved, but stretchy stuff can catapult a light glider pretty high into the air. I witnessed exactly this when the nose wheel of a light glider got stuck in the soft turf and an inexperienced driver stretched a fairly short piece of rope with the pickup. Once the nose released, the glider was 50-75 feet in the air in the blink of an eye. The intent was just to do a ground run to check controls and W&B (recommended procedure for type).

Frank

[Dunflyin]

Stephen,

I was interested by your query. I looked forward to reading authorative,
first hand experience of ground launching the Russia glider but most of the
replies give general feedback about ground launching gliders using aerotow
nose hooks. I offer comments based upon my limited experience.

The Midland Gliding Club had a Kenilworth Me7 for a few years which was
routinely winch launched. This was the name under which the Russia was
sold in the UK. It only had a compromise hook - with back release. Is
this what is called a chin hook in the USA? (A compromise hook is fitted a
little forward of the position for a CofG hook.)

I do not know what type of hook is fitted to the Russia gliders sold in the
USA. If, unlike the Me7, the Russia AC-4B only has an aerotow nose hook I
cannot offer any advice.

If the Russia has a compromise hook you may wish to contact the MGC CFI via
the web site for authoritative guidance -
http://www.midlandgliding.club/your-committee/.

I had a few flights in the Me7. From memory the flight manual gave a
rather narrow winch launch speed range of 56kts to 60kts. I found gentle
launches at 56kts or a little less to be uneventful with only a slight
tendency to porpoise. The launch height would be typically 200ft less than
was achieved in a Schleicher ASK23 (with CofG hook). With faster launches
I always ended up with porpoising towards the top of the launch which could
become uncomfortable at 60kts. Perhaps with training or more experience I
could have controlled the porpoising better without unduely compromising
the launch height. My weight with parachute was 165lbs and the winch
launching characteristics could be different for heavier or lighter pilots.


The controls were very light, but nicely co-ordinated. There was no
tendency to over-rotate during the initial part of the launch, but I
imagine that a pilot used to the controls of a heavy glider might “over
control” the Me7.

Because of its very light weight, the effect on the Me7 of excessive power
or snatching of the cable would be greater than on heavier gliders. I
would have been wary if the launch crew were inexperienced or not fully
briefed on the launch speed required for the Me7.

I remember reading that a modification was available for the Russia / Me7
to add a CofG hook, but I would expect modified gliders to be rare.

If you particularly want a Russia glider (with a compromise hook), it can
be successfully ground launched. However the name given to the type of
hook gives a clue to its launch charcteristics - it is not optimised for
ground launching or for aerotowing.

At 03:04 25 August 2017, wrote:
>Hello,
>
>I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch
>strictly=
> by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable
>gro=
>und launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a
>2-=
>33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you
>climb=
> high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling &
>uns=
>talling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose,
>but=
> I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can
be
>=
>done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook
>loca=
>tion. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on
the
>=
>nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
>
>Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose
>hook=
>?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>
>Stephen
>

[WB]

On Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 6:47:02 PM UTC-5, kinsell wrote:
> On 08/29/2017 09:09 AM, WB wrote:
> > On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 10:05:04 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch strictly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you climb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling & unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose, but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
> >>
> >> Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose hook?
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance,
> >>
> >>
> >> Stephen
> >
> > Please don't ground launch anything by the nose hook. I have a lot of ground launch experience, auto tow and winch, and the very idea of ground launching with the nose hook scares the crap out of me. There have been some horrifying accidents where gliders went into the ground at high speed because the nose hook failed to release.
> >
> > I do know of one instance of ground launching a Russia. It was an autolaunch situation and there was some slack and subsequent hard jerk on the rope during the initial launch. The Russia over rotated and stalled at low altitude. Busted the glider up. Luckily the pilot did not get severely injured. The glider was repaired and flew again.
> >
>
> So the Russia over-rotated with a nose hook. Wonder what would have
> happened with a cg hook? I'll bet an even worse result. This accident
> wasn't caused by the nose hook, it was caused by not having the slack
> out of the rope prior to launch. And probably lack of a weak link.

I am pretty sure the accident Russia had a CG hook.

[WB]

On Friday, September 1, 2017 at 6:04:57 PM UTC-5, WB wrote:
> On Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 6:47:02 PM UTC-5, kinsell wrote:
> > On 08/29/2017 09:09 AM, WB wrote:
> > > On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 10:05:04 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> > >> Hello,
> > >>
> > >> I fly out of Hobbs, NM where we don't have a tow plane. We launch strictly by auto-tow. I am interested in a Russia AC-4B but am not comfortable ground launching from a nose hook. We currently fly Schweizer 1-26's and a 2-33, which has the hook located between the nose and the CG. When you climb high enough you can get a porpoising effect due to the tail stalling & unstalling. I would imagine this only gets worse with a hook in the nose, but I can't find anyone who has done it. The manual indicates that it can be done, but I wonder how much height you have to give up due to the hook location. I am also a little concerned about the angle being too sharp on the nose hook and possibly keeping it from releasing.
> > >>
> > >> Has anyone flown (or seen) a Russia glider ground launched by the nose hook?
> > >>
> > >> Thanks in advance,
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Stephen
> > >
> > > Please don't ground launch anything by the nose hook. I have a lot of ground launch experience, auto tow and winch, and the very idea of ground launching with the nose hook scares the crap out of me. There have been some horrifying accidents where gliders went into the ground at high speed because the nose hook failed to release.
> > >
> > > I do know of one instance of ground launching a Russia. It was an autolaunch situation and there was some slack and subsequent hard jerk on the rope during the initial launch. The Russia over rotated and stalled at low altitude. Busted the glider up. Luckily the pilot did not get severely injured. The glider was repaired and flew again.
> > >
> >
> > So the Russia over-rotated with a nose hook. Wonder what would have
> > happened with a cg hook? I'll bet an even worse result. This accident
> > wasn't caused by the nose hook, it was caused by not having the slack
> > out of the rope prior to launch. And probably lack of a weak link.
>
> I am pretty sure the accident Russia had a CG hook.

Or the "chin" hook.