Methods of Launch

[Robert Gaines]

How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
Winch
Autotow
Towplane
Gasoline engine self launch
Electric self launch
Off Back of 747
Belly of B-29
Bungee

How many more ways?

[Tim Taylor]

Direct on a step downhill


Robert Gaines wrote:
> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
> Winch
> Autotow
> Towplane
> Gasoline engine self launch
> Electric self launch
> Off Back of 747
> Belly of B-29
> Bungee
>
> How many more ways?

[Ray Lovinggood]

Of course, the World War II vintage German rocket interceptor,
of which I've forgotten who produced. Rocket power
for launching and after a few minutes of fuel burn,
it became a glider. Read the book, 'I Flew for Hitler'
(is that the title? And I have forgotten the author's
name. Good book!)

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

At 22:30 15 November 2006, Tim Taylor wrote:
>Direct on a step downhill
>
>
>Robert Gaines wrote:
>> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
>> Winch
>> Autotow
>> Towplane
>> Gasoline engine self launch
>> Electric self launch
>> Off Back of 747
>> Belly of B-29
>> Bungee
>>
>> How many more ways?
>
>

[[email protected]]

Balloon
http://members.shaw.ca/sonde/risks.htm


Boat - Early days of flight....


Rocket - Space Shuttle


Gravity - any decent Red Bull insanity


Mentos and Coke - for a model anyway


Single Malts in decent quantities - in my mind only


Bob






Robert Gaines wrote:
> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
> Winch
> Autotow
> Towplane
> Gasoline engine self launch
> Electric self launch
> Off Back of 747
> Belly of B-29
> Bungee
>
> How many more ways?

[Jack]

Ray Lovinggood wrote:

> Of course, the World War II vintage German rocket interceptor,
> of which I've forgotten who produced. Rocket power
> for launching and after a few minutes of fuel burn,
> it became a glider. Read the book, 'I Flew for Hitler'
> (is that the title? And I have forgotten the author's
> name. Good book!)


_I Flew for the Fuhrer_

by Heinz Knoke


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1853672637/nbookcom-20

[[email protected]]

Horse and cart (once, about 18th century)

Foot launch

Shoulder launch (as described by the late Ann Welch, I believe)

Reverse pulley (Lots of us have)

forward pulley (seen it once)

gas-turbine self launch? (think I saw a video)

Pulse jet self-launch? (was the Caproni jet version pulse rather than
gas turbine?)


(Can't see them in the list above)

And planned - dropping a weight (Colditz)

Chris N.

[[email protected]]

I have seen a glider re-launch it self at Minden 18 times before..

the Pilot who now owns the world PIO record and I were laughing about
that very event at the weekend!!

Regards

Al


Robert Gaines wrote:
> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
> Winch
> Autotow
> Towplane
> Gasoline engine self launch
> Electric self launch
> Off Back of 747
> Belly of B-29
> Bungee
>
> How many more ways?

[Frank Whiteley]

Robert Gaines wrote:
> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
> Winch
> Autotow
> Towplane
> Gasoline engine self launch
> Electric self launch
> Off Back of 747
> Belly of B-29
> Bungee
>
> How many more ways?
Helicopter
Balloon
Foot (Woodstock option?)

[Wayne Paul]

"Frank Whiteley" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Robert Gaines wrote:
>> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
>> Winch
>> Autotow
>> Towplane
>> Gasoline engine self launch
>> Electric self launch
>> Off Back of 747
>> Belly of B-29
>> Bungee
>>
>> How many more ways?
> Helicopter
> Balloon
> Foot (Woodstock option?)
>

I don't believe the Woodstock can be "foot launched."
http://members.aol.com/sparkstj/rim45.jpg
http://members.aol.com/woodglider/wander1.jpg

The "foot launched" sailplane designed by Jim Maupin is the Carbon Dragon.
http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=54
http://www.sailplanehomebuilders.com/arndt_dragon.jpg

Wayne
HP-14 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/

[BT]

All are variations on a theme: "self launch" , "aero tow" , "Ground launch"

it's just the power supplier or mechanics that change
BT

"Robert Gaines" > wrote in message
...
> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
> Winch
> Autotow
> Towplane
> Gasoline engine self launch
> Electric self launch
> Off Back of 747
> Belly of B-29
> Bungee
>
> How many more ways?
>
>
>

[Ray Lovinggood]

The book I read was:
'I Learned To Fly For Hitler' by Joe Volmar

Kron Publications
1864 Irish Road
Dundee, Michigan 48131, USA

ISBN0-9671389-0-6

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 99-62464

Good reading, so add it to your library!

Ray



At 23:12 15 November 2006, Jack wrote:
>Ray Lovinggood wrote:
>
>> Of course, the World War II vintage German rocket
>>interceptor,
>> of which I've forgotten who produced. Rocket power
>> for launching and after a few minutes of fuel burn,
>> it became a glider. Read the book, 'I Flew for Hitler'
>> (is that the title? And I have forgotten the author's
>> name. Good book!)
>
>
>_I Flew for the Fuhrer_
>
>by Heinz Knoke
>
>
>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1853672637/nbookcom-20
>

[Paul Remde]

One of my favorite old soaring photos shows the use of the "greased plank"
launching method off a cliff. The photo is in the book Wings Like Eagles by
Paul Schweizer. When ready to launch, just tip up the board and the glider
slides off an over the edge.

Paul Remde

"Tim Taylor" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Direct on a step downhill
>
>
> Robert Gaines wrote:
>> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
>> Winch
>> Autotow
>> Towplane
>> Gasoline engine self launch
>> Electric self launch
>> Off Back of 747
>> Belly of B-29
>> Bungee
>>
>> How many more ways?
>

[Frank Whiteley]

Wayne Paul wrote:
> "Frank Whiteley" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >
> > Robert Gaines wrote:
> >> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
> >> Winch
> >> Autotow
> >> Towplane
> >> Gasoline engine self launch
> >> Electric self launch
> >> Off Back of 747
> >> Belly of B-29
> >> Bungee
> >>
> >> How many more ways?
> > Helicopter
> > Balloon
> > Foot (Woodstock option?)
> >
>
> I don't believe the Woodstock can be "foot launched."
> http://members.aol.com/sparkstj/rim45.jpg
> http://members.aol.com/woodglider/wander1.jpg
>
> The "foot launched" sailplane designed by Jim Maupin is the Carbon Dragon.
> http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=54
> http://www.sailplanehomebuilders.com/arndt_dragon.jpg
>
> Wayne
> HP-14 "6F"
> http://www.soaridaho.com/
That it's, I knew it was a Maupin design.

Frank

[Frank Whiteley]

Frank Whiteley wrote:
> Robert Gaines wrote:
> > How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
> > Winch
> > Autotow
> > Towplane
> > Gasoline engine self launch
> > Electric self launch
> > Off Back of 747
> > Belly of B-29
> > Bungee
> >
> > How many more ways?
> Helicopter
> Balloon
> Foot (Woodstock option?)
How about this sled ride?
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/88641main_H-2340.pdf

[GM]

Has anybody ever tried to launch a glider purely by gravity without the
aid of any other means? Ok - pushing it over a cliff would be one way.
I am more thinking of a steep incline, which a glider could just roll
down, i.e. a slow glider flying and a steep straight mountain road.

Uli Neumann


Frank Whiteley wrote:
> Robert Gaines wrote:
> > How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
> > Winch
> > Autotow
> > Towplane
> > Gasoline engine self launch
> > Electric self launch
> > Off Back of 747
> > Belly of B-29
> > Bungee
> >
> > How many more ways?
> Helicopter
> Balloon
> Foot (Woodstock option?)

[Peter Smith]

Team of horses
Dirigible

Ralph Barnaby did both.

[Frank Whiteley]

GM wrote:
> Has anybody ever tried to launch a glider purely by gravity without the
> aid of any other means? Ok - pushing it over a cliff would be one way.
> I am more thinking of a steep incline, which a glider could just roll
> down, i.e. a slow glider flying and a steep straight mountain road.
>
> Uli Neumann
>
>
There are some videos on the web of this, but I can't find the link at
the moment.

Frank Whiteley

[Frank Whiteley]

Frank Whiteley wrote:
> GM wrote:
> > Has anybody ever tried to launch a glider purely by gravity without the
> > aid of any other means? Ok - pushing it over a cliff would be one way.
> > I am more thinking of a steep incline, which a glider could just roll
> > down, i.e. a slow glider flying and a steep straight mountain road.
> >
> > Uli Neumann
> >
> >
> There are some videos on the web of this, but I can't find the link at
> the moment.
>
> Frank Whiteley
http://tinyurl.com/vewfc
Gravity launch thread
2003 post, unfortunately with broken links.

Frank

[Martin Gregorie[_1_]]

GM wrote:
> There was another one of these 'Wunder-Waffen': the Bachem Natter,
> which was a manned rocket powered interceptor with a bunch of unguided
> missiles in the nose. It was launched vertically and was supposed to
> return as a glider. The climb rate was 11,300m/min !! (37,000fpm) I
> wonder what kind of a vario they had installed in that one.
> See: http://www.luftarchiv.de/flugzeuge/sonstige/ba349.htm
>
> Uli Neumann
>
Here's a good description and history:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/aircraft/bachemba.htm



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

[Martin Gregorie[_1_]]

GM wrote:
> Has anybody ever tried to launch a glider purely by gravity without the
> aid of any other means? Ok - pushing it over a cliff would be one way.
> I am more thinking of a steep incline, which a glider could just roll
> down, i.e. a slow glider flying and a steep straight mountain road.
>
There's a video somewhere on the 'net of a PW-5 being launched exactly
that way, rolling down a steep, smooth grass slope. 2 or 3 people push
it at first before peeling off as it gains speed and then lifts off into
the slope lift. I think this was filmed in Poland.


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

[Bruce Greef]

wrote:
> Horse and cart (once, about 18th century)
>
> Foot launch
>
> Shoulder launch (as described by the late Ann Welch, I believe)
>
> Reverse pulley (Lots of us have)
>
> forward pulley (seen it once)
>
> gas-turbine self launch? (think I saw a video)
>
> Pulse jet self-launch? (was the Caproni jet version pulse rather than
> gas turbine?)
>
>
> (Can't see them in the list above)
>
> And planned - dropping a weight (Colditz)
>
> Chris N.
>
The Wright 1902 glider launched with the aid of a weight and rail catapault.

Wonder if a flame out on launch off an aircraft carrier would qualify as a
glider launch...

[Bob Whelan]

GM wrote:
> Has anybody ever tried to launch a glider purely by gravity without the
> aid of any other means? Ok - pushing it over a cliff would be one way.
> I am more thinking of a steep incline, which a glider could just roll
> down, i.e. a slow glider flying and a steep straight mountain road.
>
> Uli Neumann
>
>
Cloyd Artman - mid 1930's. Washington state in (on) a primary
(built/modified from plans in a magazine [common stuff in the U.S. back
then]) from a greased tilting board atop a (working from memory from
older "Soaring" magazines) cut down pickup truck. Amazing young man
who lost his life ca. 1937 when a wing fitting failed on the
university-designed 2-seater he and a college classmate were flying as
undergraduates. Perhaps a photo of his greased board rig might be the
one alluded to in a previous post.

Regards,
Bob W.

[[email protected]]

Robert Gaines wrote:
> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
> Winch
> Autotow
> Towplane
> Gasoline engine self launch
> Electric self launch
> Off Back of 747
> Belly of B-29
> Bungee
>
> How many more ways?

Motor-bunjee - favoured by some South Walians in the late 1960s - not
always successful.

[Andy Melville]

There is space in my log book for launching by helicopter...presum
ably taken vertically to a safe height and then 'dropped'?I
dont know anyone who has done this but I am sure someone
will have!?
At 00:06 18 November 2006,
wrote:
>
>Robert Gaines wrote:
>> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
>> Winch
>> Autotow
>> Towplane
>> Gasoline engine self launch
>> Electric self launch
>> Off Back of 747
>> Belly of B-29
>> Bungee
>>
>> How many more ways?
>
>Motor-bunjee - favoured by some South Walians in the
>late 1960s - not
>always successful.
>
>

[Frank Whiteley]

Andy Melville wrote:
> There is space in my log book for launching by helicopter...presum
> ably taken vertically to a safe height and then 'dropped'?I
> dont know anyone who has done this but I am sure someone
> will have!?
Was done at the Worlds in 1995 in NZ IIRC, plus other places, both as a
lift and a tow.

[LOV2AV8]

Robert Gaines wrote:
> How many ways can a glider-sailplane be launched?
> Winch
> Autotow
> Towplane
> Gasoline engine self launch
> Electric self launch
> Off Back of 747
> Belly of B-29
> Bungee
>
> How many more ways?

I've seen video of a Russia being lifted and released from a hot air
balloon. To top this off he did a vertical climb at the gondola until
he stopped and fell back in a tail slide.

Randy "AV8"
Zuni II ser #24