On 7 Jan 2004 09:53:55 -0800, (Chris
OCallaghan) wrote:

A good next step would be to repeat
the experiment, this time putting emphasis on measuring the loads and
effects of identical maneuvers using a nose vs. cg hook.

This is exactly what has been done by the German LBA and DLR,
resulting in the regulations that a nose hook must be installed in any
newly produced glider.

This is the result paper of the experiments:

http://www.daec.de/se/faq/fschlepp/dlr.htm

(unfortunately only in German, I haven't found an English version yet)


In the absence of valid statistical or empirical evidence, it's hard
to determine just how critical this problem is.

http://www.daec.de/se/faq/fschlepp/unfallzahlen.htm

(number of accidents during winch launch and aerotow)

Not hard evidence... but the decrease in accident numbers in aerotow
is significant - maybe caused by the fact that more and more gliders
are equipped with nose hooks?


Bye
Andreas