On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 14:21:47 +0000, Martin Gregorie
wrote:


I think the Wrights did something similar with the 1902 glider. IIRC
they too it to the top of a sandhill, the pilot got settled and then the
glider was picked up by its outer struts and hand launched pretty much
as Nigel described. Unfortunately I've loaned my copy of "Kill Devil
Hill" to another glider pilot, so can't check the details.

This launch method was very common during the first years of the
Wasserkuppe.
One can find many interesting pictures of people shoving gliders into
the air in Peter Riedels book "Start in den Wind".


Bye
Andreas