On May 26, 3:58*pm, Bob Whelan
wrote:
Jack wrote:
JJ Sinclair wrote:

Thanks for posting, we need to talk about these kind of things....

This is an important thread. In reading through the posts, I notice many
instances of "I never...", and "I always...." Such absolutism can also
produce a dangerous mindset, one from which a mistaken self-assurance
can grow. Every time you assemble is a little different from every
other. Be alert to the moment and its unique challenges. Avoid following
the well worn path of habit.

No rush, no rash.

Always remember that never before has a thread contained so much
absolutely important material.

There may be a simpler, safer ship to rig than a Zuni (1970's American
15m design), but I've not yet seen it. *Except for the single main pin,
everything connects automatically, with no possibility of mis-set flaps
or ailerons or (all-flying) horizontal stabilizer. *(There are no
spoilers, and, no loose safety pins.) *Further, the main pin safety is
built into the ship, in easy reach and plain sight.

God, Himself, would have difficulty rigging a Zuni improperly, while
only an idiot would never rig a Zuni incompletely.

In fact, I've incompletely-rigged mine only once since 1981. *I
absolutely meant to never do it. *I've never done it since, and yet,
maybe 18 or so years after it happened, I still feel like an absolute
idiot. *I'm darned glad I can, and still do!!!

There I was, whining to my derigging buddy about falling out on a
rotorish day a mere 2.5 hours after releasing, reached in to unsafety
the main pin only to discover God had already pre-removed it by an inch
or so...BECAUSE I'D FORGOTTEN TO ROTATE THE HANDLE INTO POSITION FOR THE
(NEARLY) AUTOMATIC SAFETY TO SPRING BACK INTO 'HANDLE-CAPTURED/SAFETIED'
POSITION.

I now have a good idea what heart stoppage feels like.

Kids, however you accomplish it, don't try this on your own!!! *Not even
if you're a trained professional...

Regards,
Bob - human perfection is not an option - W.

I did the same mistake with my new ASW 27 few month ago. Both pins
were not secured!! Luckily they did not move at all, maybe my stuffed
luggage compartment, or god, kept them in place. Talking about a heart
stoppage!
In my case it wasn't another person interupting me. It was a wind
gust. The glider was already assembled the prior day, I only needed to
install the batteries, which in the ASW 27 is difficult unless you
rotate the pins out of their safety. Once I installed the batteries a
wind gust forced me to close the canopy, and I never got back to
rotate the pins back to safety! I now install the batteries the hard
way if the glider is already assembled, without rotating the pins.
The moral is that anything can interupt your routine, not just another
person. Just make sure that your routine does not include any traps,
then check and double check the critical assemblies.

Ramy