On 7/21/2011 10:18 AM, Bill D wrote:
On Jul 21, 7:06 am, JJ wrote:
. The

new Monarch will be the H, with an improved fuselage.

I hope they improved the release system! A friend did several auto
tows. The info said it could be aero towed, so they hooked it up to a
Cub On tow it started to oscilate wildly in pitch (too fast?). He
tried to release, but couldn't and it PIO'd into the runway. My friend
received a severe head injury. If you fly a Monarch, for god's sake
wear a helmet!
JJ

I don't know what happened to your friend (my condolences), but your
comment may be unfair. The Marske flying wings respond very rapidly
to pitch inputs but they don't oscillate.

Bill D

JJ, I feel your pain (it's never good when anyone gets injured in a
sailplane), but the rational part of me has to object to the implied dig at
(in this case) the Monarch aerodynamic design (and by implication, flying wing
sailplanes in general). Here's why.

While I won't argue the point that 'some designs' are more likely to have a
pilot induce/endure PIO than others, I would also simultaneously argue that -
in the vast majority of cases - *the pilot* is the primary contributor. To
think - or to encourage others to think - otherwise, is (IMHO) doing pilots a
disservice.

For heaven's sake, a 1-34 was PIO-ed into scrap metal (with some
broken/crushed vertebrae thrown in) at my home airport many years ago...on a
benign weather condition *landing*. A less-PIO-prone ship than the 1-34 is
difficult for me to imagine. Now *there* was a pilot to whom I might've
considered suggesting wearing a helmet...or, investing in companies that make
energy-absorbing foam.

On the other hand, I give you points for flying an 'almost flying wing'
design, the Genesis II! :-)

Regards,
Bob W.

P.S. I know absolutely zero about the/that Monarch's tow hook/release system.