On Sunday, December 2, 2012 9:28:45 PM UTC-8, Bart wrote:
All,



After some research I came to a conclusion that in the USA, there is

no legal requirement to use a weak link during a ground launch,

regardless of the rope/wire strength.



First question: Am I missing something? Is there something like a

ground launch version of 14 CFR 91.309?



Second question: If the glider's POH does not offer any guidance (say,

1-26), what would be an appropriate range of rope breaking strength?



Thanks!

Bart

Just curious. Have there been ANY catastrophic wing failures of ground launched Schweizers? We auto-tow our club Schweizers twice a year. We break weak links now and then. We get from 1000 to 1200 feet of launch from 1800 feet of 5/16" poly rope. Mostly, we have a lot of fun.