Hi, you mention making a pathway as part of the take-off zone. This needs
to be not too narrow. As a worst case scenario you need to allow dropping
space for the cable in the event of a winch stoppage, such as it jumping
out of gear (as happened to me once at 50ft.).

The cable with drouge chute will travel almost 45 degrees from it's release
point in even the slightest cross-wind.
Trying to retrieve the cable from a tree usually results in damage to the
drouge and to the tree.

Also you need to factor this dropping zone into the equation if you are
near any roads. (is I-70 a busy main road?)

Pete (UK)

At 15:56 30 January 2013, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Wednesday, January 30, 2013 5:57:19 AM UTC-7, kirk.stant wrote:
Frank,
=20
=20
=20
Thanks for the info. Yes, SLSA owns the land all the way to I-70, and
we=
have discussed what we would need to do to use it for winch launching -
at=
a minimum a path for the winch cable, to extending the runway as
necessary=
.. So our useable field length extends from IL 40 to the south (the
displace=
d threshold) to I-70 to the north. Not ideal, but OK, and we normally
laun=
ch to the North.
=20
=20
=20
Kirk

With a stout winch and good technique, 1500-1600ft launches would be
doable=
on a regular basis, higher possible, especially with 8-10kts of
headwind.

Don's winch sports a 350cid Corvette motor. Check out the video and
pictur=
es at www.crosscountrysoaring.com.

If you do this, develop a cadre of good winch drivers. You don't expect
al=
l members to fly the tug, don't expect everyone to drive the winch.
Others=
can help with rope retrieves and as launch marshals. Then spend some of
t=
hat flight scholarship money on youth.

Frank