On 02/08/15 21:37, Caecilius wrote:
But the rest of the flight was fun and when we landed
I'd have gone back up again if I could.

I think you have just answered many of your questions, albeit
indirectly.

Some people feel less afraid if they or their instructor are
"in control" and can explain what's happening.


The winch is much
cheaper, but it looked really scary as an observer: the glider must
have been at a 45 degree angle, and I wonder what the accelleration in
the cockpit would be.

About the same as you get in a high performance car or
motorbike along the ground. When you rotate the speed
is more-or-less constant so there is no acceleration;
it is like sitting in a chair (or bathtub) and rocking
the chair back onto its back legs.


I'd like to try a winch launch, but I'm worried that it may be too
much for me. Can anyone give any insight to what
it feels like in the glider? There are plenty of youtube vids, but
they can't show what it feels like.

Sometimes you hear people screaming all the way up the launch.
The last time I heard that she came down with a big grin
on her face and went straight back up again. YMMV, of course.

Key point: talk to you instructor. Tell them your hopes and fears,
and if you are enjoying/hating something. They are well used to
accommodating all sorts of people on trial flights, and will
adjust the flight accordingly. At my club, not in the SE, there is
zero macho element amongst the instructors; they get their kicks
out of people /enjoying/ their flight.

Talk to people that have just had their first winch launch,
and see what they experienced.