On Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 8:15:08 PM UTC+12, Peter Higgs wrote:
End of rope is anchored to the ground. Rope goes around pulley on the
launch car, then back to the glider. Car travels half the speed of the
glide r (2:1 system). The only rope moving relative to the ground during
the launch is the rope between the pulley and the glider. And similar to a
winch =
launch, all that rope becomes airborne pretty quickly.

There may be a snag to that....

The amount of rope between the glider and the car is shortening all the
time, and the pilot is alive at the start of the tow ?

Exactly the same as with a winch, you mean?

Except in this case the winch is moving.