On Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at 11:56:18 AM UTC-4, kirk.stant wrote:
In the spirit of lively RAS discussions, I submit that the US gliding community needs to switch to hillside bungee launching - the benefits would be immense!

1. Launches would be essentially free (except for some sweat equity - but most US glider pilots could use the exercise...)

2. Good for the environment (except for some extra CO2 from the sweaty bungee crew).

3. It would provide an instant "shovel ready" infrastructure project - building all those hills next to flatland gliderports.

4. It would have a beneficial impact on the health of glider club members.

5. It would let more glider pilots share the fun of soaring, since the average flight time would be measured in single digit minutes, allowing greater use of club gliders.

6. Low altitude thermalling skills would be hugely improved!

I'm off to find a nice long bungee cord, our club's K13 already has the bungee nose hook installed! All I need now is a hill...

Kirk
66

(PS: Greased-board launches off a cliff are overlooked, too!)

Why not bungee launch in front of a windmill farm (in the US)?, then you could dynamic soar from the tip vortexes from the blades.
Then, they're (the windmills) are not a total hazard, but sorta useful for something else?!?!?

/sarcasm........ ;-)

[I can appreciate why this thread started......]

Geez..... I can see the Fonz wanting to auto-launch in front of the Miami skyline so he can get a day of flying in........