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Old June 17th 17, 04:40 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
John Cochrane[_3_]
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Default A Tale of Two Takeoffs

Spoilers open on takeoff works. Until you're trying to take off high altitude, hot, cross-downwind, full of water, you won't notice the need. Then you will. You get a crucial second or two of better aileron control.

Thanks much Chip for the good post. Wing running is a constant problem at contests. I've had several incidents where despite my careful briefings, contest wing runners just can't get it right. The wings must be balanced, level, sloshed through the baffles, but if there is a significant cross wind (mifflin), the upwind wing cannot be high. You must run. This is not a 2-33. Runway lights make it a higher priority.

It's hard to whine. The wing runners are volunteers, and spending a long hot day running wings for cranky pilots cannot be fun. Still, along with slow tows, this is a constant problem at contests, and perhaps more regular emphasis by contest management would help.

(Why must every contest start with a litany of "towplane alpha bravo, more speed please." "towplane alpha bravo, more speed please.".... )

John Cochrane