Winch Experts wanted

I am looking for a small group of professionals and folks with
practical experience in designing and building a glider launch winch.
My preference would be mechanical engineering types with power
transmission experience, Diesel engine/truck mechanics, Fabricators,
guys that know a thing or two about truck axles and maybe someone with
an insurance/legal background.

The purpose of putting this small team together is to come up with a
design for a safe, reliable and cost effective winch, which could be
built by a group of amateurs in the USA using commercially available
parts without a whole lot of modificatons.
There are no commercial ties to anything or anybody, nobody gets paid
and the design/ideas would be available for the asking.

So, who is up for the challenge?

Ulrich Neumann
Canfield, OH
USA

How about a "Monster Garage" episode to turn a Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins
engine into a glider launch winch.



"Ulrich Neumann" wrote in message
om...
I am looking for a small group of professionals and folks with
practical experience in designing and building a glider launch winch.
My preference would be mechanical engineering types with power
transmission experience, Diesel engine/truck mechanics, Fabricators,
guys that know a thing or two about truck axles and maybe someone with
an insurance/legal background.

The purpose of putting this small team together is to come up with a
design for a safe, reliable and cost effective winch, which could be
built by a group of amateurs in the USA using commercially available
parts without a whole lot of modificatons.
There are no commercial ties to anything or anybody, nobody gets paid
and the design/ideas would be available for the asking.

So, who is up for the challenge?

Ulrich Neumann
Canfield, OH
USA

"Atacdad" wrote in message
...
How about a "Monster Garage" episode to turn a Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins
engine into a glider launch winch.


they will probably want to add a rocket launcher or mortar onto it as well
to shoot down the launched glider to make the program sell better .

Couldn't be worse than the hot air ballon Tracker (or whatever it was)



"superficial intelligence" wrote in message
...

"Atacdad" wrote in message
...
How about a "Monster Garage" episode to turn a Dodge 3/4 ton with
Cummins
engine into a glider launch winch.


they will probably want to add a rocket launcher or mortar onto it as well
to shoot down the launched glider to make the program sell better .

I really think this idea has merit.... but should we also consider lowering
the wing loading so that the horsepower requirements are much less? I also
think that the future of soaring is rather bleak without winch alternatives.

I also
think that the future of soaring is rather bleak without winch
alternatives.

It's called Aerotow....... and what's wrong with winch? 1500 ft easy with a
decent field for under 1/3 the price of a 2000 ft tow..... ;-)

AP


"mat Redsell" wrote in message
...

I really think this idea has merit.... but should we also consider
lowering
the wing loading so that the horsepower requirements are much less? I also
think that the future of soaring is rather bleak without winch
alternatives.

"Atacdad" wrote in message ...
Couldn't be worse than the hot air ballon Tracker (or whatever it was)



"superficial intelligence" wrote in message
...

"Atacdad" wrote in message
...
How about a "Monster Garage" episode to turn a Dodge 3/4 ton with
Cummins
engine into a glider launch winch.


they will probably want to add a rocket launcher or mortar onto it as well
to shoot down the launched glider to make the program sell better .



The time it would take to explain to these mental bottom-feeder what
the thing is supposed to do with the "what? Glider? No engine? =
Booooring, Dude!' would exceed the build time or my patience!

But seriously now, any takers?

Ulrich Neumann

"mat Redsell" wrote in message ...
I really think this idea has merit.... but should we also consider lowering
the wing loading so that the horsepower requirements are much less? I also
think that the future of soaring is rather bleak without winch alternatives.

Mat,

I don't think that the road-block for whole winch idea is horse-power.
Horse-Power is available in abundance at a reasonable cost - see Bill
Daniels' write-up on this subject. Even with a high HP winch, older,
smaller and lighter gliders can be launched. It is only when you have
a fully watered open ship or heavy double seat trainer on the other
end of the cable when you need the extra uhmpf!
I think the biggest problem to overcome is the mind-set that the winch
has to be built (cobbled together) in one weekend from parts supplied
exclusively from the local junk-yard. Lets apply some sound
engineering, craftsmenship and parts, that are commercially available
for years to come.

Ulrih Neumann

Not exactly what you asked for, but take a look at

http://www.skylaunch.de/album/index.html

It's fun and it may give you some ideas.

Stefan

My statement was very confusing... what I really meant was without the winch
I think that we will be in troubles down the road for affordable tows....

And in part I do think that we have taken a wrong road with high wing
loading. for example with the Monarch we are able to tow it aloft with 160
lbs of tension at a speed of about 15 mph with a wind down the runway of
about 10 mph. This requires a very small rope and small horsepower.

See the article I posted in the Marske Web site on power requirements for
launching developed by Jim Marske.

http://www.continuo.com/marske/
look under articles for : ultralight design parameters design parameters of
the ultralight glider

But whatever I do think that your idea of developing a winch is a godo idea.
-mat

"A P" wrote in message
...
I also
think that the future of soaring is rather bleak without winch
alternatives.

It's called Aerotow....... and what's wrong with winch? 1500 ft easy with
a
decent field for under 1/3 the price of a 2000 ft tow..... ;-)

AP


"mat Redsell" wrote in message
...

I really think this idea has merit.... but should we also consider
lowering
the wing loading so that the horsepower requirements are much less? I
also
think that the future of soaring is rather bleak without winch
alternatives.