Newbie question on trailering Setup

"joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am wondering what is involved with trailering and setting up an
average (popular model) glider. Can one reasonable expect to park the
car, unload the trailer, and have glider ready to fly in under
90minutes?

A lot of people can do it alone under 30 minutes with simple assembly aids.

Does it usually take two people?

Not always, but it can help.

Do gliders ever have wings separate in flight due to weak attachment
points?

If the wings ever separate, it won't be at the attachment points. At least,
I've never heard of it.

Bill Daniels

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 04:05:33 GMT, Bill Daniels wrote:

"joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am wondering what is involved with trailering and setting up an
average (popular model) glider. Can one reasonable expect to park the
car, unload the trailer, and have glider ready to fly in under
90minutes?

A lot of people can do it alone under 30 minutes with simple assembly aids.

Does it usually take two people?

Not always, but it can help.

Do gliders ever have wings separate in flight due to weak attachment
points?

If the wings ever separate, it won't be at the attachment points. At least,
I've never heard of it.

Bill Daniels

Bill,
Wasn't there a fatal just a few years ago where one of the wing pins
in a DGsomething came out because the safety latch became
delaminated from the inside of the fuselage? Wing flexure in rough
conditions caused the pin to work out, as I remember.
John G.

I can reliably pull up to the gliderport and be on the runway, strapped
in, ready for a tow, in an hour. This is with an LS6b (manual
hookups), two people (the other person needed for 5 minutes max), Cobra
trailer, and not adding any water ballast. It does include taping,
loading batteries, parachute, drinking water, etc., washing, and
cleaning the canopy inside and out. Rigging the plane is usually the
quickest thing to do, expecially if you have auto hookups - maybe 15
minutes from pulling up to done. What takes more time (and which many
people seem to overlook when saying how quick they can rig) is a decent
tape job and a good wash. Add water ballast and you may have another
30 minutes. I would challenge anyone who says they can be ready to go
in 15 minutes to a race...but let them fly their own planes!

I like to give myself two hours from driving up to launching, so I'm
not rushed and have time to do a little flight planning (looking at the
sky, mainly!).

I don't worry about my wings coming off - I worry about spam can
drivers who don't look out the window.

Kirk
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