The Soft Release?

"Jack" wrote in message
news
_Positive_ confirmation is seeing the rope fall away from the glider, and it
works for any release, soft or hard.

Unfortunately, not true; at least not in all gliders. Especially not true
if you are a back seater. When I do a soft release, gravity pulls the ring down
out of sight and I either have to gently maneuver away from the ring or sit
there and wait for it to finally come into view.

Vaughn

Vaughn wrote:

_Positive_ confirmation is seeing the rope fall away from the glider, and it
works for any release, soft or hard.

Unfortunately, not true; at least not in all gliders.

Especially not true if you are a back seater.

Ah, the vision thing.... I've found that one can use use elevator and
rudder, gently, as you suggest, to make all things clear from either
seat. I am increasingly reluctant, as the years progress, to beat up the
tow hooks on the Schweizers I fly by using a hard release. I prefer a
modified-soft, if you will; tension reduced (no slack line) and visual
confirmation of separation.

Something more straight forward might be better when working with students.

As a tow pilot I want no doubt at either end that there is a confirmed
release. Neither of us would enjoy the Nantucket Sleigh Ride that can
result from a miscue.


Jack

Forgive my ignorance, I am speaking from the UK and we don't generally
see Schweizers in this country, but can you change the hooks to
something similar to everything else, say a Tost hook? Then you would
get the same release characteristics as all other gliders.

Robin

In message , Jack
writes
Vaughn wrote:

_Positive_ confirmation is seeing the rope fall away from the
glider, and it works for any release, soft or hard.

Unfortunately, not true; at least not in all gliders.

Especially not true if you are a back seater.

Ah, the vision thing.... I've found that one can use use elevator and
rudder, gently, as you suggest, to make all things clear from either
seat. I am increasingly reluctant, as the years progress, to beat up
the tow hooks on the Schweizers I fly by using a hard release. I prefer
a modified-soft, if you will; tension reduced (no slack line) and
visual confirmation of separation.

Something more straight forward might be better when working with students.

As a tow pilot I want no doubt at either end that there is a confirmed
release. Neither of us would enjoy the Nantucket Sleigh Ride that can
result from a miscue.


Jack

--
Robin Birch