Auto-Towing - why is this not more popular?

On Monday, October 5, 2015 at 2:53:27 PM UTC-7, Ramy wrote:
At least in most soaring sites in California, auto towing (as well as winch) will provide affordable sled rides at best. The lift is typically in the mountains 5-30 miles away. The only exceptions I can think of is Avenal and maybe Crazy Creek.


Affordable sled rides make for affordable training. And, the whole reason we tried (and ultimately failed) to get a winch operating at Crazy Creek is that lift is easily accessible from 2000 feet above the field on nearly all soarable days.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0k...ew?usp=sharing

Car tow hitch with release

Aéroclub; Vol à Voile Montagne Noire
Airflield; LFMG


http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.ph...945686251o.jpg

Wonder if they would be interested in upsizing to full on sailplane size?
http://cloudstreetwinch.com/

Pay out winch works great! Our airport manager here won't let me use it here tho...
Enjoy this video from our Alvord Desert Safari:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP8bVgG8xJc

Boggs

On Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 11:17:37 AM UTC-6, Waveguru wrote:
Pay out winch works great! Our airport manager here won't let me use it here tho...
Enjoy this video from our Alvord Desert Safari:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP8bVgG8xJc

Boggs

A payout winch can be forced to work with a low speed glider like a 2-33 but don't try to launch a heavy composite that way. If you do the math you'll see that the tow car will have to hit nearly 100mph.

When one looks at all the alternatives, it's clear that the cheapest, quickest, simplest way to ground launch a glider is with a winch. Auto tow in all its variations just can't compete.

the tow car will have to hit nearly 100mph.

I guess you didn't bother to watch the videos, eh Bill? We launched many glass ships to thousands of feet.

Boggs

On Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 2:37:30 PM UTC-7, Waveguru wrote:
the tow car will have to hit nearly 100mph.

I guess you didn't bother to watch the videos, eh Bill? We launched many glass ships to thousands of feet.

Boggs

Gary, what were your typical truck speeds?

Thanks,
Craig

On Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 3:37:30 PM UTC-6, Waveguru wrote:
the tow car will have to hit nearly 100mph.

I guess you didn't bother to watch the videos, eh Bill? We launched many glass ships to thousands of feet.

Boggs

Yeah, I watched your video.

Out in the prairies, trees and power lines
are less prevalent than center pivot
irrigators and barbed wire fences. The
neighboring farmers might let us put in
gates to run the winch line another 3000'
+, but I'm wondering if we could mount
high pulleys at the fence lines to avoid
rubbing against fence posts etc.

If we could get a drone with PowerFLARM
to pull the line back, life would be really
good except for the pipeline patrol guy.