Winching (European tips for US clubs)

On Aug 16, 8:01 am, Bruce wrote:
....
Personally I have found being dragged kilometres from the runway at low level
with the airspeed in the yellow arc far more worrying than any of the many winch
launch failures I have had.

This doesn't sound like any aero-tow that I every had. I might have
to have a little "discussion" with the tuggie after that.

Todd

"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
ups.com...

And a "good" site. I've heard rumours of sites where, if there is
a break at certain heights, you are almost guaranteed to end
up in some trees. I wonder if that is true or merely a bar story.

I hate to sound repetative, but is this not is also true with aerotow at
some sites and with some combinations of glider & towplane? (I made this a
question, but I have seen enough trees at close range to tell you for a fact
that it IS true)

Vaughn

On Aug 16, 7:31 pm, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote:
"Tom Gardner" wrote in message

ups.com...



And a "good" site. I've heard rumours of sites where, if there is
a break at certain heights, you are almost guaranteed to end
up in some trees. I wonder if that is true or merely a bar story.

I hate to sound repetative, but is this not is also true with aerotow at
some sites and with some combinations of glider & towplane? (I made this a
question, but I have seen enough trees at close range to tell you for a fact
that it IS true)

Vaughn

My experience has been that I have many times been on aerotow in
positions that I could not make it back to the airport. Less often I
have had times were I didn't have any good options for landing on
aerotow.

My ground launch experience is that I have never been a position that
while launching I could not make it back to the runway. I have done
actual or simluate rope breaks from every altitude on the ground
launch. I have had the winch fail on me several times and if properly
prepared for them they are a non-event.

Brian
CFIIG/ASEL

In the UK a good briefing and about 5 or 6 practice
launch failures is usually enough to safely send aerotow
trained pilots solo on the winch.

Del C

At 15:42 16 August 2007, Nimbusgb wrote:

Agree with the basics Bill but in practice its teaching
all the
things that can go wrong that usually takes another
100 or more
launches. Correcting launch problems needs to become
automatic, quick,
decisive and 'right first time' to make winching safe.

Ian