Auto Launching: Truck types, etc

What kind of auto or truck have you seen launch a sailplane with?

Would a Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 do the trick?

What are the requirements to become endorsed for auto launching?

What are the recommended rope lengths and types of pulley's for a 3900
ft runway?

On Jul 18, 8:21*pm, Scott Alexander
wrote:
What kind of auto or truck have you seen launch a sailplane with?

Would a Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 do the trick?

What are the requirements to become endorsed for auto launching?

What are the recommended rope lengths and types of pulley's for a 3900
ft runway?

Reverse pulley makes best use of the available length and is quickest
retrieve.

See http://www.coloradosoaring.org/think...ng/default.htm,
both John Campell's notes and Reverse Pulley.

Yes the Dodge will do. 4WD only needed on grass. 2WD is fine for
hard surface.

Frank Whiteley

On Jul 19, 5:09*am, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Jul 18, 8:21*pm, Scott Alexander
wrote:

What kind of auto or truck have you seen launch a sailplane with?

Would a Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 do the trick?

What are the requirements to become endorsed for auto launching?

What are the recommended rope lengths and types of pulley's for a 3900
ft runway?

Reverse pulley makes best use of the available length and is quickest
retrieve.

Seehttp://www.coloradosoaring.org/thinking_pages/ground_launching/defaul....,
both John Campell's notes and Reverse Pulley.

Yes the Dodge will do. *4WD only needed on grass. *2WD is fine for
hard surface.

Frank Whiteley

On Jul 19, 5:09*am, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Jul 18, 8:21*pm, Scott Alexander
wrote:

What kind of auto or truck have you seen launch a sailplane with?

Would a Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 do the trick?

What are the requirements to become endorsed for auto launching?

What are the recommended rope lengths and types of pulley's for a 3900
ft runway?

Reverse pulley makes best use of the available length and is quickest
retrieve.

Seehttp://www.coloradosoaring.org/thinking_pages/ground_launching/defaul....,
both John Campell's notes and Reverse Pulley.

Yes the Dodge will do. *4WD only needed on grass. *2WD is fine for
hard surface.

Frank Whiteley

Scott, I sent a long email to you (too much stuff to post here). Hope
it helps. Chris.

On Jul 18, 10:09*pm, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Jul 18, 8:21*pm, Scott Alexander
wrote:

What kind of auto or truck have you seen launch a sailplane with?

Would a Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 do the trick?

What are the requirements to become endorsed for auto launching?

What are the recommended rope lengths and types of pulley's for a 3900
ft runway?

Reverse pulley makes best use of the available length and is quickest
retrieve.

Seehttp://www.coloradosoaring.org/thinking_pages/ground_launching/defaul....,
both John Campell's notes and Reverse Pulley.

Yes the Dodge will do. *4WD only needed on grass. *2WD is fine for
hard surface.

Frank Whiteley

I might add that 3rd party liability insurance on winches in the US is
only presently available by switching to synthetic ropes. I don't
know if that extends to other forms of ground launching.

Frank

On Jul 18, 7:21*pm, Scott Alexander
wrote:

Wouldn't the answer to truck type depend on what you intend to
launch?

In the old days an FAA ground launch rating was good for winch or auto
tow. Have not checked on the new endorsement requirements since I'm
"grandfathered" for all launch types. For practical purposes an auto
tow starts like aero tow and quickly transitions to being like a winch
launch.

For lake bed launches the popular wisdom seemed to be that the best
truck was one that was rented

Andy (GY)

On Jul 19, 8:19*am, Andy wrote:

For lake bed launches the popular wisdom seemed to be that the best
truck was one that was rented

Second that. Auto towing is very rough on the tow vehicle - so much
so that long ago I refused to use my personal vehicle for the
purpose. Back in the '60's we used muscle cars which for whatever
reason couldn't be licensed for highway use. You may find in the long
run, a winch will be cheaper to operate.

With only 3900 feet, you wouldn't get enough height with a straight
auto tow to make it worthwhile. The tow vehicle's accelerate-stop
distance plus rope length eats up too much runway.

With a pulley you can do much better but you'll still need a robust
tow vehicle with both very good acceleration and very good pulling
ability. If you're launching heavy two seaters, the ultimate limit
will be tow vehicle traction.

Auto tow is best suited for low elevations (there are density altitude
issues) and light gliders.

On Jul 19, 10:19*am, Andy wrote:
On Jul 18, 7:21*pm, Scott Alexander
wrote:

Wouldn't the answer to truck type depend on what you intend to
launch?

In the old days an FAA ground launch rating was good for winch or auto
tow. *Have not checked on the new endorsement requirements since I'm
"grandfathered" for all launch types. *For practical purposes an auto
tow starts like aero tow and quickly transitions to being like a winch
launch.

For lake bed launches the popular wisdom seemed to be that the best
truck was one that was rented

Andy (GY)

I got my restriction removed in the old days at a winch clinic. 6
flights from
intro to flight test. Would I launch off a winch or ground tow
today? No way!
There's several good ground launch operations in the US these days.
Take
a vacation at one of them for a while and get the endorsement. My
understanding
is that it will take at least 20 launches to really be proficient. A
good alternate
would be to hire in a top ground launch instructor like Frank to run a
clinic
at your field. That way several of you can get up to speed on all the
aspects
of running the operation.

-- Matt

On Jul 19, 8:46*am, mattm wrote:
On Jul 19, 10:19*am, Andy wrote:





On Jul 18, 7:21*pm, Scott Alexander
wrote:

Wouldn't the answer to truck type depend on what you intend to
launch?

In the old days an FAA ground launch rating was good for winch or auto
tow. *Have not checked on the new endorsement requirements since I'm
"grandfathered" for all launch types. *For practical purposes an auto
tow starts like aero tow and quickly transitions to being like a winch
launch.

For lake bed launches the popular wisdom seemed to be that the best
truck was one that was rented

Andy (GY)

I got my restriction removed in the old days at a winch clinic. *6
flights from
intro to flight test. *Would I launch off a winch or ground tow
today? *No way!
There's several good ground launch operations in the US these days.
Take
a vacation at one of them for a while and get the endorsement. *My
understanding
is that it will take at least 20 launches to really be proficient. *A
good alternate
would be to hire in a top ground launch instructor like Frank to run a
clinic
at your field. *That way several of you can get up to speed on all the
aspects
of running the operation.

-- Matt

Matt,

I would say 20 launches for a total novice would leave them minimally
proficient - and, as you say, you need a good ground school to go with
that.

Originally Posted by Scott Alexander[_2_]

What kind of auto or truck have you seen launch a sailplane with?

Would a Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 do the trick?

What are the requirements to become endorsed for auto launching?

What are the recommended rope lengths and types of pulley's for a 3900
ft runway?

Try a Beamer yet?