suspension

[Tad Eareckson]

So was the finished length of the weak link 1.5 inches or less or not? Stop beating around the bush.

The hook knife you're OK on. It just needs to be within easy reach and yours was just as easily reachable as Jeff Bohl's appropriate bridle was a year plus 25 days ago.

[<BS>]

So why do you think that I did not install a back-up release..?

'Cause that new prototype self-corrects before you get into too much trouble?

[Steve Davy]

Also worth mentioning is that during those flights there was no provision for cutting the line at the front end, thus no observer ready to make a good decision in the interest of my safety. I told Erich to keep going until he was certain that I had terminated a tow and that is exactly what he did.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24846
Is this a joke ?

Cragin Shelton - 2011/09/03 23:57:33 UTC

Nice Reference Citation

Ridgerodent:
Manned Kiting
The Basic Handbook of Tow Launched Hang Gliding
Daniel F. Poynter
1974

"The greatest dangers are a rope break or a premature release."- Richard Johnson

Do you REALLY think that there has been no progress in knowledge about the practical applied physics and engineering of hang gliding in 37 years? OR that an early, 3+ decade old, information book written by a non-pilot is a solid reference when you have multiple high experience current instructors involved in the discussion?

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30971
Zach Marzec

Jim Rooney - 2013/02/16 05:05:41 UTC

My general rule is "no funky shit". I don't like people reinventing the wheel and I don't like test pilots. Have I towed a few test pilots? Yup. Have I towed them in anything but very controlled conditions? Nope. It's a damn high bar. I've told more to piss off than I've told yes. I'll give you an example... I towed a guy with the early version of the new Lookout release. But the Tad-o-link? Nope.

So I hope that sheds some light on the situation.
But again, every tuggie's different and every situation is different.
What doesn't change however is that it's my call, not yours.
And it's my job to be the "bad guy" sometimes.
Sorry. It's just the way it is.

[Steve Davy]

During those test flights I had no back-up release, thus no way to abort a tow in an emergency situation if my release had failed. It would have been real super easy to install a back-up release.

So why do you think that I did not install a back-up release, Miguel?

Take your time on a reply to my question, Miguel.

[Tad Eareckson]

Jump to next post:
http://www.kitestrings.org/post11599.html#p11599

Just stumbled upon another gem from Harrison Rowntree. First discovery on behalf of Kite Strings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT9p2jyg_l4


courtesy Steve - 2013/12/12 02:41:26 UTC.

http://www.kitestrings.org/post5449.html#p5449

That one's shortly before Harrison posts:

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on behalf of the dope on the bottom end of that rope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzlewJ7Wx9E
Hang Gliding Around Coonalpyn, South Australia

Harrison Rowntree - 2017/04/04

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzlewJ7Wx9E


I got mum to tow me up from our olive farm outside Coonalpyn. It was late in the day and a challenge to get up but once I was up, I was cruising. I almost made it home. Everything got a bit shaded and it was late in the day.

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Gotta love all those safety mechanisms and procedures the sport has to solve nonexistent problems. Locking carabiner in case the suspension figures out some way to escape from the spring loaded gate, helmet in case of a launch or landing crash but no wheels or skids to prevent or greatly mitigate a launch or landing crash, shorts, total piece o' crap Peter Holloway bridle/release assembly, entire fuckin' tow bolt upright with hands high on the control tubes.

Jonathan scooped the rest of us on the unsecured and rotated carabiner issue:

Vicarious Icarus

Hey mate. Please secure your carabiner to your riser so you don't wind up in free-fall after your gate fails. See 0:20 in the vid. Cheers, Jonathan

Harrison Rowntree

Vicarious Icarus thanks. Someone else noticed it and had the same suggestion. A neoprene sleeve to slide over it would become a good practice and stop it from rotating after its hooked in.

Vicarious Icarus

I use a few cross-crosses of 2mm tent pole elastic tied off with a simple square knot. Woody Valley uses a rubber O ring and does a clever twist over the top of the riser loop and back down to the opposite side of the biner. A piece of discarded bicycle inner tube really works a treat and lasts a while neoprene has a short life.
EDIT - Be certain to also secure your reserve parachute riser to the quick link so that it pulls lengthwise from the bend and not sideways from the straight.

Nah Jonathan, the gate won't/can't fail but it could destroy the parachute leader connection in the (highly unlikely) event of a high speed deployment. And you're higher off the control bar than you intended to be. (And don't use a quick link on the connection. Secure things such that the leader loop will ride up the carabiner's spine.)

Longridge Olives, 174 Ware Road, Netherton SA, Australia - Harrison's family business, home launch site.

35°33'16.53" S 140°01'21.94" E - the point at which he lands in the weak link video. (Probably also his launch point.)

Only 33 crowflight miles WSW of Lameroo and a bit over 22 of the Lameroo AT operation - 35°23'20.22" S 140°20'31.52" E - at which Anonymous was pulled upside down by the Tad-O-Link that failed to succeed when it was supposed to.

Jump to top:
http://www.kitestrings.org/post11598.html#p11598

[Steve Davy]

...entire fuckin' tow bolt upright with hands high on the control tubes.

If he goes prone that total piece o' crap Peter Holloway bridle is going to hit him on the head and then make its way down and start rubbing on his neck.

[Tad Eareckson]

Nah, it releases at the bridle apex...

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But good catch anyway. Yeah, it's not like he has a choice - after electing to go with that crap anyway.

Koch two stage...

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Actually DESIGNED to do the fuckin' job - in the early EIGHTIES.

Or...

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Can anybody think of another sport or flavor of aviation in which such huge factions of it have managed to drag evolution BACKWARDS to such degrees?

P.S. That was the last YouTube video Harrison ever posted of anything. Guessing he's dropped out of the sport. If so - too bad. He had a really fantastic situation going for him down there.

P.P.S. Fuck you, Rick Masters.

[Steve Davy]

I suspect that the bridle would contact his helmet and then make its way down and start rubbing on his neck while he's still on tow.

[<BS>]

That bridle definitely looks in the way at this point of the tow.

It's easier to see from the side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oerbPQ7KgmQ