Jim Rooney wrote:I had them hang a barrel release from the ceiling. From that release, I had a rope with a loop. The loop was just a few inches above the floor.
You stand on the loop, then activate the release.
Don't take my word for it, go try it.
Now, I pro tow with a 130lb weaklink. I'm 160lbs soaking wet. The protow cuts the force seen by either side of the bridal in 1/2, so I'm overloading the release with over 2X's it's achievable load.
The flight park procedures here at Quest Air are the result of years of evolutionary pressures and experience that provide the focus on safety. The practices here illustrate what is important.
- The construction of the carts (materials, wheel rake, tightness of the axles, etc.)
- The length of the tow lines.
- The appropriate carabineer.
- The launch procedures (signals).
- The maintenance of the 914 tugs.
- The weaklink strength and construction of the connection to the tug.
- The glider angle in the carts.
It's a myth that the weak link is there to save you in a lockout. Its only job is to prevent the load on the glider from exceeding the glider's structural limits.
