Saturday May 7th
Must've been using...Matthew Graham - 2011/05/09 11:50:38 UTC
Saturday at Highland wasn't as stellar as Sunday. Very windy on the ground and tows were often nasty city. Still, we got up. I got about an hour and 5500 feet on my first flight and a half hour on my second flight after breaking my release (not my weak link-- my release!) at 1500 feet.
http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22308
Better mouse trap(release)?
...homemade gear.Jim Rooney - 2010/12/16 18:47:05 UTC
A few years ago, I started refusing to tow people with home made gear.
I like the idea of improving gear, but the lack of appreciation for the world they were stepping into didn't sit with me.
For example... flying with the new gear in mid day conditions?
Are you kidding me????
Approach it for what it is... completely untested and very experimental gear which will likely fail in new and unforseen ways as it tries it's damndest to kill you... and then we can talk.
Who were you behind? Certainly not Jim Keen-Intellect Rooney. A few years ago he started refusing to tow people with homemade gear.
He likes the idea of improving gear, but the lack of appreciation for the world people who do so were stepping into didn't sit with him.
For example... flying with the new gear in mid day conditions? Are you kidding me????
Approach it for what it is... Completely untested and very experimental gear which will likely fail in new and unforeseen ways as it tries its damnedest to kill you... and then you can talk.
Or... Is there some small chance you were using Industry Standard gear?
Then...
http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=21033
barrels release without any tension except weight of rope..
No stress because you were high.Bart Weghorst - 2011/02/25 19:06:26 UTC
I've had it once where the pin had bent inside the barrel from excessive tow force. My weaklink was still intact. The tug pilot's weaklink broke so I had the rope. I had to use two hands to get the pin out of the barrel.
No stress because I was high.
And, of course, it BROKE. And that just makes it one more layer of protection you have to increase the safety of the towing operation...
http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3600
Weak link question
It just became an even safer weak link than your single loop of 130 pound Greenspot.Jim Rooney - 2008/11/25 19:21:57 UTC
Brian,
While I appreciate your quest for the perfect weaklink, didn't we cover this already? (Again?)
Are we to go down the road of debating the quality standards of greenspot again?
Ok, for review, it doesn't matter.
Why?
Because you have nothing else.
Do I have to review why we don't tow handmade gliders?
Listen we're all perfectly aware that greenspot is not laser calibrated to 130lbs. It's bloody fishing line. Get over it. Are you flying below your perfect numbers as a heavy guy. Yes. Yes you are. Get over it.
Why?
Because it's all you've got.
Why lower numbers? Because your choice is lower or higher... and higher is more dangerous than lower.
And that was the end of the thread. ZERO interest in:
- what kind of release it was
- why it failed
- where it failed
- what's being done to fix or ground and replace the problem
from any of the CHGA douchebags or the Ridgely Monopoly shits.
And can you IMAGINE the international FIELD DAY that would've been had if that had been some completely untested and very experimental gear from T** at K*** S****** flying in midday conditions?
Ain't it just great to see just how far the sport has advanced in four decades - largely thanks to Quest spending the last two perfecting it and Jim Keen-Intellect Rooney spending the last one keeping everybody in line?Harry Robb - 1975/09
Clearwater, Florida
No flight should ever be made with a knot in the tow line. Aside from the abrasion caused by the knot rubbing on itself, the tensile strength is decreased by as much as fifty percent. Lines require constant inspection - prior to the first flight of every day by every flyer. In a tournament, the Lineman Starter can inspect some portions of the line on each flight, and the Safety Inspector will inspect the entire line slowly, foot-by-foot, two or three times daily. The tow line is a life line and must be treated with utmost respect.
The tow line safety release mechanism, an essential item of safety equipment is a stainless steel hook, hinged to open and close with a spring-loaded base housing that is attached to the tow line. It is activated with a motorcycle type release handle mounted on the control bar conveniently near the normal position of the hands on the control bar for takeoff. A cable in a housing from the handle to the release mechanism activates the release of the hook holding the tow line. The safety release with the hook is mounted at the forward apex of a triangular stainless steel frame welded to the control bar. When a V safety bridle is used, a second release is mounted at the top of the control bar frame near the point of its attachment to the cross spar and keel spar.
The three most used brands - home made models are not recommended due to lack of knowledge about their strength factor - are on Bennett Delta Wing gliders, on Moyes gliders, and the more recently available Schweizer sailplane release used by David Broyles and by Jack Hinson of Dallas, Texas on their conversion control bars for hang gliders. The Schweizer is rated at 1200 pounds deformation strength, as stamped on the release hook.
Fuck you, Matthew. And everybody else you mentioned 'cept for Steve. At least he actually did a couple things and tried for a while.And then a skydiver dive bombed me-- I kept turning to get away and the skydiver kept coming right at me. Ugh!
Carlos got up to 5600 feet. Joe Gregor, Karen, Steve Kinsey, Marcelo (?) and Paul also had good soaring flights. I think Paul flew seven times. Dave Proctor, Kirk Lewis and a few tandems also flew.
