Releases

[Tad Eareckson]

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http://ozreport.com/20.118
Quick Release

Davis Straub - 2016/06/13 14:33:22 UTC

Barrel release

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM0u7Cy-rfw

Wow, Davis! Amazing! We finally have an example of somebody being able to pry open one of your cheap bent pin pieces o' shit to successfully abort a botched tow launch! Guess we just established what a total waste of time it is to pursue any release options that allow the pilot to blow tow with both hands on the basetube. But hell, even if that didn't work out...

http://ozreport.com/9.177
Another bad launch off the cart

Davis Straub - 2005/08/28

And another good outcome that we can learn from.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaneyman/sets/788578/
Bad launch good recovery

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaneyman/35642942/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaneyman/35642828/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaneyman/35642837/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaneyman/35642853/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaneyman/35642875/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaneyman/35642889/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaneyman/35642904/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaneyman/35642917/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaneyman/35642816/


Tim Meaney has published a series of photos which show a poor launch by an Exxtacy pilot at the 2005 Big Spring Open. The Exxtacy's right wing has come up while the pilot is still on the cart. In addition, the right wing has come up so high that the right side of the control frame has also come off the cart and isn't being held horizontal. This means that the spoileron on the right side isn't deployed, or deployed as much as it would be if the pilot had held (or been able to hold) the control frame onto the cart. If the spoileron had been deployed, the right wing would have had a tendency to come back down. In this case, it didn't.

In the second frame the left wing is dragging on the runway and the weaklink has broken. This is a good thing. The pilot is in trouble and you want that weaklink broken so that he isn't dragged down the runway. Notice that he hasn't moved his hands at all, and doesn't throughout this sequence of photos. The weak weaklink does the heavy lifting for him. Use a properly sized weaklink!

...his properly sized weak link would've undoubtedly done the trick. Wings not level, failing to maintain correct tow position, weak link breaks before you can get into too much trouble.

(Same type of glider, same cheap Industry Standard crap posing as glider tow equipment, same roll direction... Wonder if it's the same guy.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM0u7Cy-rfw
Lifted wing Hang Gliding

Bob Grant - 2016/06/10

Lifted Wing Hang Gliding

Joe Schmucker

Was probably going too slow for the spoiler to be able to provide the necessary effect.

Bet that speed would've been adequate if he'd had one of those new LeverLink gliders.

And how 'bout the basetube brackets spread...

01-0620
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- 06 - seconds
- 20 - frame (30 fps)

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That look good to you?

That is why someone has to run the wing to get launched as safely as possible.

03-1203
http://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7335/27788503382_8bf8cd1773_o.png


Then the cheap bent pin crap you're electing to use for a release won't ever be of the slightest issue.

Bill Cummings

Isn't this odd?

No. It's actually pretty surprising to find an aerotow operation anywhere that isn't being conducted by total fucking morons.

I thought when one wing lifted it shortened the spoiler cable to the down tube which dampened the lift on the rising wing. Was the tail support too low for this launch?

How 'bout the basetube brackets spread?

I didn't see the right wheel come off of the ground. Was the pilot using the hand holds?

Nah. The basetube brackets were positioned right where his hands were so his options were a bit limited.

I should have seen the right wheel lift off. Right?

Right Bill...

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Any thoughts on the glider being rolled thirty degrees before he's able to actuate the Quavis crap he's using for a release? If a ten year old kid on a bicycle were to get comparably deep into shit before he was able to hit the brakes would be touting it as a great engineering and performance success?

Dan Lukaszewicz

I'm glad he was able to release early before too much speed built up.

Yeah Dan...

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Kudos to these morons for fucking things up so badly that the glider's on its fuckin' ear before they get up to half stall speed. And, of course, any time a glider is able to blow tow prior to a crash happening or becoming inevitable we count it as an early release.

To my eyes it looks like the pilot let go of the hold down with his right hand causing that side to lift off the cart.

- Isn't the glider supposed to be going fast enough to be lifting symmetrically before the hold-downs start coming into play most of the time?
- Oh. So you're saying that there's a possible downside to making the easy reach to an Industry Standard release?

The left tip may have caught the ground causing the ground loop.

When a wing tip is that low how much does it matter whether or not it catches the ground? Isn't a ground loop pretty much inevitable?

Regardless of the cause I happy the pilot is safe and uninjured.

- Me too. Whenever one of these assholes gets away with one of these without getting his fuckin' neck broken we can count it as a smashing success and ignore the glaringly obvious deadly implications of what we're seeing and wait until the next Steve Elliot, Nancy Doe, Jeff Bohl to come around.

- The cause was unfathomable incompetence and stupidity. Have you no regard whatsoever for the gene pool?

Daniel Velez

Perfect timming....

Fuck yeah! Timming the release at this point:

10-1909
http://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7677/27277538334_d75520a7ce_o.png


wouldn't have been the least bit sporting.

Great job on the release...

Fuck yeah! Ever try to blow one of those cheap pieces o' crap any time things are starting to go tits up? We just had an airline pilot get fatally splattered at Quest 'cause he wasn't able to pull it off at thirty feet. I think this asshole should get some special recognition. Maybe a centerfold shot in the magazine.

First "release"... then have a lot of time to study what happened and how to avoid it.

Right. Like:

Dennis Pagen - 2005/01

Soon after lift-off the trike tug and I were hit by the mother of all thermals. Since I was much lighter, I rocketed up well above the tug, while the very experienced tug pilot, Neal Harris, said he was also lifted more than he had ever been in his heavy trike. I pulled in all the way, but could see that I wasn't going to come down unless something changed. I hung on and resisted the tendency to roll to the side with as strong a roll input as I could, given that the bar was at my knees. I didn't want to release, because I was so close to the ground and I knew that the glider would be in a compromised attitude. In addition, there were hangars and trees on the left, which is the way the glider was tending.

By the time we gained about sixty feet I could no longer hold the glider centered - I was probably at a twenty degree bank - so I quickly released before the lockout to the side progressed. The glider instantly whipped to the side in a wingover maneuver.

Hard to understand these idiots who think they can fix bad things and don't wanna start over.

Christopher LeFay

Looked to me as though it lifted a little, the pilot then let go to release, it lifted a lot, was released, came back down after retaking the base bar, puling in. Reckon they never had the handle?

Oh. So when he took his right hand off the bar to make the easy reach to his Industry Standard release his situation got substantially worse for a few moments? Who'da thunk.

Joe Schmucker

Nicely done!

Fuck yeah! Bet he learned how to pull that off in tandem training at Cloud 9. So Joe...

The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc. - 2016/05/11
Standard Operating Procedure
12. Rating System
02. Pilot Proficiency System
11. Hang Gliding Special Skill Endorsements
-A. Special Skills attainable by Novice and above (H2-H5).
05. Aerotow (AT)

c. Gives a complete discussion of the dangers to the glider pilot and tow vehicle pilot of improper positioning of the glider pilot during tow in both straight and turning flight; being high or low and left or right of the proper center position in straight flight, being too high or low on the inside of a turn, and being too high or low on the outside of a turn.

d. Demonstrates successful, confident, controlled launches and flight under tow to release at altitude, with a smooth release and turn to the right when transitioning to free flight. Must demonstrate proper directional and pitch control resulting in proper tracking of the aerotow vehicle in both straight and turning flight and appropriate maintenance of proper tow line tension and airspeed.

e. Must demonstrate proper technique for at least one normal and one crosswind takeoff (actual or simulated).

f. Must demonstrate the ability to control the glider position within the “cone of safety” behind the aerotow vehicle. The candidate must also demonstrate the ability to properly react to a weak link/tow rope break simulation with a tandem pilot, initiated by the tandem pilot at altitude, but at a lower than normal release altitude. Such demonstrations should be made in smooth air. A minimum of 2 tandem flight demonstrations must be made to the issuing official.

g. Demonstrates successful, confident, controlled launches and flight under tow to release at altitude as a solo pilot, with a smooth release and turn to the right when transitioning to free flight. Must demonstrate proper directional and pitch control resulting in proper tracking of the aerotow vehicle in both straight and turning flight and appropriate maintenance of proper tow line tension and airspeed. Such demonstrations may be made in smooth or mildly turbulent air. A minimum of 3 solo flight demonstrations must be made to the issuing official.

Why do you think it is that u$hPa mandates that you go up tandem to demonstrate the ability to properly react to a weak link/tow rope break simulation with a tandem pilot, initiated by the tandem pilot at altitude, but at a lower than normal release altitude in smooth air but says nothing about demonstrating the ability to properly react to a lockout simulation with a tandem pilot, initiated by the tandem pilot at or below thirty feet off the deck?

This guy in the video obviously has a lot of righteous stuff for which he's receiving high praise from all fronts and have you ever seen anybody just hold the bar out in response to a Rooney Link increasing the safety of the towing operation?

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What a bunch o' total dickheads. I so did love flatland thermalling but I still get a rash just remembering the dregs with whom I had to associate in order to operate in that environment.

Sunny, Adam... Go fuck yourselves.

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[Tad Eareckson]

Aleksey sends us another example of a release that can be used in an emergency situation being used in a non emergency situation...

http://vimeo.com/173232615


First time tower on his second tow. (Spoiler alert... Flight marred by failed stunt landing attempt. (If we can and do launch these things just fine from wheels, people...))

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=34390
Tragedy at 2016 Quest Air Open

Davis Straub - 2016/05/28 14:47:57 UTC

Apparently we will have four Russian Mouth Releases soon.

Apparently whether or not "WE" ever managed to obtain and "trial" them in order to determine whether or not they met with "OUR" sterling performance standards...


http://ozreport.com/pub/images/fingerlakesaccident2.jpg
http://ozreport.com/pub/images/fingerlakesaccident3.jpg



http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bRrpHNa68iY/UQ6Pv9gRZyI/AAAAAAAAjTg/Hc22bx5122Q/s2048/20943781_BG1.jpg

http://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7077/27082298482_cda1aba01b_o.png


...hasn't been an important enough issue on which to comment after over a month and a half since the important announcement and the better part of two months after the second Quest needless professional pilot shit equipment death in the space of a bit over three years.

Meanwhile...

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=34505
Russian Mouth Release For Sale

Dave Gills - 2016/06/28 15:16:33 UTC

The use of the Kaluzhin (Ka-LOO-gin) release is recommended if you would like to avoid the following...

* Launch dolly mishaps caused by the necessity to remove your hand from the cart hold down straps in order to abort tow on the ground while traveling near launch speed.

* Low altitude, thermal induced whip stall where your glider's recovery flight path intersects terrain.

* Last but not least...Garden variety lock-outs that happen in the kill zone.

See Classified section for details.

So "WE" can no longer make any bullshit claim about them being unobtainable.

2016/06/28 18:17:09 UTC - 3 thumbs up - Aleksey Vilkov
2016/06/29 12:45:18 UTC - 3 thumbs up - Christopher LeFay
2016/06/28 21:12:56 UTC - 3 thumbs up - Brian Scharp

And thanks much for all your previous help with these issues, Christopher.

Dave Gills - 2016/06/29 12:04:14 UTC

To make a 2 point one you need about 6' of SPIRAL WOUND cable housing. (Not SIS type) and with a Teflon liner.
A standard bicycle derailleur cable.
And a spray can of Teflon lubricant is recommended like Tri-Flow.

Start with a long cable and test fit by directing it under your arm pit.
Run the cable inside your shoulder strap.
Cut to fit and reassemble.

The cable adjustment is dependent on the amount of bend you have in the housing.
Adjust the inner cable length when you are in your flying position to assure proper release activation.

See this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpYdb-aIn6I

Since the fuckin' manufacturers have refused to provide a solid built-in option since the beginning of time - and happily stand idly and silently by while their customers cripple and kill themselves on the crap provided by their schools and dealers.

2016/06/29 13:12:56 UTC - 3 thumbs up - Jim Gaar

Go fuck yourself, Rodie.

raquo - 2016/06/30 05:10:58 UTC

I've used those when learning to tow in Russia a few years ago. Would definitely recommend for students, very easy to use and to release.

But after you've been at an around all this plenty long enough to understand what's what and who's who not so important.

Captain obvious disclaimers:
* You are not being pulled by your teeth, it's just a release trigger

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=25527
Mouth AT Releases

Doug Doerfler - 2012/03/13 21:19:59 UTC

what happens when that pulley breaks with that thing in your mouth

* You will not be able to use the radio until you release

- Rubbish.
- Tell me what critical issues one needs to be talking about during a tow.

* Any release model can get stuck occasionally, make sure your item works flawlessly...

How can you make sure an item that can get stuck occasionally works flawlessly?

...and that you have an alternative (e.g. hook knife) in case it doesn't

Fuck hook knives. Tell us why Jeff Bohl didn't either use his razor-sharp cutting tool to slash through his lines in an instant or his Voight/Rooney instant hands free release.

Aleksey Vilkov - 2016/06/30 10:07:11 UTC

1. The set-up of the RMR is here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePT3r0ZW54k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqMyNael7Yc


2. I am using laryngophone it fully resolved the problems with radio

3. That is true! The malfunction of RMR is very-very rare, but it could be. That's why, the design of the RMR provides the possibility of manual opening of release. Moreover you can place the secondary release or emergency pin at your chest like here




Cheers!

Dave Gills - 2016/06/30 10:52:47 UTC

You must preflight any release.

Along with the rest of your glider. And if you're too fuckin' stupid to get yourself into launch position with bulletproof systems for completing the mission you need to either find a hobby more commensurate with your capabilities or be eliminated from the gene pool - preferably the latter.

That being said, I have never heard of a malfunction with a Kaluzhin.

Give one to Jim Keen-Intellect Rooney...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31052
Poll on weaklinks

Jim Rooney - 2013/03/11 18:59:06 UTC

I have no fear of bent pins.

Why aren't straight pins used?
That's easy. They can't be used with anything but thin lines.
They also can't be made with anything but thin lines.

Tad loves to forget that I've actually gotten one of his to jam.
NOTHING is perfect kids.

Straight pin releases can work, but they're not the panacea that these guys are claiming.

...and give him some time to figure out how to make one not work. Make sure he has access to a drill, hack saw, and pair of vice grips.

These releases are also available directly from Aleksey for less money.
What you are paying for from me is additional shipping & handling as well as faster delivery time.

Dave Gills - 2016/06/30 11:16:47 UTC

Here is my preferred way of using the RMR in 1-point (Pro-Tow) configuration.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/14306846174_185f09082e_o.png


Notice many pilots from other countries do not use weak links.

Many pilots from other countries are fuckin' idiots. I don't know what it is but the Kaluzhin Release has a load limit and it's moronic to leave it unprotected. Also totally illegal for AT in the US.

Aleksey Vilkov - 2016/06/30 13:20:02 UTC

Actually I do not remember when I saw last time the RMR malfunction.
The reasons could cause the RMR malfunction are:
1. Someone step on the bowden cable and abruptly and sharply bent it
2. The bowden cable been over-twisted and pulled
Only damaging of the cable could cause problems with opening of RMR. But even in this case RMR will be simply opened manually. Nondamaged RMR with one drop of WD-40 on the cable is really fail-safe

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22660
What can be learned from this "scooter" towing accident?

Jim Rooney - 2011/02/06 18:35:13 UTC

The minute someone starts telling me about their "perfect"system, I start walking away.

The most often problem is RMR self-actuated releasing (if it is right word) it could be in case of too much length of cable. That is very easy to adjust the length via moving of one bolt.

The single point connection mentioned by Dave is definitely simplest method of RMR connection. But I would recommend using small V-bridle as I am showing in my video. It makes the loading on RMR twice less then with single point connection.

It's stupid to not use bridles in applications similar to this one. Zero cost performance doubling.

BTW the RMR supplied with two steel shackles and one V-bridle made with Dyneema.

Cheers!
Aleksy

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=48574
Russian Mouth Release

Davis Straub - 2016/06/28 16:01:53 UTC

Get off early

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=34505

Dave Gills - 2016/07/05 17:28:01 UTC



I still have nine left.

Follow the HG.org link above for suggestions on use and modifications.

And where members of the public can follow what's going on and those on the Jack's Living Room approved list are permitted to engage in discussion.

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

Jim Rooney - 2013/02/12 18:00:27 UTC

Deltaman loves his mouth release.
BFD

I get tired as hell "refuting" all these mouth release and "strong link" arguments. Dig through the forums if you want that. I've been doing it for years but unfortunately the peddlers are religious in their beliefs so they find justification any way they can to "prove" their stuff. This is known as "Confirmation Bias"... seeking data to support your theory... it's back-asswards. Guess what? The shit doesn't work. If it did, we'd be using it everywhere. But it doesn't stand the test of reality.

Half a month now, Dave. How many of these have you been able to get into circulation? I can hardly wait until the next Darwin case increases the quality of the gene pool with the help of his easily reachable bent pin Industry Standard piece o' shit.

[Tad Eareckson]

Jump to next post:
http://www.kitestrings.org/post9523.html#p9523

http://www.kitestrings.org/post9518.html#p9518

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyD4oL5dwWQ


Total gem, Steve. (Post date a century, decade, and day after Kitty Hawk.)

0:01
OK, gimme a little bit of tension.

0:05
What?

Tension. It's what they call pressure in REAL aviation.

0:06
A little tension.

0:22
A little more.

0:45
OK, hold it.

Got enough pounds per square inch now?

01-05101
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- -0 - minutes
- 51 - seconds
- 01 - frame (30 fps)

01-05101

02-05305


0:55
OK. So this is with... nine hundred pounds of load...

That's an ABSURD level of pressure! You could get out of control and/or stall the tug.

03-10007

04-10310


1:12
450 pounds through two cables, so we're doubling that load of 450 pounds of lead shot. And... It's holding at nine hundred.

Bull fucking shit...

http://www.questairforce.com/aero.html
Aerotow FAQ

Quest Air

Equipment and Accessories

Weak Link

The strength of the weak link is crucial to a safe tow. It should be weak enough so that it will break before the pressure of the towline reaches a level that compromises the handling of the glider but strong enough so that it doesn't break every time you fly into a bit of rough air. A good rule of thumb for the optimum strength is one G, or in other words, equal to the total wing load of the glider. Most flight parks use 130 lb. braided Dacron line, so that one loop (which is the equivalent to two strands) is about 260 lb. strong - about the average wing load of a single pilot on a typical glider. For tandems, either two loops (four strands) of the same line or one loop of a stronger line is usually used to compensate for nearly twice the wing loading. When attaching the weak link to the bridle, position the knot so that it's hidden from the main tension in the link and excluded altogether from the equation.

450 pounds of pressure.

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1:44
OK, so I'm gonna try the release... In fact, could you just set the parking brake right there and then what we'll do... Leave it in the air and then you can come hold the airplane while I do the release.

12-15021

13-15027


1:57
We're still pretty high up in the air so you're good right there.

14-20100


2:09
OK Louie, grab a strut.

2:15
I wanna get a close-up of this release happening here.

15-22002

16-22017

17-22124


2:22
So the release handle is right down here...

18-22400

You've got it BOLTED to the tubing? Why not just strap it in place with some velcro?

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Keep It Simple, Stupid.

2:29
Is there anything over there that's gonna get hurt if we shoot that cable out?

Mike Robertson's OTHER eye. Go for it. (Get the nylon out of the system.)

2:36
OK, this is with nine hundred pounds of load on that thing.

2:39
OK, ready?

19-24026

20-24027

21-24028


2:43
YEE HAW! Hehehe. That was a lot of load on the thing. And that was about... um... I would say... um... maybe... one pound of load to get rid of it. So that's good. In fact we may have to even increase the tension on that spring because it didn't... it didn't take that much to... to release the thing. Which is good.

3:09
Explosive.

3:11
Yeah, it was. OK!

Meanwhile, back in hang gliding...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skysailingtowing/message/4049
Towing errata

Bill Bryden - 2004/04/01 16:20:18 UTC

Some aerotow releases, including a few models from prominent schools, have had problems releasing under high tensions. You must VERIFY through tests that a release will work for the tensions that could possibly be encountered. You better figure at least three hundred pounds to be modestly confident.

Maybe eight to ten years ago I got several comments from people saying a popular aerotow release (with a bicycle type brake lever) would fail to release at higher tensions. I called and talked to the producer sharing the people's experiences and concerns. I inquired to what tension their releases were tested but he refused to say, just aggressively stated they never had any problems with their releases, they were fine, goodbye, click. Another person tested one and found it started getting really hard to actuate in the range of only eighty to a hundred pounds as I vaguely recall. I noticed they did modify their design but I don't know if they ever really did any engineering tests on it. You should test the release yourself or have someone you trust do it. There is only one aerotow release manufacturer whose product I'd have reasonable confidence in without verifying it myself, the Wallaby release is not it.

http://ozreport.com/9.009
2005 Worlds

Davis Straub - 2005/01/11

This type of release mechanism has been banned (at least for a short while) from the Worlds at Hay.

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3107
I have a tandem rating!!!

Lauren Tjaden - 2008/03/23 22:20:15 UTC

When Jim got me locked out to the right, I couldn't keep the pitch of the glider with one hand for more than a second (the pressure was a zillion pounds, more or less), but the F'ing release slid around when I tried to hit it. The barrel release wouldn't work because we had too much pressure on it.

Anyhow, the tandem can indeed perform big wingovers, as I demonstrated when I finally got separated from the tug.

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=21033
barrels release without any tension except weight of rope..

Bart Weghorst - 2011/02/25 19:06:26 UTC

Most of the time. But 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.

Dr. Trisa Tilletti - 2012/06

We could get into details of lab testing weak links and bridles, but this article is already getting long. That would be a good topic for an article in the future. Besides, with our backgrounds in formal research, you and I both know that lab tests may produce results with good internal validity, but are often weak in regard to external validity--meaning lab conditions cannot completely include all the factors and variability that exists in the big, real world.

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

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

Ok, keyboard in hand.
I've got a bit of time, but I'm not going to write a dissertation... so either choose to try to understand what I'm saying, or (as is most often the case) don't.
I don't care.

Here's a little bit of bitter reality that ya'll get to understand straight off. I won't be sugar coating it, sorry.
You see, I'm on the other end of that rope.
I want neither a dead pilot on my hands or one trying to kill me.
And yes. It is my call. PERIOD.
On tow, I am the PIC.

Now, that cuts hard against every fiber of every HG pilot on the planet and I get that.
Absolutely no HG pilot likes hearing it. Not me, not no one. BUT... sorry, that's the way it is.
Accept it and move on.
Not only can you not change it, it's the law... in the very literal sense.

So, you're quite right in your thinking in your example. The person you have to convince is me (or whoever your tuggie is).
I've had this conversation with many people.
We've had various outcomes.
I can tell you what my general ideas and rules are, but you do not need to agree with them nor do you get to dictate anything to me... if I'm not happy, you ain't getting towed by me. Why I'm not happy doesn't matter. It's my call, and if I'm having so much as a bad hair day, then tough. You can go get someone else. I won't be offended. Each tuggie is different, and I've had someone ask me to tow them with some stuff that I wasn't happy with and I told him point blank... go ask the other guy, maybe he'll do it.

I can tell you that for me, you're going to have a hell of a time convincing me to tow you with *anything* home-made.
"But I love my mouth release! It's super-delux-safe"... that's great, but guess what?

I've towed at places that use different weak links than greenspot. They're usually some other form of fishing line. Up in Nelson (New Zealand), they don't have greenspot, so they found a similar weight fishing line. They replace their link every single tow btw... every one, without question or exception... that's just what the owner wants and demands. Fine by me. If it wasn't, then I wouldn't tow for them and I wouldn't be towed by them. That's his place and he gets to make that call. Pretty simple.

Up at Morningside, they're using that new orange weaklink. It's a bit stronger and it has to be sewn or glued so it doesn't slip when unloaded.

If you're within the FAA specs and you're using something manufactured, then you're going to have a far better time convincing me to tow you.
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.

Deltaman - 2013/02/16 22:41:36 UTC

How is that possible to write so much ..and say NOTHING !?

Jump to top:
http://www.kitestrings.org/post9521.html#p9521

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyD4oL5dwWQ
EMG-6 Tow Release Testing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyD4oL5dwWQ

Adventure Aircraft - 2013/12/18

2:22
So the release handle is right down here...

18-22400


2:29
Is there anything over there that's gonna get hurt if we shoot that cable out?

2:39
OK, ready?

19-24026

20-24027

21-24028


2:43
YEE HAW! Hehehe. That was a lot of load on the thing. And that was about... um... I would say... um... maybe... one pound of load to get rid of it. So that's good. In fact we may have to even increase the tension on that spring because it didn't... it didn't take that much to... to release the thing. Which is good.

3:09
Explosive.

3:11
Yeah, it was. OK!

That is so fuckin' cool and those guys so totally get it. Unloading nearly half a ton of tension/power with a gentle squeeze of a lever is kinda like firing a high powered rifle 'cept you're saving something on the trigger end 'stead of destroying something on the other.

20-24027 - Goddam tow ring is taking off at about one and a half times the speed of sound and the actuation effort is so hair-trigger that they're talking about artificially INcreasing the resistance. My inclination would be to lose the brake lever and replace it with a button...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aerotowrelease/8306300488/


...like on my system. Lighter, cheaper, zilch additional crap in the airflow.

[Dave Gills]

Half a month now, Dave. How many of these have you been able to get into circulation?

I thought I had one sold but it has been 2 weeks and I've not seen a check in the mail.
The answer would be zero.

I guess I'll have to wait for the next victim of shitty equipment to increase interest.

How have you been advocating for safer releases all these years?
I've about lost interest in less than one.

[Tad Eareckson]

The answer would be zero.

Un fucking believable. Cost of a goddam downtube. Figured you'd have unloaded maybe ten of them.

19-04610
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/13746340634_a74b33d285_o.png

27-04925
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5116/13999518006_d4c7488e6e_o.png

75-05119
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7602/16657647309_7130c62ca9_o.png

85-05328
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/14019430712_8a80154df8_o.png


That's a life getting destroyed. Brain mushed, millions of dollars of costs to the family and society. Not a single motherfucker close to that situation has lifted a goddam finger to help any of us with this effort.

I guess I'll have to wait for the next victim of shitty equipment to increase interest.

I feel less and less sympathy for these assholes and their ten miles south of useless families and friends.

How have you been advocating for safer releases all these years?

I was really happy and excited when I was developing my stuff in the earlier years of Ridgely's reign. I was certain that it would inevitably revolutionize the way we did things. Wasn't until firmly into the history of Kite Strings that I started understanding how things really work in this sport and why.

Now my work serves primarily as fodder for Rube Goldberg cracks from stupid scummy Jack Show pin benders.

I've about lost interest in less than one.

Yeah.

[Steve Davy]

I was really happy and excited when I was developing my stuff in the earlier years of Ridgely's reign. I was certain that it would inevitably revolutionize the way we did things.

Contrast that to the work done by Bill Booth:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Booth
And one gets a sense of just how totally fucked up this sport has become,big thanks to scum like Davis Straub,Jim Rooney,Jack Asshole,Paul Hurless,Brad Barkley,Jim Gaar,Tormod Helgesen,Mark Forbes,Dennis Wood...

P.S.

Un fucking believable. Cost of a goddam downtube. Figured you'd have unloaded maybe ten of them.

You can't fix stupid!

[Dave Gills]

"The safer skydiving gear becomes, the more chances skydivers will take, in order to keep the fatality rate constant."

Bill Booth

[Tad Eareckson]

That's obviously gonna be true - and should be - with respect to something like glider performance and XC and aerobatics. But with respect to towing equipment...

- Already with the total junk that the Establishment sells and keeps in circulation people fly in the most violent and dangerous thermal conditions they can find on the face of the planet.

Note that both Mark Frutiger and Zack Marzec knew EXACTLY what the glider would be dealing with and elected to continue the tow with the worst equipment imaginable. If the assignment were to engineer something that would function reasonable well in the course of a normal tow yet be as deadly as possible in any demanding or emergency environment Bobby Fucking-Genius Bailey nailed it for them.

- NOBODY stays on tow for recreational purposes. Towing is an inherently dangerous evil that allows us to get ourselves up to workable soaring altitude and none of us - regardless of the quality of our equipment - breathes easily until we're through the kill zone.

- All of these solutions that allow one to blow tow while retaining max control authority are equally and the limiting factors become:
-- human reaction time
-- overwhelming micrometeorological crap - same as in free flight launches
We understand that and aren't gonna press the Safety Committee to reopen that task 'cause we've got better equipment than John Claytor did and can probably abort in the first two seconds and get the glider safely stopped.

P.S. Just for the record. I don't think anybody in this discussion needed to be told this.