http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=31747
Lockout
Brian Scharp - 2014/09/02 23:54:47 UTC
I use a stronger weak link for the simple reason that low level weak link breaks are dangerous as the glider may not recover from the probable ensuing stall prior to hitting the ground.
This being said it is still far preferable to use low tow tension, headwind launch, and a standard weak link.
Does that mean the danger stated no longer exists when towing with low tension into the wind?
OBVIOUSLY. What Doc MEANT to say was that he uses a stronger weak link when towing with high tension downwind. Seems a bit counterintuitive because one would think that an extra effective bacon saver would be just the ticket for such a situation but these guys are professionals and you need to trust what they say.
Mike Lake - 2014/09/03 09:26:54 UTC
Davis Straub - 2014/09/02 01:36:33 UTC
The article was written in April, 1999.
I am curious to why you posted the above. Is it relevant or is it just for completeness?
It's a code. If you divide the sum of the digits in the year by the number of the month you get seven - the lucky number. It indicates that whether you use a one and a half G weak link for towing high tension downwind or a standard weak link for low tension upwind you should wind up in good shape.
Davis Straub - 2014/09/03 11:49:21 UTC
Just to point out that all this has been discussed for a long time.
So much more intellectually stimulating than in sailplaning in the entire discussion in the entire history of the sport has been:
Tost Flugzeuggerätebau
Weak links protect your aircraft against overloading.
Mike Badley - 2014/09/03 16:13:30 UTC
Davis,
I know you feel frustrated that the mechanics of towing have been well understood for years.
Bulls-eye, dude. Makes it increasingly difficult for him to keep running his scams.
I still think it very worthwhile to continue discussing the issues. Gear changes, operations change and pilots change...
Yeah, if you hopped twenty years back in time you wouldn't recognize the towing scene as being from the same planet.
...so there's a continued need to rehash the known, experiment some, and possibly relearn some lessons already learned.
Always a student...
Certainly, grizzled old tow operators and pilots are not to be found at every tow operation.
Isn't that why we have the excellent book, Towing Aloft, by Dennis Pagen and Bill Bryden? It's a compilation of the wisdom of all the grizzled old tow operators and pilots.
Keep at it - and keep preaching the good stuff!
Like:
Davis Straub - 2014/08/29 17:26:54 UTC
I thought that I had made it clear that I want weaklinks and I want weaklinks to break to save the pilot's bacon.
Your advice and knowledge is well received out there amongst the congregation. Individuals with functional brains, not so much.
Davis Straub - 2014/09/03 18:34:44 UTC
Only the troll is frustrating.
You mean the troll who asked you:
Guess you're not gonna answer that question 'cause that would be feeding the troll. And that's considered poor form - 'specially when you're preaching the good stuff to the congregation.
Mike Lake - 2014/09/03 19:51:30 UTC
Are you referring to me old boy?
Nah, he doesn't have the clout to get away with that on The Jack Show. So see if you can get him to answer the troll's question.
Medical update...
Had arranged for a ride to the clinic for this morning but as dawn approached I started realizing I wasn't gonna need it. As I started driving myself in I was feeling so functional that I considered turning around.
Major improvement over the wee hours. Looks like I've got the fever, loss of appetite, weakness stuff behind me. My doctor checked me out and we decided to wait and see before going to chest x-ray and antibiotics.
Serious lungs congestion issue seems to be diminishing.
Thanks for the well wishes.