{"id":13499,"date":"2016-12-03T18:34:08","date_gmt":"2016-12-03T17:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dg-flugzeugbau.de\/en\/?page_id=13499"},"modified":"2017-01-05T11:11:03","modified_gmt":"2017-01-05T10:11:03","slug":"achieving-safe-winch","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/library\/achieving-safe-winch","title":{"rendered":"Achieving a Safe Winch Launch"},"content":{"rendered":"

The members of my club, The Bielefeld Gliding Association, have found the following article.<\/p>\n

Winch launching is usually cheap and launches can be made rapidly, one after another.\u00a0 Because of this, it is the preferred launch method in most clubs especially for instructional flights.
\n\"\"The tow cable is attached to a C.G. hook which, in older gliders like the ASK-13, is usually installed a little left of center. At the start of the launch full left rudder is used to counteract the slight pull to the right.\u00a0 But then you have to be careful not to roll over the cable, especially with a jerky start. It may be necessary to use a judicious amount of braking or have ground crew hold back the glider.
\nAfter reaching the minimum flying speed, the glider lifts off. Up till now the elevator is at a neutral position. Pulling back too earlier is not advisable and actually is dangerous since it would cause an early nose-high moment which actually already is there because the C.G. hook is well underneath the C.G. of the glider.
\nThe climb begins rather flat and then with increasing altitude (about 150 ft) changes in a smooth curve to the full climbing attitude. The horizon disappears from view. The rest of the climb continues with a constant climb angle and constant speed. As a rule, nothing untoward happens. Even so, the climb must be constantly controlled by looking right and lift and making the necessary corrections especially in cross-winds.
\nIn the last phase of a winch launch the climb angle gradually decreases and the horizon reappears. The back pressure on the stick is gradually released until a constant speed in normal flying attitude is reached. One waits until the cable back releases by itself or it can be released by the pilot. Then a normal pattern is begun. Pulling back on the stick to achieve the last foot of height just before release leads to a very sudden release and a high wing-loading. During this down wind part of the pattern and just after release, the release knob should be pulled three more times before trimming back and turning cross wind.<\/p>\n

Possible disturbances, risks, and accident causes during the launch are:<\/h2>\n