Boundaries of Safe Winch Launching

Authors

  • Hugh Browning Harlequin House, Lasham, Alton, GU34 5SJ, UK

Keywords:

Training and Safety, Coaching

Abstract

All UK gliding accidents from 1987-2004 have been classified by the apparent immediate cause.  Accidents associated with winch launches included 18 with fatal and 38 with serious injury.  The number and the severity of the accidents and corresponding hazards at each stage of a winch launch were identified.  Modelling work was undertaken to establish the conditions for a stall and possible flick roll during rotation, and the combinations of airspeed, climb angle, delay before lowering the nose, recovery dive angle, and other relevant variables that would be unrecoverable after power loss.  Guidance is offered for a safe transition of a winch launch from take off to the main climb and also a safe recovery in the event of power loss at a height of less than 100 ft.

 

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Published

2011-12-20

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 4 (2007)

Section

Articles

License

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