G'day Wayne, It was behind Callair (think), with an empty LS8 at the Gulgong aerodrome using the nose release. It was a cool day with thermals well developed. I remember asking for a slightly slower tow as we were flying empty for the week. I think Bruce Taylor saw it happen that day, I know Anita and about 12 others certainly did. Can you comment if you remember Bruce, on how it looked from the ground??
I remember the gulgong airfield having small undulations, this with a thermal going through at the wrong time caused the tug to get off early. After a small correction, the nose went back up and proceeded to climb.. This is where (if I had more experience) I could've bunged off as there was plenty of runway ahead. It would've resulted in a heavy landing, but would've been better than a potentially disastorus situation; ie, the tuggie could've dumped me at the critical moment and put me into a fence or tree line.. So I'm on tow, semi flying, semi-not.. I remember the tow plane along way above me, with the rope bowed. Calling for more speed was useless, as the tow-plane was most likely stalled as well. However, we were climbing - just... Like I said, I was judging the balance between trying to get the glider to fly and from not having the stick full back. What happened next, looked and felt terrible. I was litterally looking up at the tow-plane's belly, was about 70-80* above me. I had caught it up.. The rope was bowed heavily, I was just hoping like..^&^..that I didn't get dumped. I'm analysing everything extremely fast, trying to figure out what was best. I knew I had to pull the release, but when was the critical factor. I wanted to hang on as long as possible (for more options in my favour) so as to give myself the best chance. I think I probably felt as though, the moment I let go, the tuggie would gain full control.. The perfect oppertunity came, the nose lifted/bunted up to about 40-45*. I treated it like a cable-break, pulled the bung, and... you've heard the rest! I think it bunted as it was a bowed rope, which gave me a 'reef' when it pulled tight - and upwards! I say all this with absolute honesty with the best of my memory. Forgot about the event really until the cable-break topic came up. I hope that you'll all learn something from this..? Regards Adam >From: Wayne Carter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in >Australia."<[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Adams slow tug >Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 09:43:11 +1000 > >I dont understand this, Adam, can you expand? >What kind of tug was it? >Were you heavy with water, or / and on a high / hot field? >Was the tug near stalled as well? >Were there gusts or downbursts? >Why did the nose rise suddenly - I assume a pre-stall type motion, but >on tow??- was it a belly hook or nose? > > >Thanks, >Wayne Carter >_______________________________________________ >Aus-soaring mailing list >[email protected] >To check or change subscription details, visit: >http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _________________________________________________________________ Advertisement: Your Future Starts Here. Dream it? Then be it! Find it at www.seek.com.au http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fninemsn%2Eseek%2Ecom%2Eau%2F%3Ftracking%3Dsk%3Ahet%3Ask%3Anine%3A0%3Ahot%3Atext&_t=763838044&_r=seek_may07_futurestartshere&_m=EXT _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
