I agree, the Windfree is wonderful airplane. I enjoy flying the 1972
Windfree that I restored.
However, this is the situation:
Ever since I upgraded to Hollyday rubber on my hi-start, I don't have a
medium hi-start.
My soaring group uses a 12v winch.
At the Nostalgia event at the MidSouth, they used 12v winches, the very same
used by the full-pedal TD zoomers. Even though I am used to tapping the
pedal to modulate the winch output, I felt as though I was going to fold the
wings on my Nostalgia ships. I've got a pair of bent 5/32" wingrods from my
Oly-99 to think about.
Although it was designed to handle medium hi-start launches, that sort of
equipment ain't commonly available nowadays.
Since I an building a new Windfree from the current kit, this would be a
good opportunity to incorporate:
"structural modifications to enable the plane to handle modern launch
equipment and techniques... some examples:
- Substitute spruce for balsa
- CF reinforcements
- Larger joiner rods
- Stronger tow hook systems"
Since I know that I have a plane that can barely handle modern launch
equipment, it would not be prudent to build the same plane, no?
--Bill
>From: "Stan & Mary Jo Myers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "Bill Harris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>CC: "Digest Soaring" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Re: [RCSE] Joiner sizing
>Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2001 10:37:24 -0500
>
>Bill:
>I think you will find the 5/32 rods adequate for what type of launches it
>was designed to handle. Sure the wings flex as do the rods, but that's some
>built in safety. Just use a medium weight hi start and enjoy. Its a great
>airplane.
>
>Stan
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Bill Harris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2001 9:23 AM
>Subject: Re: [RCSE] Joiner sizing
>
>
> > On that Windfree project where I'm upgrading the wing joiner rod and
>spar
>to
> > make a stronger wing...
> >
> > The stock Windfree has a pair of 5/32" joiner rods, one at the mail
>spar,
> > the other in a joiner box at 2/3 chord enclosed by the wing center/root
> > sheeting (no secondary spar). As a conservative and weight-saving
> > enhancement, I decided to use a 1/4" wingrod. However, while fiddling
> > around with the joiner rod weights, I noted that the TWO 5/32" rods have
>the
> > same cross-sectional area as the ONE 1/4" wingrod. So I wonder if I'm
> > side-stepping with the 1/4" wingrod in place of two smaller rods? In
>other
> > words, do the two 5/32" rods have the same "stiffness" or Sigma value as
>one
> > 1/4" rod? I can see that the stiffness of a rod is proportional to
>the
> > size, but I'm not sure if it's a direct proportion.
> >
> > --Bill
> >
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