Jeez--I wonder if Bill knew his accident would be supporting so many points of view he'd be rolling over in his grave. But I'm going to leave that one lie, thank you.theflyingdude wrote:I didn't say they were making a short-pack version of the Sport 2. I simply reported a conversation I had with Steve Pearson at the 2006 WW Wallaby party in which he told me that was his next project. Maybe it got moved to back-burner or wasn't feasible, but he really did tell me that.Flying Lobster wrote:JR dude--I used to think the same way--but after 11 years of aerotowing I really wonder if the frequency of launching aerotow versus Ft launching really supports that arguement that one method is inherently more dangerous than the other. I strongly suspect not--but I can't prove it.theflyingdude wrote: I don't pay much attention to the Tad freak-show, but I do disagree with Steve's comment about towing being really safe compared to mountain flying. The mere fact that there are so many more variables and mechanics involved in towing a hang glider than in launching off a mountain make towing a more complicated, and potentially, more dangerous process. There are no other humans involved when you launch of a mountain. So when you add the human-factor, the possibilities of mechanical failure, and the other variables involved, I believe towing is more dangerous. Having said that, I do both and consider the risks of both types of flying acceptable in comparison to the rewards involved.
JR
marc
PS: You're wrong about a short-pack revision to the Sport 2 coming out any time soon. See all the trouble you caused on the OzReport!
I have aero-towed, off and on, since the late 80's. First with Bill Bennett and John Pattison behind a trike that flew way too fast and then later at the Wallaby/Quest flight parks (and now Highland, too). I still believe that the added complexity, mechanical and human variables tend to permit more things to go wrong and, therefore, towing is somewhat more dangerous than foot-launching, but I have no statistics to prove that and consider them both acceptable risks. I used to have this discussion/debate with Bill Bennett all the time. Then he went and got himself killed to prove my point.
JR
I agree that towing in general is more complex and thus requires "more checks and balances" to ensure safety margins are maintained. But the added elements of complexity and human interaction do not in and of themselves make the method more dangerous--by that line of reasoning flying commercial airlines would be a preposterously risky activity. And the probability of launching unhooked is certainly far less when aerotowing.
As for Steve at WW--you know he is always working on improving everything in Wills Wing's line up. As soon as someone "lets the cat out of the bag" the rumors fly and you get stuff like that guy who thought his sport 2 would be worthless and felt he was being ripped off. What the heck--I guess the still benefit from the publicity anyway.
marc