Foot Launch Discussion

[CraginS]

There is a rather extensive and high quality discussion going on in the Oz Report Forum. It was triggered by Davis' bad launch at Mt. Borah in Oz last week. I've added a new post to my (b)Log with a discussion on the topic, and a short (20 sec) launch video from Taylor.

http://tinyurl.com/3yu8fu
or
http://craginsflightblog.blogspot.com/2 ... nches.html

I'd appreciate comments, either here or in the (b)Log or Oz forum.

[Gene]

I watched the video (Oz) and on the 1st launch there is no wind noise. On the 2nd launch you here the 'wind' and he pops up. Anyways, a good read. I have been to Taylor's on a light day and ran all the way down the hill once.
Gene

[jimrooney]

Aaron's comments are spot on and shouldn't be overlooked.
People talk a lot about "popping the nose" but the actual mechanics of this are often missed.

Very good stuff.
Jim

[hefalump]

My name is JD and ... I'm a "nose popper" and a base tube diver.

I have not foot launched in three years and have only foot launched 3 times in five years. After reading the discussion on the OZ Report I think the root of my problem is the bottle grip. This summer I really hope to get a lot of foot launch practice by either scooter or training hill. I'm so rusty with foot launch that most of the time I can't see what every thinks is wrong with the launches in the videos.

The sad part is I learned HG by foot launch. I only started towing after a couple of years, but then never really went back to foot launch. Although my first instructor never had me try the grapvine grip ... except for ground handling.

Jim warm up the golf cart tow system for me this Summer.

JD

[brianvh]

I think the bottle grip is a problem if you hold the downtubes too high. But you can use the bottle grip with the hands down low and arms straight and it's almost a grapevine. I think the grapevine can sometimes have you holding the nose too low, though it prevents the nose pop. The main thing is to get to the hill and practice in both high and low wind, and with a range of slopes. Something I haven't done for a dangerously long time and it bit me once at Ellenville during a no-wind launch when I had the nose too low.

[Flying Lobster]

I started to say some stuff about Davis's launch on the OzReport, but backed out because the discussion became one of "this grip Vs. that grip." I think the bad launches were not the result of using the wrong grip--though that may have marginalized Davis's control somewhat--but simply because Davis nudged the glider airborne with inadequate airspeed when he got to the edge. It's no surprise that he piled in his launches twice in a short time. The best explanation of good footlaunch technique I've ever heard is from Greg DeWolf.

marc