Pulpit Slot Launch

[mcgowantk]

I had a nice flight at the Pulpit Sunday, making it to the High Rock Lz. The winds there were pretty much due South. Good thing since I was hoping to land the opposite way. I followed one of my golden rules - never leave Mark Cavanaugh! Team work was the key for my success Sunday. I also need to thank my wire crew.

I had some trouble launching from the gravel slot launch, though. I thought the winds were pretty reasonable for the Pulpit. They seemed to be pretty straight in the whole time I was on launch and not too strong - maybe 15 or so on average - at least by my observations on the windsock and trees out front. The winds seemed just fine once I launched too. However, while trying to launch, I felt the wind on my glider was pretty strong and the glider was very unstable on my shoulders. After a while, I moved farther down the slot (I thought I was pretty far down to start). I finally had some control over the glider and ran off without too much excitement.

After that experience, I am not sure that the slot was the way to go. I think the air might have been smoother on the ramps. I also wonder if the wind is venturied somewhat between the two ramps. I believe Dave and Ashley had better exeriences on the ramps than I had. I may use the ramps next time and save the slot for the right time. When that is, I don't know because the ramps are good in light air too. Maybe my next self launch at the Pulpit!

What do others think?

Tom McGowan

[carweill]

Good thing you bring this up.
I’ve been trying to experiment with the slot under different conditions.
The advantage of the slot is that you can self-launch. My limits to self-launch in the pad are: no more than 10 deg of cross wind and between 8-15mph. Wire assisted can be stronger, but be aware of gust factor and cross wind. This limits are based on my ability to level the glider in the pad, others can do better. For crosswinds the ramps are better, IMHO.
Last Sunday was by far my worst launch at the Pulpit. After I yelled cleared I needed to balance the wing and I tripped and bend my knee. The wing was already flying and was able to recover, not the excitement I was looking for.
I’m thinking we need to stabilize surface so it is easy to stop without sliding. I thought maybe adding some pavers in the center might do that. Don’t know what others think.

The flight after that was very enjoyable. Got 4500 over and just couldn’t resist and went OTB. Realizing that I didn’t make any plans for retrieval, I stop at 5000 ASL and landed in Uptown. I had the radio set-up but forgot to turn it on.

Carlos

[Ashley Groves]

Here are my observations from my first time since the gravel slot was built:

Summary: I will probably use the ramps if I see any cross or expect thermal activity (wind shifts). If I use the slot in strong winds I will probably go quite a lot toward the front.

I arrived at the pulpit just when Mark C. launched. I walked up to the slot and it seemed straight in, so I was expecting to use the slot.

During my set up I helped wire-off two guys from the slot. Both times the gliders seemed unstable and squirrelly in the slot until they got in front of the rocks. I walked up onto the ramp and it was slightly N cross, fairly straight in with the left (smaller) ramp.

My assessment was agrees with Tom. Venturi with swirling winds near the rocks.

I was last to launch. I was wired off by 2 guys (I do not know their names). They had just wired off 2 other pilots from the slot. They thought the ramp was a good choice, I do not know their observations.

I felt strong winds with some direction changes I attributed to thermal activity on the ramp, but within my comfort zone. These may have been exacerbated in the slot.

[Ashley Groves]

Re: Pavers

I do not think they will help. Something else to trip on, they will drift towards uneveness. Once commited, their is no safe way to stop a launch at any site.

OTB:
Once you are going, go man! How many times have you picked me up from X-C without any previous plan? Make me return the favor once in a while!

Happy landings,
Ashley

[Matthew]

Nothing but a great experience with the slot-- both in assisting launches and launching myself. In several caes, pilots were unable to launch from the ramps due to strong winds and then launched without a problem from the the new gravel pad. As noted, you need to move about 2/3 down from the top so that your wing tips are past the higher rocks. Once there, launching has been a piece of cake even in very strong and cross winds. Also, grab the pieces of carpet that Bacil has provided and place them over the gravel. This helps to keep the pilot from slipping or being pulled forward from wind suck. The club allocated funds to purchase and secure some artificial turf-- don't know what ever happened or who was in charge of this project.

Matthew

[XCanytime]

Dan Tuckwiller and I have been flying the Pulpit all winter. We have launched from the slot every time. I always bring two of my spinner windsocks and stick them on poles at the bottom of the pad, on each side of the centerline of the runway. We have ALWAYS launched from very far down low to negate the effects of any venturi. Just put your wing in the cleanest air possible, which is right at or just past the rocks on either side of the pad. Get some spinner windsocks. Pick a good, straight in cycle, as can be viewed from the spinner windsocks and the bushes down below. In the gravel, WALK, JOG, RUN as any jackrabbit start can cause you to slip, as the footing is not the greatest. In switchy conditions, timing is everything. Pagen advises to pick up the glider, balance it, and launch within 3 seconds. I have seen too much hesitation by too many pilots who wait until the glider gets all wacky, 5+ seconds later.

Bacil

[Ward Odenwald]

Last Sunday I assisted in most if not all of the launches at the Pulpit (both slot and ramp) and ~1/3 of the takeoffs were lacking in one or both of the following common sense safety issues:

1. Takeoff run: If you don’t have a strong, aggressive smooth-accelerating run you’re most likely going to lack enough airspeed for full-control during the all important journey over the rocks. Some of the flights that originated from the slot during peak thermal conditions on Sunday passed over the rocks at or near minimum sink resulting in near wingtip misses. With today’s gliders and high wind conditions, its easy to get airborne but with a slot launch and to a lesser extent a ramp launch, lifting off the ground without enough air speed is, to say the least, not a good thing.

2. Pilot <-> Wire Crew communication: Everybody has there own style of communicating the essentials (wing pressure, takeoff command ect….) but some pilots on Sunday either forgot to do this or waited to long. Waiting for your wire crew to ask for instructions or waiting until you and your crew have positioned your glider either halfway down the slot or on one of the ramps is, in my opinion, way past the time for optimal communication, especially during high wind launches. Plus, some of the launch instructions were either mumbled and/or barely understandable. One pilot quietly mumbled the all-important clear command TWICE before both of his wing crew heard him. What’s up with that??


As for slot vs. ramp, if the air is rowdy as indicated by the movement of the trees and bushes out front, I like the ramps.

[RichH]

I think Ward brings up some great points..I haven't flown the Pulpit in many moons but it was known for some trashy conditions in the slot occassionally if there are and crossing wind componets either from the North but my recollection is that from the WSW or W it is much more pronounced..It may straighten up in the slot but you do run a higher risk in those conditions.. As for launch technique..I couldn't say what Ward mentions any better..If u deceide to launch in those conditions you need to have a strong assertive launch technique..As I have mentioned before in other strings it is not a bad thing to have fellow pilots advise u on your launch and landing techniques..You are never to good a pilot to learn..