Cliff launching

[hepcat1989]

When I was at Lookout mt. The instructor/observer in higher winds would be on the keel. When the pilot had his pitch right, and yelled clear to launch the instructor would throw the keel like a javelin. ( The pilot controlled the momentum.)I guess to keep the nose from popping/ back of keel from dropping. Is this acceptable? I have never seen it done here like that.The pilot was near the edge of the cliff.
Peace, Shawn.

[Spark]

When I was at Lookout mt. The instructor/observer in higher winds would be on the keel. When the pilot had his pitch right, and yelled clear to launch the instructor would throw the keel like a javelin. ( The pilot controlled the momentum.)I guess to keep the nose from popping/ back of keel from dropping. Is this acceptable? I have never seen it done here like that.The pilot was near the edge of the cliff.
Peace, Shawn.

I saw it done done long ago. They called it 'Keel Launching'. I've never done it and thankfully nobody's done to me.

[dogcowdaddy]

While blundering around the net I came across the site http://wxqa.com/nodatastates/MD.html which provides access to "personal" weather station data which is feed into the internet by various means and typically includes time histories of wind speed and direction. Of particular interest perhaps is the site in Smithsburg. By changing the 2 letter State ID is the link you can obtain lists for other states. The Virginia list indicates a station at Woodstock although it appears to be down at the moment. FYIW

Jim Lewis

PS Does anyone know if the issues with the PayPal link for renewal have been resolved?

[Richard Hays]

Keel launching can create more problems than it attempts so solve. If a
person is incapable of maintaining proper pitch attitude, then they
shouldn't be on the launch. As Bacil pointed out, practicing in wind at
Smithsburg will prepare you for being able to hold the nose neutral.

( speaking of the 'burg, has anyone been able to talk with the freakin'
farmer about that stupid corn? ) arrrrrgh.

* Keep in mind that Lookout has an "accelerated" ( put nicely ) H-2 program,
and many pilots find themselves on the Lookout launch ( most probably )
before they really should be. Could explain why they feel the need to keel
launch.

Rich


>From: "Spark" <BagPipeFlyer@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
>To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
>Subject: Cliff launching
>Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 15:46:02 -0500
>
>hepcat1989 wrote:
>When I was at Lookout mt. The instructor/observer in higher winds would be
>on the keel. When the pilot had his pitch right, and yelled clear to launch
>the instructor would throw the keel like a javelin. ( The pilot controlled
>the momentum.)I guess to keep the nose from popping/ back of keel from
>dropping. Is this acceptable? I have never seen it done here like
>that.The pilot was near the edge of the cliff.
> Peace, Shawn.
>(end of quote)
>
>
>I saw it done done long ago. They called it 'Keel Launching'. I've never
>done it and thankfully nobody's done to me.

[dogcowdaddy]

Actually this link takes you to the registered weather sites http://wxqa.com/states/MD.html.

Sorry

Jim


On Thursday, January 05, 2006, at 01:29PM, James Lewis <jtlewis@mac.com> wrote:

>
>
>While blundering around the net I came across the site http://wxqa.com/nodatastates/MD.html which provides access to "personal" weather station data which is feed into the internet by various means and typically includes time histories of wind speed and direction. Of particular interest perhaps is the site in Smithsburg. By changing the 2 letter State ID is the link you can obtain lists for other states. The Virginia list indicates a station at Woodstock although it appears to be down at the moment. FYIW
>
>Jim Lewis
>
>PS Does anyone know if the issues with the PayPal link for renewal have been resolved?
>
>
>
>

[hepcat1989]

Richard, They said you could get your hang2 in a week! My ass, my legs were so f*$king knotted up!!!!I was lucky to get my hang1 that week...I should have mentioned there were wire crew on the side wires.Yeah , I don't know. I have never seen it done at the rock.....Thanks, Shawn.

[mcelrah]

Yeah, I got H2, both aerotow and footlaunch, at Lookout in a week. I
thought it was fine, especially combining the two regimes. I loved
eating, drinking and breathing hang-gliding all day every day for a
solid week. ( I still enjoy vacationing at Quest for that same
reason.) Problem is that if you get H2 out of town in an intensive
course, you sort of "run off the cliff" when you go home with no idea
how to plug into the club system and get with a local instructor and
observers. The day Richard or John or Steve or Sunny signs a pilot
off as H2, he/she is still pretty wet behind the ears, too. The
difference is that you have this great local network to see you
through your H2 stage and beyond. - Hugh

[hang_pilot]

PS Does anyone know if the issues with the PayPal link for renewal have been resolved?

Hi, Jim (all) -

The Paypal link has been and running, http://www.chgpa.net/renew/, try using internet explorer if you have problems or contact Ralph for assistance: r2@sickinger.net.

Happy New Year!
Daniel

president@chgpa.org
301.275.6584

[hepcat1989]

................................................................?

[markc]

I've never seen or participated in a 'javelin keel launch' .

However, as a member of wire crew on the keel, I have
occasionally helped a pilot maintain pitch, by letting
the keel slide out of my hand while resisting against a
keel-down/nose-up force.

Usually high wind days, especially if the pilot isn't right
at the edge.

Not to the point of actively putting a nose-down
input into the system. Rather, just ensuring that
the nose goes no higher than what the pilot had when
s/he started the launch run.

Mark C.