I took my baby/T2C down to Steve Wendt a few weeks ago, for help in dealing with a nasty turn that had manifested itself during a Woodstock flight back on... Oh my!... It has been quite a while hasn't it, well over a year?
Steve stripped the sail and inspected the frame, installed new side wires, discovered that the new tail wireset wasn't the right length, took care of things that I forgot to mention (needed a new haul-back line; missing ziptie on one side of the hang-strap pillar, probably busted when I cratered in at Woodstock), and reset everything to factory standard.
That's a lotta work. I've done the T2C's side wires before, and what a PITA! Struggling on a fricking' basement floor.
And today!!! Wow, I scooter-towed for the first time ever, and it was DAMN COOL!!!
The goal was to have a few flights in controlled conditions, to evaluate the wing and determine if there was any significant turn. And conditions were ideal for that, even as a scooter newbie.
I'll go further than that : This was PERFECT for anyone, like myself, who hasn't been able to aerotow in forever. It's not an aerotow, and it's easier than an aerotow... But bottom-line, if you are as rusty in that regime as I am/was, it is a fantastic way to get back into the groove. I plan to do some more tows down there, and then hopefully segue into some AT flights later in the year.
We used one of the aerotow carts, and rigged things up exactly the same way as I would have flown at (say) Highland. Didn't even know that was possible!
I did three flights, and there were no issues with the wing, woo-hoo! (although I'll have to reevaluate based on some soaring flights). First two landings sucked, but I dialed back in for the third and ended the day on a good note.
If I'm honest, I have to admit that I was pretty close to bailing on the sport. Taking a step back to the Falcon for a while provided a good change of pace, and I finally had a bonafide fun, near-cloudbase flight last weekend. It reminded me of what it's all about. I'm motivated again.
MarkC
Blue Sky : Sun05Aug : Cart-based scooter towing and glider tuning!
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Blue Sky : Sun05Aug : Cart-based scooter towing and glider tuning!
Last edited by markc on Fri Aug 10, 2018 8:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Blue Sky : Sun05Aug : Scooter towing and glider tuning!
Welcome back (to the mindset 
). Bacil
). BacilRe: Blue Sky : Sun05Aug : Scooter towing and glider tuning!
One thing that I really liked about the scooter tow : Even though the speed is less than an aerotow, you still have plenty of opportunity to encounter some turb (if it's cross, or if it's a thermally day). So for me, it was "Oh! Right! Bump inputs, then back to center. I remember this!" 
. In spite of the fact that I haven't aerotowed in forever, all of those habits and considerations flooded back.
I had thought that I would need to head down to FL or some such, on a dedicated trip to recover AT skills. But now I think that the dolly + scooter-tow combo will be a major help. I'll do a few more of those, then follow-up with an actual AT, probably late-day on a good towing day at Blue Sky.
Awesome!
. In spite of the fact that I haven't aerotowed in forever, all of those habits and considerations flooded back.I had thought that I would need to head down to FL or some such, on a dedicated trip to recover AT skills. But now I think that the dolly + scooter-tow combo will be a major help. I'll do a few more of those, then follow-up with an actual AT, probably late-day on a good towing day at Blue Sky.
Awesome!