Down Wind Launches?

[Brew Glider]

Hey there Glider Guys,

I have been catching a phrase here and there about down wind lauches! These mentions seem to be off winches. NASA here in ATL will on occasions set up the winch in a down wind configuration. Unfortunatly, I haven't been able to be there on those days. Also, in the previews for some DVD from Radio Carbon Art, at competition out west the same thing was mentioned.

I still high start with 80' of rubber but always launch into the wind. If this is possible with a highstart, then I could actually benefit from this in a small field configuration.

Any ideas or comment/help?

I also really need to get on the winch! I am really looking forward to some sunny days here in ATL.

Brew Glider

[T. Lyttle]

We always had a word of advice about downwind launches: dont. If your model is comfy with a 10mph wind, then downwind means you are giving away 20mph right off the bat, at the worst possible time. With a histart, ALWAYS bad news. With unlimited winch power, you CAN get away with it, but it is still ropey at best. If you have a model that you care to dedicate to the experiment, fill your boots, but make sure it is a model you can do without!

[paulcarnes]

When thermal conditions are good and you have strung out your high start to launch into the prevailing wind its really great to feel the wind at your back just before you launch. You're going to launch, downwind, directly into the thermal!

[Robglover]

Down wind launches will be something that you need to be prepared to cope wiht if you are going to fly contests. You won't get as high and some folks will have problems doing them at all, but if you are prepared and know how to react to the situation you will do better than the other folks and possibly take home a trophy. You'll probably never see a 10 mph downwind launch, most CD's try and set up the field into the wind. It's the 'Light and variable" days that fool us and result in downwind launches. If it gets to 10 mph I'll normally stop the contest to turn the field around.

I'll purposly set up my winch downwind or cross wind every now and then to learn how the airplane reacts. I try to do this when there aren't a lot of folks around, it isn't something that most folks feel the need to do.

In general, your launches will be less steep, and you'll step on the pedal harder.

As mentioned before, if the wind shift is just a momentary thing you are probably launching into lift. Be a bit careful here - you will want to compensate by giving the winch more gas to increase the line speed. If the plane is moving fast and enters a good thermal you can blow up a set of wings or break a line.

happy trails - Rob G