Winch Launch and Preparations

Thanks to those who read and commented on my blog! =D that was great of you. Really appreciated!

Anyway, nothing besides church happened today. Oh, we cooked dinner, I made some Turkish stuff -_- and the other made food too. It was great, we had like 5 different things to eat =P

Anyway, let's talk about the gliding. The CHAOTIC check is cool, here it goes (e.g.)

"CHAOTIC Check, C, Controls. Stick to the left, left aileron up and right aileron down. Stick to the right, right aileron up and left aileron down. Stick forward, elevator down, stick backward, elevator up. Left rudder pedal, (looks at the rudder moving to the left) yep, right rudder pedal (looks at the rudder moving to the right) yep.

*gets into the plane*

CH Harness.

*tightens the harness*

My harness is tight and secure, is your's tight and secure?

*the pilot at the back says, my harness is tight and secure*

CHA Airbrakes

Full airbrakes (checks airbrake is full), half (checks airbrake is half), closed and locked. No flaps is attached to this aircraft.

CHAO Outside, Options, Obstacles.

We have a left hand wind at about 10 knots. The stall speed of the aircraft is 36knots. The minimum winch launching speed is 1.3 times the stall speed which is 48knots. The maximum winch launching speed is written on the placard which is 67knots. The safe speed near ground is 1.5 times the stall speed which is 54knots, rounded up to 55knots. The safe approach speed is the safe speed near ground plus half the wind speed which is 55knots plus 5knots equals to 60knots.

In case of a cable break, I will push the stick forward to achieve safe speed above ground of 55knots and pull the release twice (while doing the actions). If there is enough runway to safely land I will land ahead but if there isn't I will do a modified circuit to the right. There are trees on the left so I have to be careful not to land too close to them.

CHAOT Trim

Trim is set to the third from the front. No ballast is required for the aircraft because the passengers satisfy the weight requirements of the aircraft. There are no tail or wing dollies attached to the aircraft.

CHAOTI Instruments

The radio is set to 126.7 and the altimeter is set to the height of the airfield which is 33oft. There are no broken glasses.

CHAOTIC Canopy, Controls

*Closing down the canopy, locks it*

Canopy is closed and locked. Undercarriage is down.

*Moving the stick to all corners and at the same time moving the rudder left and right*

Free controls of all movements, we are set."

That's a pretty long check eh?

A person outside will now do a radio call to the winch.

"Winch, this is launch, glider will be ready for launch in 3 minutes."

Then, time for CARD check.

A= person outside
B= me

A: Pilot ready?
B: (thumbs up)
A: Canopy?
B: (checks the canopy is closed and locked) Closed and locked.
A: Airbrakes?
B: (checks the airbrakes are locked) Closed and locked. No flaps is fitted to this aircraft.
A: Radio?
B: set at 126.7
A: You have no wing or tail dollies. (Shows me the small ring) You have a small ring and the orange weak link has been attached to the cable. (bends down to attach the ring to the bottom of the aircraft) OPEN!
B: (Opens the release)
A: CLOSE!
B: Closes the release.
A: (Pulls the plane with the cable) You are online and secure. (Checks for airplanes in the air). You are clear from above and behind. (thumbs up)
B: (thumbs up).

Then after this is the radio call.

"Stonefield traffic this is glider Kilo Romeo Oscar commencing winch launch from runway 09, Stonefield gliding."

(if I'm not mistaken).

Then the person outside will hold up the wingtip to level the aircraft and s/he will do a radio call to the winch, saying:

"Winch, this is launch, commencing launch, take up slack, take up slack, take up slack," while doing the take up slack signal.

When the cable tightens and the plane starts to move, the person outside will do an all out signal while saying, "all out, all out, all out."

And the glider flies! =D

In the case of no radio, the person outside will rock the wingtip up and down until the cable tightens. Wing is then leveled, which means all out.

This is so cool right? =D