For those who are nervous about opening attachments, I have copied the text from the letter recently posted from the German Aero Club. Seems like a worthwhile commentary on the whole towing thread that's been raging on the exchange. Wouldn't want someone to miss it just 'cause they don't want to open an attachment. I'm totally not in the competition or towing game, just thought it might be good to get this (in Plain Text!) onto the RCSE for those to whom it's important, Best, Scobie: Hallo all, I was asked by leading members of the German Aero Club ( national soaring committee ) to provide following information to the members of the soaring list as well to the whole F3J community : The German national body DAeC ( German Aero Club ) decided on a meeting last week-end not to adopt the new towing rule (safety notice from march 26th 2001 ) and to use a local rule according to the Sporting Code from Jan 1st 2001 ( 2-man -towing with "stake" ) instead. Reason are that the German Aero Club realizes that the simply banning of the "stake" provides a lot of danger for helpers and towmen in F3J competition . On the other hand the 2-man towing with a adequately fixed ground anchors was well-proved and tested for many years in international competitions. This towing system was developed by a german F3J-working-pool who was working for 7 years on safety questions. The idea and intension was to keep the tow-men out of the line of fire ( wipping lines ) by using a towing -bar or a V-rope and to use a well fixed ground anchor instead of "human anchors " who are in serious danger as well . The accident in Slovakia was sincerely regreted but the towing method used in this accident had nothing to do with the safety standards in F3J competitions today. Furtheron the German Aero Club will send a protest letter to the chairman of the F3B/F3J sub-committee Mr. Thomas Bartovsky ! Also the german Aero Club will again present a proposal at the next CIAM meeting which includes a detailed drawning and description for the so called 2-man-towing ( one main stake with at least 2 additional stakes, similar to F3B turnaround ) in addition to the proven towing method according to Sporting Code from Jan 1st 2001. The German Aero Club also prefers to see F3J going on with "hand-towing" and not to establish power-winches to keep the specific identity of the popular F3J class. This was decided on a meeting early this winter ! If you need more information on this please write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] best regards....Stefan Eder ( GER-2003 ).......... RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
