----- Original Message ----- From: "David J. Schat" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Did I read correctly earlier and the winch lines are retrieved by golf > cart... no regular style retrievers? If this is the case this is one area > where time can be gained if retrievers could be used (I don't know if they > could). Dave, The simple reason for NOT using retrievers IS to speed things up and have LESS problems. Retrieve lines can break and tangle, then the whole show is shut down till the line gets fixed. I saw this setup last year at the NATS and it WORKS. Heres how it goes. Take 12 winches and line them up in a row, placed about 15 feet apart. Usually launching 8 flyers in a group. The idea is to get them all in the air in about 90 seconds so they all can fly in pretty much the same air. I say pretty much because sometimes, at least here on the East coast, 90 seconds can be the difference of skying out and making your time or missing that one good thermal and ending up on the ground sooner than intended. The first flyer launches on command from the winchmaster, who then immediately instructs the second flyer to get ready. As soon as the first flyer is topping out the second flyer is given the word to launch. By the time he has tensioned the line and is starting his launch the first flyer is off and a 'tapper' moves in to bring the first line down to the turnaround at the far end of the field. And so it goes right down the line till all are in the air. There are two or three tappers, usually, for each flight group. Their sole job is to move in right after the flyer has zoomed and pedal the line to the ground. In this way there is never any problems with retriever line breaks fouling up the flight line. The 'extra' winches are in case a flyer breaks a line during launch. This is when the winchmaster immediately instruct said flyer to move to an open winch. All the winches are numbered and assignments for each flyer is random and written on the score card so there is no question on the flight line where each flyer is to be launching initially. If a flyer is given a relaunch he comes down immediately as the winchmaster scopes out an open, available winch. The lines are all retrieved at the same time, after all the flyers are in the air and the next group of flyers is getting ready to be staged in the ready area. Usually kids of the flyers, using golf carts retrieve the lines. While the flyers are launching the kids are waiting at the turnarounds. After all are in the air they hook up two winch lines to each cart and pull them back to the winches. Then back they go to wait for the next group. They also have a good system for impounding and staging all the Tx's. This also includes a system for turning in the score cards and Tx's after the flight. Pick up your radios with score cards, complete with clipboards, to ready for your flight. Then it's out to the staging area to see if everyone is there that is suppose to be in that group. An official checks off all flyers from his list. If so, flyers are released to walk to the launching area. And so it goes on all day. This all sounds a bit complex but is really one of the best systems, if you have the manpower and the equipment. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
