I don't think it is rigging. If you do a correct zoom launch there will always be pressure down and away from the plane by the towline. The plane completes an arc around the line and zooms/ping off. The plane should never be closer to the chute.
99.99999% of the time that the plane catches the chute, it is the pilot that did it. They puch too much down into the initial part and actually fly into the tow line. The line then becomes snagged and they hopefully have a short but safe flight to the turnaround. I have done it as well. But I can honestly say that if done correctly the zoom is 100% free from the retriever and winch line. It is pilot thumbs. Changing the design to a "no snag" setup will not help as they normally snag the line to the point of total entanglement. No change would really work. Jason ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harley Michaelis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2002 12:41 PM Subject: [RCSE] snagged by the towline! > I'm wondering how others rig the end of the towline to avoid it snagging the > tail on release. This has happened numerous times in the past and twice > lately. I know about circling over the stake which is fine if there is > control, but sometimes the ship just loses airspeed and tumbles down. > > Most recently, where a retriever was not being used, in one instance the > chute was closed and caught where a stab half plugs on. The ship was still > flying and handling okay. I dropped the flaps to make an abrupt, but safe, > landing upwind. > > In the other recent instance, the line snagged around the tail and the > chute, fully opened, was dragging behind. This killed the airspeed. There > was no control and the ship just tumbled down and hit very oddly, causing > damage. > > It appears that where a chute is used and a zoom launch is done, the chute > opens on release, flys straight back without dropping and the line can > easily get entangled with the tail. > > What is really wierd is that at times, the line is wrapped around both the > wing the tail end and cuts into the surfaces and paint to do cosmetic > damage. > > Rigging suggestions? > > > Harley Michaelis, 26 S. Roosevelt, Walla Walla, WA 99362, ph. (509) 529-2562 > > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
