I don't see it slowing down a contest Jeff. Maybe the first time someone uses the system they may break the weak link but you have the whole round to get the chute and fix the line. If the week link is colored you can make the call if you are watching the launch. After the first few times someone has to fly out a broken week link you won't see and weak link line breaks. All the breaks that will happen will be legitimate breaks and need to be re-launched for fairness.
John -----Original Message----- From: Jeff Steifel [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 9:49 AM To: John Cc: RCSE Subject: Re: [RCSE] OVSS and Line Breaks A weak link slows down the contest because it has to be replaced. If it is the last ring you must put a new one on. If it is between the line and chute you must get the chute. Limiting power doesn't slow the contest down. New winches aren't necessary. Resistors could be made of all thread or anything.... But all would have to meet the resistance test. Admittedly not all winches will be of the same power there either. Differences in drum diameter create different power bands. The smaller the drum the more power. the larger drums create more speed but less power... Single support vs dual supported drum, real balls vs oilite.... all add to the differences. But assuming that power is restricted you level the playing field quite a bit. No one can draw the max power from the winch, and the brushes should last longer too by eliminating the higher current. John wrote: >Jeff I agree that limited power winches would be a great thing, but it is >not practical for all club to get new winches. I don't understand why a week >link slows down a contest. In theory the weak link is the part that breaks >and almost all breaks will not be re-launched. When it is not the weak link >the only fair thing to do is re-launch because the line was damaged in the >first place and that is the cost of doing business. > >John > >-----Original Message----- >From: Jeff Steifel [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 7:52 PM >To: John >Cc: RCSE >Subject: Re: [RCSE] OVSS and Line Breaks > >I don't think a weak link works. You want to keep things moving a link >only serves to slow things down. > >I think the FAI solution works great. Limit the power on the winches. >The resistored winches cut the power down and then everyone is nearly >identical in power. >Now does this solve line breaks... somewhat... it certainly cuts it down >a considerable amount if you lower the power and level the playing >field. But breaks will still happen especially on windy days. > >In the ESL we noticed that new spools from Memphis twine had bad spots >in it. After clearing the breaks, the lines rarely broke. We don't >respool between contests any more, only when the line gets ragged. This >is consistent with my experience with my own clubs and also retriever >lines too. > >3 years ago at the nats I hit the pedal and broke the line. before I got >any tension. Fortunately I got another winch. But the no relaunch policy >doesn't allow for bad retrieves, or a previous bad launch. What about >someone who launches before you and pulls the knot to exterme. or >stresses the ring. The no relaunch doesn't work. BUT neither does >letting the person relaunch with all the markers in the air. >Either let them launch again or relight the group. If you let them >relight it must be point the plane to the ground and land... no dilly >dallying.... anyone caught slowing up for a reading of air should >forfeit their flight. > > >John wrote: > > > >>Mark, >> >>Why not use a weak link of 225lb at the tow hook with 280-300 line on the >>winch? If the line breaks the weak link then they fly. You would need to be >>able to check the line quickly. That said. I feel that you are doing a >> >> >great > > >>job with the series and everyone knows the rules. Everyone launches under >>the same rules. They can choose to stay home if they don't like the >> >> >contest. > > >>You can't factor out all circumstances of launch problems. It is a roll of >>the dice. You pays you money and you takes you chances. >> >>John >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Marc Gellart [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 6:04 PM >>To: soaring@airage.com >>Subject: [RCSE] OVSS and Line Breaks >> >>Jim, Paul, Jack,and Jim: >> Great comments and you all have pretty much sited all the pros and cons >>about what we face at each and every contest. From what i know every one >> >> >of > > >>the contests we will be flying 280 or 290 line this year that is having MOM >>formats, I know STL relined this weekend and all the winches that are >> >> >coming > > >>are set up with the good stuff (actually one club event ona line I think >>eliminates the splices and they are even better then). Like all have said, >>that eliminates nearly all the issues right there. >> But, still what do we do? I have had folks saying to me that I should >>mandate line strength and such, I have taken the attitude in the past that >>the clubs run their show and OVSS just uses the scores generated. I >> >> >realize > > >>that my free market approach appaers a bit loose, but I still feel that >> >> >this > > >>approach is best since as has been pointed out that conditions can vary as >>well as equipment. I urge clubs in the direction that I feel is what the >>customer wants, i.e. MVSA going MOM format this year with the heavier line >>than they have ever used before, there was trepidation, but they will make >>folks happy with the choice. >> My answer to what I will do in STL since I am the CD there is to give >>line breaks in the first round and to call down the entire flight group, >> >> >but > > >>after that the show is on and no more chances are available. That is my >>answer, and it can be used as a template, but each club is on their own >> >> >with > > >>council from the wise among us. >> My 2 cents on the subject... >> >>Marc >>RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and >>"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that >>subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with >>MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL >>are generally NOT in text format >> >> >>RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and >> >> >"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that >subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with >MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL >are generally NOT in text format > > >> >> >> >> >> > >-- >Jeff Steifel > >RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and >"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that >subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with >MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL >are generally NOT in text format > > >RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format > > > > > -- Jeff Steifel RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format
