[Free]

No one wants to admit they are wrong and Tad Eareckson, is right.

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:06 pm
Post subject: Raunchy Day At The Ridge + Release Failure

Yeah, it was a wild day at the Florida Ridge ... for me especially. Winds were 10 to 20 mph with booming thermals. I had two lock-outs and weak-links breaks. One at 400 feet. The other at 300 feet. They tell me if you made it above 500, it smoothed out.

My specific problem was that, as I approached lock-out, I pulled my release but nothing happened. My release, from Lookout Mountain, has worked flawlessly up to this point. I conclude that under extreme pressure plus friction the darn thing requires a MUCH stronger pull than normal.
A secondary problem was that, at the spinnaker clasp end, the nose of the cable sheath pulled right through the cable sheath retainer. This results in no effective pull on the actual mechanism. I repaired (crimped) the cable sheath retainer before my second flight. But I think I still had the friction problem.
These are 2 separate and distinct problems.
Has anybody else experienced anything like this? Any solutions or comments?
Cheers!
TR from T.O.

PS: Just as an aside ... by the time the bridle "cleared" the second time, my wing was about 60 degrees off line with the tug. The bridle whipped to the side and my weak-link caught on, and must have wrapped around, low down on my right nose wire. It wrapped around so tightly and embedded itself in the plastic sheath and consequently there was a second weak-link break. All very fast of course. When I landed there was a 2-1/2" chunk of weak-link material stuck firmly in my nose wire. Very strange!

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.ph ... z1oAC9rkd7

[Bob Kuczewski]

Good post Warren!!!

By the way, I don't mind anyone posting quotes from Tad on this site or even links to his posts on "kitestrings" (http://kitestrings.prophpbb.com).

It's never been my goal to make anyone "disappear" from our sport or discredit good work. Tad has certainly done a lot of research on towing and weak links, and I hope we can make use of it and reference it whenever it's appropriate.

Thanks Warren.

[miguel]

Tad will continue to be a footnote unless he stops striking out at others. His message is obscured by his aggression.

[SamKellner]

unless he stops striking out at others.

And I doubt that will happen.

Eventhough he might do mega research, it's not for a good reason.
~2% benefit - 98% detriment to the sport. IMO. We've already heard the 2%, so.

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25656

This pilot lost her life in an accident. And with a no good reason attitude,
ridgerodent says she was "killed". Who does that sound like?
Same attitude, that's all I'm saying.

IMO, overall, it's a sick motive. Not worthy of any quote.

[Free]

Tad will continue to be a footnote unless he stops striking out at others. His message is obscured by his aggression.

Tad, used to post about as nice as anyone and nicer than some. Remember?

Blowback... You put in a thousand plus hour$ tooling, te$ting and documenting safety issues for the masses and have it ignored and suppressed by people, for whatever reason, and you would get testy too.
You're fairly snarky as it is, and you haven't done the work..

And you may be correct about the footnote.. but today's footnotes are now hyperlinks..

There is a good chance that from now on, for every incident and fatality caused by insufficient weaklinks or
sub-standard release mechanisms, a hyperlink trail will lead back to Tadtriedtowarnyou.com ... where all the evidence can be seen.

A further link could then go to a list of people and the role they played in the suppression of those safety issues..
All footnotes of history..

[Free]

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25656

This pilot lost her life in an accident. And with a no good reason attitude,
ridgerodent says she was "killed". Who does that sound like?

HPAC?
http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26732

[Bob Kuczewski]

Tad will continue to be a footnote unless he stops striking out at others. His message is obscured by his aggression.

Tad, used to post about as nice as anyone and nicer than some. Remember?

That must have been long before I knew him.     

When I started the US Hawks, I made a point of specifically seeking out and finding people who'd been mistreated by USHPA or Davis or Jack because I wanted the US Hawks to be a more inclusive organization. I tried to help Tad lose some of his anger and aggression. I was patient with him for the better part of a year. I spent lots of time talking to him on the phone - often until the battery on my cell phone ran out.

I believe that most of the people kicked around by USHPA, Jack, and Davis probably didn't deserve it. But I've begun thinking that Tad may be the exception. With all the kindness I extended to him, he still went ballistic the moment we disagreed. He turned on me as if I were his mortal enemy just because I didn't think lifting a glider in strong winds was the most sensible way to check your hook-in status.

It may be that he's still smarting from being ignored for so long (as you mentioned), but if most of a year of nice treatment didn't help reverse it ... it may not be reversible.

But the point of my post was that we can (and should) include Tad's good work in this forum. I encourage everyone to do so.

[JoeF]

MEANS FOR AERIAL FLIGHT
OCTAVE CHANUTE
The patent included in its text some notes on the tow-release.

[Free]

MEANS FOR AERIAL FLIGHT
OCTAVE CHANUTE
The patent included in its text some notes on the tow-release.

Great find, Joe.. now prepare to be attacked again for revealing the truth, as here:
http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26855

"Blindrodie
Time to give it a rest. There are a relative few that will give a damn anyway.

I get your passion but I don't get the battle. Again, the origin of this sport is of little consequence to the masses.

I'm just so happy that there are folks out there that are doing thier best to set the record straight, you included. I've read most
of your stuff and others as well because I too wanted to know the origins of our unique and wonderful sport AND I'm happy that
it is relegated to so few.

I for one see your constant rebuttals as muddying the water more then clearing up remote details.
Sincerely,
James Gaar aka blindrodie

Jim Gaar, has been taking credit for other people's work and experience for a long time.
He'll also doesn't mind taking other people's property...
I'd be surprised if he doesn't take credit for inventing the tow mechanism shown above, for himself.
Ignore him.. watch him.. just be advised.

[Bob Kuczewski]

From the patent that Joe listed:

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I OCTAVE CHANUTE a citizen of the United States residing in Chicago in the county of Cook and State of Illinois have invented a new and useful Improvement in Means for Aerial Flight, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus or combination of devices for facilitating the practical operation and use of flying or gliding machines for exhibition or other purposes.

My invention consists, essentially in the combination of a flying or gliding machine of any suitable kind or construction and with or without a motor or self-propelling device, of a light movable platform or car upon which the flying or gliding machine and its operator rest, a track for the car, a winding-drum, a motor for actuating the winding-drum, a line extending from the winding-drum to the flying or gliding machine and a trip hook or device for disconnecting the line from the flying or gliding machine after it ascends to the required height under the action of the winding-drum and line. The winding-drum and its motor are preferably mounted upon a truck or wheeled vehicle.

It's a good thing his patent has expired ... or every ground tow operation in the country would be in violation.