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Old 12th Apr 2012, 21:56
  #120 (permalink)  
thing
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
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Just a thought from a glider and power jock. In a glider you always trim for glide speed (I know it can't be done that precisely but about half forward on the trim is usually about right) before take off, thus assisiting your aim of not stalling in case of a cable break. This means of course having highish forces on the stick on climb out during a winch launch but they are quite acceptable.

What would be the problem in doing that in a powered a/c, say up to a thousand feet then trim for the climb? Wouldn't it be worth doing? Has anyone tried trimming for glide speed, leaving the trimmer alone then trying a take off?

One thing that gliders prep you for is a launch/take off failure, cable breaks happen far more often than an engine failure. I've just looked in my logbook and I had six launch failures out of the last one hundred, that includes two winch failures/poor winch technique. Unconsciously I'm always expecting a 'launch fail' even in a power a/c.
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