[Terry from Toronto]

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!

[Hangskier]

Here's a link about it wrapping around the tug biner.
http://www.davisstraub.com/OZ/blogFull.php?start=1311989608

I started pro-tow and was surprised that I like it better and seems easier to me. I was reluctant at first and started in smooth air.

[pud]

Jesus!
This is serious stuff.
Two lockouts, two weak-link breaks, one failed release (in two different ways) and a wrap.

Terry, you are lucky to be alive.

I can’t be the only one who finds this disturbing, but you guys seem to take this sort of thing in your stride.
Hardly a flicker of attention given to this post.

Do you not have some kind of investigation into these incidents, or do you consider it all an occupational hazard?

Here in the UK this would require immediate attention, maybe even a grounding, but then we are all a bunch of helmet wearing wooses.

[Hangskier]

[J Fritsche]

I had a failure-to-release once, years ago, before having two releases became the norm (don't you guys fly with two releases there? one a line pull and one a bicycle brake?).

When we got to 2,000 feet, the tug pilot waved me off, and I tried my hardest to pull the release but it wouldn't let go. An improper routing of the three strings was the problem--my fault. I got all out of whack trying different things to get the damn thing to release and finally locked-out. The tug pilot said he was a split second away from giving me the rope when the weak link broke. Thank God this didn't happen low.

From what I've read since, I believe the Linknife release is the best way to go. Google it for more info. and to order one--they're really cheap. [/list]

[pud]

[Zack]

[macsux]

I remember reading a few posts previously about LMFP type release being extremely difficult to pull under loads. Makes me nervous about flying with one, although I had a few of lockouts myself and didn't experience these problems.

I'm curious how does protowing compare to two point release system. Specially how easy is it to actually grab the release when encountering a lockout scenario, as one would have to let go of the bar with one hand to do so.

[boarini2003]

I personally don't agree with the emphasis on not letting go of the bar to release. I've had numerous lockout situations where I've had to quickly release and the instant it took for me to do it with the normal bicycle release was a non issue, and that design seems to work perfectly under high loads.

[Hangskier]

First of all if you say bike release are you referring to the pilot release mechanism or the actual release where the line attaches.

From my experience of using both the bike release on old style Bailey which was probably the last in existence that I still have, and the newer Bailey release that uses a sail boat quick release shackle, as well as the LookOut. The bike release has more leverage to open with more pressure on it. However, not only does one have to let go, but most pilots mount the bike release up the down tube so one has to move the hand a fare bit. I've had to pull harder on the LookOut release. However, I had a very low lockout and with my thumb in the release strap, I release as soon as the lockout started, not waiting to see if I could correct. I saved several seconds not having to move my hand so my lockout was really not very dramatic. I think some pilots my wait too long to release, causing the release to have a lot of pressure on it from the side.

I've only had half dozen flights while using protow, but I like it. I have twin barrel releases and they are just in front of eye view so I do not have to look down and my hand reaches in front of my face which I think is safe. I have the long barrel release and not the short ones. It seems to me I have more control of the glider due to there is no force pulling on it except though my harness.

Do you ever look at your release prior to grabbing or do you know where it is? That to me is the biggest advantage of protow.

[macsux]

[dievhart]

[Hangskier]

[Terry from Toronto]

OK, here's a bit more info.
(BTW HangSkier, thanks for the link to OZ Report, bridle wrap.)

I gotta admit, I love the simplicity of the link knife.

Further investigation on my problem showed that ... under abnormally high pressure (on the release) AND with a 6" radius 180 degree bend in my cable, I was NOT able to release (with a reasonably strong yank on the string loop). If the cable was essentially straight, it worked fine, even with high pressure. My particular release actuator mounts to the base bar and therefore bends/loops around to go up the down-tube. I assume it's the added friction of the bend that makes it so difficult. I have since run some oil down the inside of the cable and will re-test in the morning.
I'll keep you all posted.
*************
Follow up: I drizzled 3-in-1 oil down the inside of the cable, with the cable hanging vertical. The next morning, oil seeped out of the other (rope loop) end ...... ALONG WITH TRACES OF RUST.
It never occurred to me that the cable was rusty inside. It appeared clean and perfect from the outside.
That's why it was so hard to pull when it had a bend in it ... when it required a little extra force.

Wow! The things you learn, eh !!

Check your equipment folks.
Extremely bad equipment will fail under normal use.
But just mildly poor equipment will fail when under extra-ordinary stress. BUT THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED IT THE MOST.

Gentle breezes,
TR

PS: Now that the cable is well lubed, it works like a charm. BUT ......

PPS: I think I'm going to switch over to a SteveRelease. http://www.skydogsports.com/release/
For 2 reasons. 1 - to get a new (low-friction) cable. 2 - I really like the business end, as opposed to the spinaker shackle.

Thanks for all your input gents.

[blindrodie]

[Hangskier]

When I used my LOMFP release, I routed the cable down the left down tube and across the base bar to the right side to release with my right hand. The cable was plenty long without binding nor premature release.

[pjwings]

I'm curious if anyone has more to say on the safety merits of pro-tow? I tow with the Lookout release. I find it a comforting thought that if things start to get squiffy I have the release already wrapped around my fingers and can release without letting go of the base bar.

That said. I have wanted to try pro-tow for a while. I dig the simplicity of the rig, and have heard many who prefer the technique for the control it gives. Still though, if I get knocked off center at 20' AGL and I'm screaming towards lockout I just don't like to think of letting go of the bar at that point to release.

We've heard from a couple already and it's quite interesting. Care to add more? Anyone else have thoughts on this aspect?

EDIT:
I did a google search on this site and came up with a couple of great threads directed at my question. I also realize this is ripe territory for trolls. Sorry.

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=16277
http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=14230

[Outback]

[cliver]

Hey Terry

I think the SteevRelease is a better step - shackle releases are suspect...
I have seen shackles and cables bind under pressure for all sorts of reasons
It won't matter why when you need it

+

We should all use a Linknife - just for the extra what if?
I Protow just because it works for me BUT, low and slow it could be bad trying to release and having a hand off the bar

I use two Protow releases - I think I will get a Linknife as well

[Hangskier]