RCU Forums - View Single Post - Hi-Start vs Winch - Area Needed ? ?
View Single Post
Old 11-25-2012, 07:17 PM
  #14  
aeajr
My Feedback: (2)
 
aeajr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 8,573
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Default RE: Hi-Start vs Winch - Area Needed ? ?



As I see it, for the hi-start to have a simiar heith launch you need it to be at rest a little short of the winch length. Then you have to pull back, as much as 300 feet. So, to fully deploy 100 feet of rubber and 400 feet of line you need 800 feet.

To have similar winch line out you need about 550 to 600 feet.

Now, the stronger the breeze the less line you need to pull in on the winch and the less the rubber will collapse. But in all cases you have to stretch the rubber, typically 3X the length of the rubber in order to have any pull on the line. Something you don't have to do with the winch.

At the top of the launch, if your wings are reasonably strong, you can zoom off the winch and pick up 100 or more feet in height. While you can get some bumpon the typical hi-start it will not compare to a winch.

If you have delicate wings that can not take the force of the winch then you must gently tap it up and come of the line easy. In this case you might actually get a higher launch with the gentle hi-start, but you will need more room as you have to stretch that rubber.