OK First the disclaimers. If you don,t already know how to fly then save this for later.

You can either work with a helper so you can keep both thumbs on the stick during launch or you can even be done alone. Before I go on thought I feel (at least with the cadet seniors) that running with the airplane before launch usually dooms the launch. Much better with the feet firmly planted or in my case brakes on.

Now to the secrets, your single launch arm (left or right) must grasp the airplane directly under the center of gravity and the technique I use to do this is with trusted helper. After starting engine I position my self facing directly into any wind and raise launch arm (I am a lefty) and my helper will only then approach me from behind with the airplane and he is instructed to place that sweet spot directly in my hand but under no circumstances to let go until I shake the airplane.

This gives me time to assure I am gripping at the exact sweet spot. Now there is one more 'secret' and this one is very important and that is the Seniors fuselage is too wide to grip simply by squeezing during the pitch your hand will just slip. That secret is to use the main gear of the tri geared airplanes to provide a non slip point wrap you pointer finger around. It in those few seconds that I make sure my pointer finger has something solid to push aginst.

After the airplane shake signal and my grip position is good I open the throttle fully with my mouth but hesitate a few seconds more and wait till the engine fully spooled up. About all that left is to follow thru just like a baseball pitcher and that arm swing right back down to the sticks. I would not hand launch a taidragger Senior unless had built some sort of finger grip or push hole into the airplane.

John