Thanks, guys!

Yeah, I/we considered that the carried plane will have an aerodynamic effect on the Pipe Dream, but there are pretty good margins working for us. The PD has a huge fin and rudder, so yaw stability should be fine. The carried plane does add side area, but as the CG's coincide, if each plane is stable, the combo should be OK, I think. Also, the 'lecky's wing area is about 80% of the PD's stab area, so as long as it doesn't move in carry, the trim changes should be constant and manageable.

The release mech. should be pretty foolproof. If it were to hang half released, you're right, nightmare. It is pretty simple, though, and we kept things clean to try to minimize the potential for fouling. It's simply 2 strings ending in wire loops that engage a pin type bolt. When the hardpoint pin is pulled back, the string ends will release, that part is pretty foolproof. The pins retract completely, nothing left to bind on, and the servo is plenty beefy for the job, 51 in. oz.

When the strings release, the "popsicle stick" they go over under the wee plane falls away (new one needed each drop), and so does the little plane. The only problem I can see would be the strings winding up about one another, and snagging the tail of the carried plane. That would be bad. I'll try to clean stuff up so that snagging isn't too likely...

We'll release at as low as practical a flying speed, well out over our field, and with several hundred feet under us. That way if it all goes wrong, I can ditch the combo safely in the tall grass. But I'm pretty confident that it won't come to that. We'll do a few more test drops as the time grows near anyway, to check for quirks looking to sink us. It worked flawlessly in the basement a half dozen times, but the airspeed is admittedly pretty low there. Proof'll be in the pudding.

I did see a senior telemaster (our club trainer) attempt a 2m glider-on-top carry the first time I visited our field 3 years ago. It's a fairly common practice, and their release system was similar in concept to mine, though less robust. Unfortunately, that one didn't go so well. The glider wasn't securely enough mounted, and it "rolled" on the carriage, until it's wingtip contacted the telemaster's wintip. The rig was about 25' off the ground on take off at the time. This spoiled the lift on that wing, and with the low airspeed, the combo hauled itself another 20 or so feet up, wallowing half or less in control... The telemaster pilot released the glider as the beast reached it's apogee, and the telemaster proceeded to stall in, buring it's motor in the runway. Perfect 1 point landing, lol. The glider was fine. Telemaster flew again the next summer. Not auspicious, but it was pretty cool to see.

Hopefully this rig does a little better.

J

Oh, the stall speed was estimated using motorcalc or a similar electric aircraft design tool, based purely on the basic wing geometry and loading. This type of tool has provided us with believeable numbers for other aircraft the two of us operate. That stall speed was for the electric only, and I only mentioned it as it is the primary reason why we're attempting this. Hand launching a 30" plane at that speed would be a bit challenging without a fair breeze blowing. So long as this works, the aerial drop gives alot more time to get'er on the wing, as it were!