dumb question
 

So i have never used a high start. I guess I am not sure as to how to set it up and why the parachute is on them. and someone exlane the concept please?

RE: dumb question
 

The parachute allows the line to drift with the wind on release of the lane so it lays back out in the right direction. It saves you from ending up with a big pile of line that could easily become tangled up. One of the better ideas that people came up with in my opinion.

Jeff

RE: dumb question
 

You always want launch into the wind so find a place long enough to lay out and stretch out the high start and stake the peg and the loop on the end of the rubber tubing part as far up wind as you can get it.

Hook the ring on the parachute up to your tow hook and start walking down wind.

When its nice and tight point the nose up 45 degrees and let go. Use the rudder to keep it straight, as the tubing shrinks and pulls it will act like your running with a kite string and the airplane will go up (in a hurry). Keep flyling straight at the stake until you're over it and the parachute should slip right off and lay the line down back into the wind. You may have to dip the nose then pull up a bit if its stuborn but it should just slip off.

I highly advise you find someone that knows what they are doing to help you the first time so you get a feel for how long to stretch the line. Also a helper on your first few launches to launch the plane while you concentrate on flying it is always a good idea.

Its pretty easy once you get an idea how much tension you need, not enough usually isn't a big deal if you recognize it fast and don't try to climb too steep and stall. Too much and you could break the line or fold the wings of your glider depending on it's design but it general you should be able to hold it against the tension without feeling like its going to pull you and the glider across the field.

Dont yank and bank the rudder, the plane will by flying very fast, very quickly, it will make that huge rudder a lot more sensitive than it will be during normal flight.

RE: dumb question
 

If you are a fisherman and have a digital hand held scale you can use that to measure the tension on the line too. Usual pull is aprox 3-4X the weight of the plane being launched. Once you know how far you have to stretch the highstart out to get a certain amount of pull you shouyldn't have to weigh the tension every time.

Also remember to keep everyone behind you when launching for safety reasons. Lines have been known to slip off or break and stakes pull out of the ground. Always... SAFETY FIRST.

BTW... The only "Dumb Question" is the one you didn't ask!

Jeff

RE: dumb question
 

Thanks everone I thought that was what it was for. I have never used a high start I always used a power pod and baby bee engine in the past so this should be fun!

RE: dumb question
 

some gliders should not be ROG'd :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64F3KCV0YNM

RE: dumb question
 

Learning to use a hi-start
http://forums.flyesl.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=216

RE: dumb question
 

Hey thats good stuff. After a while you just do it by feel but after his first post I wondered about a way to quantify it.

RE: dumb question
 

All these sites are fantastic! I finished a Mystery ship last year and just don't have the **** to fly it so I am going with the cilarus first and move up from that! Thanks everyone