ON LAUNCHING

My comments point to the idea that there is a hierarchy of importance during the launch process;

1)where we look

2)out posture/ what we do with our bodies

3)what we do with our hands

-While it is always important to check the glider visually) before launching, pilots often benefit from looking out and into the air once they have completed said check and have decided to take off.

-By looking ahead, down the launch or at the horizon, an aggressive launch posture can be attained more easily. An aggressive launch posture is characterized by having the pilots head in front of the risers with the pilots weight on the waist strap. (some pilots have never attained this posture and may benefit from trying it in a simulator).

-most aborted launches take place while a pilot is a)looking at the glider and/ or b)standing upright(weight on his/her feet<not in the glider>)  

Marc Chirico coined the command "TORPEDO" which has come to mean that the student should attain the posture shown here...

Thanks to Marc for the use of this image...

I argue that the "TORPEDO" is the cure all for launch problems... I

 Examples:

glider off to the side  -throwing your weight forward will move you under the glider naturally

tip deflation                -weighting the glider will fix the deflation faster than using brake will

glider hanging back     -weighting the glider and moving forward deliberately will help it up

 Clearly, a check for tangles, sticks etc. must be made for committing to do the TORPEDO

On launch, when shouting commands, I find it valuable to watch 1)were people are looking 2)what they are doing in terms of posture 3)their hands. Likewise, I coach them in that order 1) look ahead 2)chest forward 3)hands up and back. Or whatever...  

Don't be suprised to hear "TORPEDO" being screamed on launches throughout the country. The command makes perfect sense to students once they have seen this image. 

  -Chris

Chirico's Notes on the Forward launching and the TORPEDO

Torpedo Launch 

(Forward Solo Launch)

- Glider & harness is preflighted and ready 

                                                                                                                                                                      (I prefer an inflation to visually verify that the suspension lines are clean, wall built, wing in half moon layout, center of wing is up stronger than tips, tips are symmetrical & weaker than center... :~)

                                        Ready to go...

- Eyes focused on the horizon with target point out front
- Light & equal tension on front risers (left & right)... pilot centered
- Pilot steps forward and as wing resistance sets in... pilot leans weight
over and onto waist strap.  Arms weakly sweep back with relaxed grip on rapid
links.   Pilot assesses the upward rotation rate of the wing through feedback
from the hand position as well as from the harness carabineers.

The moment the pilot has determined that the wing has the ENERGY to finish
the rotation overhead into a flying angle attack, the pilot releases the
risers, assumes the "Torpedo" body posture and runs with ever lengthening
strides... possibly dropping his body weight between strides to further load
and propel the wing with greater authority.

Light brake pressure can be "thoughtfully" applied to slightly raise the
angle of attack... slowing the pace from headlong hurl to a more graceful,
ballet-like, earth-to-air transition.

                            Essential Torpedo posturing points:

 When arms are swept fairly straight back, the palms should face (ideally)
inward toward one's back... up, or down.  This hand posturing inspires the
body to lean forward on the waste strap and the pilot surfs his weight on the
resistance of the wing.  As the wing moves forward, the pilot naturally
senses it and strides appropriately... keeping all in happy alignment.  Pilot
and wing are bound together with excellent loading. The pilot has excellent
glider awareness and natural striding that occurs as the glider moves forward.

*****
-Note to expand:                                                                                                                        Backing up with glider a few steps (in stronger conditions)
then move forward.
Regulate the rotation pressure: Not too much... not to little.
Play the waist strap,  loading like a bass on a fishing line.

*****

One of the leading causes of blown launches is the wing that over flies the
pilot.

A common contributing problem to this is arms crooked forward ... palms
facing forward... often with the hands out in front of the risers... running
in a kind-O-open boxer stance. The pilots assumes a more upright stance and
applies his weight to the ground... rather than to the glider.  In this
scenario, the wing can surge past the pilot without the pilot's knowledge.  
After successive type failures, the pilot aggravates the problem by looking
up at the wing even more intently (to see where it is)... runs yet more
upright... placing all his weight on the ground... none to very little on the
waist strap... 

-Marc Chirico