A few weeks ago, the Clavileño Club (the gliding club that operates at the La Mancha aerodrome —between the town of Don Fadrique and Quero—) sent all the members of the “Club de Vol a Vela Igualada-Òdena” an invitation to take a winch-launch course.
At first there were 5 members interested in getting to know this type of launch, so little known in Spain but completely widespread in other countries such as those of central Europe.
For various reasons, in the end 3 of us were the first representatives of our Club to attend the course: Antonio Marcos, Ignacio García Colomo and Domènec Toquero.
The course, of obvious simplicity, consists of an initial briefing (about an hour) on the first day, in which all the general aspects of winch launching are explained in detail (history, evolution, advantages and disadvantages compared with other types of launch, cost comparison, etc.), technical knowledge about the winch itself (types of winch, mounts, power ratings, cables, parachutes, weak links, etc.), and all the procedures (preparing the equipment —cable, parachute, weak link—, pre-flight checks, radio calls, circuit procedures, etc.).
And then, to fly….
There are 10 flights in all. The first flight is the only one the instructor flies, so the student can take in everything he has heard and what he will have to do.
From the second flight to the eighth, it is now we who do everything: checks, radio procedures, launch order, launch, initial climb, climb-out, release, flight, circuit and landing.
On the ninth flight an emergency is simulated: cable break, loss of winch power…
Although there were 3 of us, we had 4 emergency incidents. One real and 3 pre-planned simulated ones. You come out of all of them quite easily. We don’t come away with the feeling that winch launching is something dangerous. On the contrary, it is safe —as long as the rules are followed— but at the same time very exciting.
The tenth flight is flown with the examiner (in this case, the Clavileño’s Chief Flying Instructor). The flight in which you have complete freedom to do whatever you like.
It is clear that those of us who attended had certain expectations. More than met, they were far exceeded. We all came back with the feeling that it will not be the last time.
I would like to mention the welcome from the Clavileño Club, their kindness, the friendly treatment that made us feel at home. So, thank you to Àngel, Alberto senior and Alberto junior, Pablo, Esteban, Fernando, etc. We hope to see you again.
Finally, I encourage the other members of our Club to find a moment, whenever they can, to try the experience of winch launching. You won’t regret it.
Domènec
