On Jun 25, 8:07=A0pm, Gary Emerson <emerson_g...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> How many more of those we need till we conclude that the rudder
>
> > waggle does NOT work?
>
> I think this is a reasonably valid point. =A0There HAVE been a number of
> people who have misunderstood this signal.
>
> Perhaps something else would be better. =A0The question is what signal
> would be a good replacement. =A0You could have fla****ng lights on the
> towplane, perhaps mounted just above the towhitch. =A0The only thing is
> you'd probably have to install two lights. =A0Say one yellow and one
red.
>
> Yellow means you've got a problem, but if you can get it fixed pretty
> quick we'll keep going. =A0Red means get off now or I'm gonna dump you.
>
> If you don't have two signals, I'd bet that we'd still have people
> releasing when they didn't have to.
>
> As I think about it, it might be best if there was a single array of
> high output LEDs. =A0When both "colors" of the array are "on" then you
> have a single visible color that means "ok" (red and blue make green in
> concept, but in emitted light that combination doesn't work). =A0That
way
> the glider pilot can verify at the start that both signals "work" and
> they stay "on" for the duration of the tow. =A0If either the "warning"
or
> "get off" switches are selected in the cockpit then only the
> corresponding "color" is then visible to the glider pilot. =A0Perhaps
with=
> the "warning" being a steady signal and "get off" being a rapid flash to
> help with fast recognition and a sense of urgency.
>
> Other thoughts?
I don't know....
Our club drillsit in to us about the signals, has safety meetings
every year, and it just so happens I was behind the tow plane in a
2-22 several years ago when the Pawnee had an engine failure. We were
at 1800' AGL but I recognized the signal to release and did so... All
turned out OK. In that instance there was not a lot of time for radio-
comm, though I always listen to traffic while on tow and while in the
pattern.
I think learning the signals AND using radios offer the best way to
fly safe.
Pete Gaveras
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