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The Winch Launch-Point
The winch is the main launch regime at Portmoak and on a good soaring day the winch launch-point is often the centre of intense activity with a queue of gliders waiting to get airborne. As many as about 16 gliders per hour can be launched depending on the weather and how on-the-ball the duty pilot is. The main control point is known as either 'Portmoak base' or 'Portmoak launch-point' and is a custom-built caravan*. (It needs to be mobile of course because the positions of the winch and the launch-point are set depending on the wind to get as much of an into-wind component as possible for the launch).
The caravan is fitted with 2 sets of radio equipment. At
Portmoak most glider communications whether air-ground, air-air or ground-ground
is on 129.975MHz and a listening watch is kept on 130.1MHz. The caravan also has
a signalling light system which is the main means of communicating with the
winch during a launch. (Do you know
how to use it?) This
makes more sense than using radio because apart from not being subject to
interference, it is easily understood by the winch driver even whilst the winch
engine is running full out.
the caravan
with instructor Ian Trotter in control |
the caravan
and green towtruck |
the caravan |
the caravan |
the caravan |
The caravan also contains a first-aid kit and a variety of equipment, cushions, seatbacks etc. for the club gliders. It can seat about 8 people plus the launch controller (a good deal more when it's raining!).
As a special favour to the
director responsible
for the mechanical stuff, please remember to raise the caravan legs before
attempting to tow it around. Failing to do this causes its (and maybe your) legs
to get torn off . Also before towing it off the field please check that articles
such as tail dollies and bicycles are not scattered close by. The caravan is
heavy and has recently won its latest bout with an unarmed bicycle. When not in
use the caravan lives in the glider hanger - either side depending on which has
most space. Remember to put the batteries on charge before locking up:
Park the caravan facing North (that's into the hanger).
Switch off the master switch on the panel at the front.
Plug in the charger (to the socket at the back of the caravan) and make
sure it's switched on.
* The launch-point caravan was custom-built for the Scottish Gliding Centre by Kay Trailers, 27 Stirling Road, Milnathort, Kinross, who specialise in built-to-order agricultural and industrial trailers and towing equipment. Simple in appearance it has proved to be a rugged, weatherproof and capable piece of equipment well able to withstand its everyday year-round use.
| page last updated on 1st
August 2003 ©2002-2003 and the |
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