Glider Winch Launching with boom cable retrieves

[maevalice1]

What sort horsepower is needed to launch , say a blanik.? How is the cable tension controlled? Is it automatic or does the winch driver and pilot work together? I remember being launched by a Ford Farlane pulling a single filament steel cable around a pulley at the end of the runway. There were frequent wire breaks especially at the early part of the climb out, probably caused by excessive tension induced by the driver and pilot both trying to control the wire tension.

[Fnordicus]

der lepo bremst aber sehr zügig ab. wie verhindert ihr da schlaufen? haben auch eine tost (sieht fast baugleich aus). die trommeln laufen sehr leicht (nach).

[cirrusflyboy]

@Fnordicus @Fnordicus

If I understand your question, which I won't attempt to answer in German, we prevent loops from forming by using parachutes winding in the cable and applying a small amount of brake for the cable tow out. The retrieve vehicle travels at about 40kph (25mph) and slows down very gradually when it reaches the launch point by just lifting off the throttle and allowing the cable drag and winch brakes to bring it to a halt.