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From: lmiller@ucla-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Never Turn Back (nf)
Message-ID: <1529@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 8-Oct-84 12:31:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucla-cs.1529
Posted: Mon Oct  8 12:31:58 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 10-Oct-84 04:47:01 EDT
References: <455@hogpc.UUCP>
Organization: UCLA CS Dept.
Lines: 17


A number of years ago in a 1-26 at El Mirage, in the California desert, I
also experienced a low altitude release due to turbulence.  At about 400',
just after making a turn to cross wind, the rope released.  It was very
bumpy, with a stiff headwind.  Turning back to the runway I now had a tail
wind, and was perfectly lined up with the runway.  But, surprise!, there
was no way I was going to make it back to the airport!  Fortunately, there's
a dirt road that extends out from the runway, and I landed, uneventfully, on
that.  The tow plane also landed on the road, verified that all was o.k.,
and radioed for a trailer.  Shortly we were back on the airport, with the
glider taken apart and driven in.

The moral, if there is one, is that even turning back to the runway doesn't
guarantee an on-airport landing.

L. Miller
UCLA Computer Science Dept.