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...is Innovation
spelled with Capital I. The background for the whole endeavour is the
well-known fact that there's rarely anyone in the tow paddock on the days when
YOU have time to fly, and the weather looks good. Previous quick-fixes have
involved trying to make remote controlling of the stationary winch system
operational. This is an option, but a rather risky one; what happens if the
remote control system goes on strike with the throttle on full? So with
technology available to make the winch small and light enough that you won't
mind carrying it with you on your XC flights there was no reason not to move
the logical way - and the extra benefit is that should you land out somewhere
winch-able you can always just have another go! 
One
of the early Skynch prototypes
Using the Skynch
Being so light and portable, setting up your Skynch to go XC flying is
really easy. Either place it on the ground at the leeward end of your towing
paddock and walk the line out, or drive to the windward end, fix the end of
the line and drive slowly back, unreeling the line along the way. Hook
the Skynch into the normal main 'biners of your harness, accelerate and go.
Once you have reached max altitude the line autoreleases from the fixation and
you reel it in. This can be done whilst searching for the first thermal. If
you need to leave your line release system behind it is super simple and costs
only a few bucks, so you don't have to come back. Two or three extra releases
in your pocket and true Vol Biv in the flatlands is within your reach! All you
need is a fence post, a tree or a friends' trailer hook! |
