The vast majority of hang gliding aerotows are conducted using a barrel release yet it is rumoured that hang gliding associations around the world (the BHPA are said to be one of these) do not approve of them. The concern is that barrel releases do not meet the requirement that they must operate when there is no tension on the tow line. The exact wording from the BHPA Technical Manual states: "The release must operate and release the line under conditions of zero line tension, so if for example a speed oscillation has developed the glider pilot can drop the line before the next surge". (BHPA_Tech_Manual_20.pdf)
I set out for Cambridge Aerotow Club, based at Sutton Meadows, to test whether my modern barrel release meets the BHPA release requirement. The reason for this test is that pilot equipment and procedures for the 2022 Great British Aerotow Revival must follow the BHPA Technical Manual and most aerotow pilots in the UK and around the world use barrel releases. I always fly with two barrel releases (as it still allows you to release in case of a snag) the one I am testing is actually my back up, my usual main barrel release is the push/pull bungee type that was made by Mark Dowsett (www.instinct.pro).
Please note that this isn't an endorsement of all barrel releases, just a demonstration that my back up barrel release operates in accordance with the paragraph outlined above. This was was taken from the current version of the BHPA Technical Manual at the time. This document is updated regularly so I take no responsibility for this information being up to date and this is in no way a blanket endorsement of barrel releases as such. Barrel releases, like all releases, have good and bad attributes. If someone can develop a perfect release that has no vices then I would be happy to test it out.
The money shots!
0:00 Start
3:39 Full speed first release - on tow
4:06 Slow motion release - on tow
5:54 Zero line tension demo - at home
The release I used in this video is available here:
ozreport.com/bridlescables.php
Other resources for different releases (message me if you want to be added):
getoffrelease.com/
www.avianonline.co.uk/aerotow-...
shop.finsterwalder-charly.de/...
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