Winching Days Of Old

[Ernie Buenafe]

I took these pictures when a national F3B contest was held at the sod farm in Moriarty. It was quite some time ago. I was using a 35mm film camera for these shots.I just digitized them from their color negatives I found using an old film scanner I still have.

Photo 1 - This is the proper way to launch an F3B glider to maximize the full stretch available in the monofilament line used. It's a challenging technique to learn, but the results were worth it. I believe the person launching was from the Albuquerque club.

Photo 2 - Winches galore. The launch line. It should be noted no mechanical retrievers were in use.

[Rocky Stone]

Thanks for sharing these, Ernie

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[Richard Shagam]

When I put together my sport winch, I was pooh-poohing the idea that the electric sailplane motors of the day cost as much as my winch did at the time, They would never replace this launch method if only because of the price.  Fortunately the price of small e-motors have come way down, and LiPo batteries are now a cheaply available and potent power source.  I still have my winch sitting in a dusty corner of my garage, as well as a pile of gliders that will probably never be launched  from it again.  And my back still aches from the battery  and other peripheral equipment I had to haul around. 

No missing those bad ol' days...

Richard Shagam
Albuquerque, NM

RNSh...@rhizotech.net 

Check out astrophotos from my driveway at:

https://www.astrobin.com/users/rnshagam/

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ikg6pMLQpeH44gxc8

and Apr '24 solar eclipse pics at: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vAc234x6G2oAJ4oR8

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[Ernie Buenafe]

Richard, you can probably retrofit a motor in some of those gliders, in place of the winch.

[Richard Shagam]

Ernie, I've considered that, but they have the slip-on nose cone that was fashionable for the time.  Besides figuring out how to do a proper firewall, the servos would have to be moved.  Also, these gliders (Alcyone, Sapphire, and a few others) weigh approx 80 oz or more and are technologically obsolete--hardly fashionable in today's climate.  They'd do ok on the slope, if we ever make it back to Greens Peak, or if I decide to add to  the trash that might be littering the La Bajada cliff face.  

Richard Shagam
Albuquerque, NM

RNSh...@rhizotech.net 

Check out astrophotos from my driveway at:

https://www.astrobin.com/users/rnshagam/

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ikg6pMLQpeH44gxc8

and Apr '24 solar eclipse pics at: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vAc234x6G2oAJ4oR8

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/soarabq/797d24aa-6a80-420c-b7bb-c394a253fd00n%40googlegroups.com.

[Toby Herrera]

There’s a good chance I was there, shagging lines for the ABQ boys! Hope you all are well.

-Toby

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 6, 2026, at 5:19 PM, Richard Shagam <rnsh...@rhizotech.net> wrote:



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[Dan Tandberg]

I have converted several slip on nose cones to inrunner + gearbox.  It works fine.  Just a bit of extra fiddling.  Thank you for the picture, Ernie!

[Dennis]

Hope you are well also Toby.

On Feb 6, 2026, at 5:34 PM, 'Toby Herrera' via soarabq <soa...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

There’s a good chance I was there, shagging lines for the ABQ boys! Hope you all are well.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/soarabq/2E4D0353-B3F4-4C61-BE76-599DE66337EB%40yahoo.com.