## Launch and Recovery Procedures and Flight Maneuvers Chapter 7 

## Introduction 

In the early days of soaring, gliders were launched from the top of a hill into the wind by means of bungee cord, a stretchable cord made of rubber bands. The tail of the glider was held back or tied down, and the bungee was attached at its midpoint to a hook on the nose of the glider. Then, a group of people took each end and, when the signals were given, they walked, then ran with the bungee as hard as they could. When the tension became quite high, the tail tie-down was severed, or released, and the glider shot ahead as though it had been launched from a slingshot. 

