Dear visitor,
Welcome to the website of HYDROWINCH LLC. We are a manufacturer of high tech glider launch winches. It is our goal to build and market the most cost effective, robust and safe glider winch in the industry to promote and grow the sport of soaring worldwide.
On this website you can find information about our products and services.
Club Series Operational
July 10th,2009: Hydrowinch LLC has completed the commissiong phase of the Club Series gliderwinch and released the prototype for operation. The launch tests were performed in cooperation with the Civil Air Patrol and the Soaring Society of Boulder at Meadow Lake Airfield. The winch was tested with varioussettings for acceleration and tension control under different weatherconditions. The test program included emergency stops, simulated pilot and winch driver errors, simulated rope breaks, cross wind, tail wind and many others.
The winch impressed test pilots and bystanders with its smooth and powerful acceleration. The pilots were ecstatic about the release height, averaging 50% of the rope length. Training of new winch drivers proved very easy, all winch drivers were let solo after just four launches. Click here to watch the videos
Successful first launch
August 4,2008: LAUNCH DAY.....The Hydrowinch team gathers at Meadow Lake Airport (CO) for test launching the new Club Series glider winch. The circumstances are tough: Temperature 94°F and a Field Elevation 6900 ft.
Going through the final system checks: All lights turn green, we are ready to launch!!! On the start grid of the runway a DG-505 is pushed into position, the pilots take their seats. "Winch, DG-505; take up slack, take up slack." The throttle is pushed forward and the winch starts taking slack, seconds later the glider rolls slowly over the asphalt. "Winch, DG-505, GO! GO! GO!". The winch comes to life when the throttle is pushed into the acceleration position. The glider takes off, gently rotating into the sky. The first launch of the Club Series is a fact.
Our test pilot quotes: "The acceleration was the smoothest and strongest that I have ever experienced. The winch responded instantly to every effort I made to control airspeed."
During the following days more test launches are made to tune the parameters of CALC, our Computer Aided Launch Control system. After six launches CALC was ready to launch the glider without manual intervention. As expected the engine and hydraulics proved their sublime performance. The drums revealed a minor point of improvement but we validated the design capacity to hold 8000 ft of rope. In fact, we found there's enough room for an additional 2000 ft to enable launch heights exceeding 5000 ft. This indicates that Hydrowinch LLC is on the right track to reach the very top of all advanced winches: Achieving the goal of the "world's most advanced winch".
Thanks to all the people who helped and supported us, in particular the Soaring Society of Boulder, High Flights Glider Club, Meadow Lake Airport and Berendsen Fluid Power for their expertise and ability to get things done, thanks Pat.
About hydraulic power
Hydrowinch LLC is the first glider winch manufacturer to use hydrostatic power. Read more about the advantages of hydrostatic power compared to conventional drives.
Club Series Introduction
Hydrowinch LLC introduces the Club Series, a new line of compact and economic glider winches based on the proven technology of the HYDROSTART high-end Modular Series winch. The Club Series will be available with one or two drums.
Years of development and testing have enabled us to deliver top performance and safety. The performance of the HYDROWINCH concept is unique in the world. An intelligent control system regulates the speed and forces on the cable and constantly monitors the systems critical functions.
The Club Series winches are ideal for conversion from aerotow because no winch driver experience is required. No other winch can achieve similar launch heights without compromising safety.
Hydrowinch LLC introduces the Club Series, a new line of compact and economic glider winches based on the proven technology of the