Here are some photos of the original Maupin release (which requires a lot of effort to open under the high, 120 - 130Kg load/strain of the bungee cords)
...and my new Schweizer style aft release.
Both release mechanisms are fabricated out of 6mm thick aluminium plate, mounted between two short sections of 3mm thick aluminium angle.
I only finished knocking up the new release last night and need to load test it properly in the pilot pod under the full load of the bungees (that'll be next week, after I get back from the bank holiday weekend trip to
Achill Island
, in the west of Ireland, for a spot of hang gliding!), but initial tests with the release mounted in my bench vice and putting as much load as I could on it with a tow-ring and rope suggest it will be much easier to activate/release than the original Maupin type release. I'll post my results later.
It should be noted that I have the aft release mounted just aft of the main wheel box/lower bulkhead using a couple of 6mm ring bolts. The ring ends of the ring bolts are inside the wheel box, either side of the wheel. I then run a pair of steel cables from the ring forward (under the pilot's bum) to two bolts, either side of the original tow release, mounted in the foot-plate. These cables transfer the tensile load from the release through to a known 'hard point' on the pilot pod structure. Without them, it is likely that the pilot pod framework would be damaged or torn apart! Again, I'll post photos when I have it all reassembled again.
Phil.