Article in Soaring magazine on making an aerotow rope

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

I'm trying to find a somewhat recent article in Soaring magazine that had
instructions for making a towrope - how to attach the ring to the end of the
rope.

The good news is that the SSA web site's Soaring magazine search function is
working again. The bad news is that I can't seem to find the article.

Does anyone have any suggestions or know where I can find that article.

Likewise, do any soaring clubs have instructions for how to make a towrope.

I'm looking for resources to put onto my web site for customers that
purchase towrope and towrings from me.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

[Ventus_a]

Hi,

I'm trying to find a somewhat recent article in Soaring magazine that had
instructions for making a towrope - how to attach the ring to the end of the
rope.

The good news is that the SSA web site's Soaring magazine search function is
working again. The bad news is that I can't seem to find the article.

Does anyone have any suggestions or know where I can find that article.

Likewise, do any soaring clubs have instructions for how to make a towrope.

I'm looking for resources to put onto my web site for customers that
purchase towrope and towrings from me.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

Hi Paul

Can't help you with that article but I do have a link to an AC on aerotow ropes as used in New Zealand where I fly. I hope it is of some use to you and others

:-) Colin

http://www.gliding.co.nz/sites/gliding.co.nz/images/downloads/MOAP/Advisory%20Circulars/AC3-02v5.pdf

[Chris Nicholas[_2_]]

Paul, in the UK most clubs seem to attach the rings by an eye spice, if it is a 3-strand conventional rope, with or without a weak link too depending upon the rope strength.

If not, specialist methods must be used.

You might find it helpful to look at page 22 of:


https://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/clubmanagement/documents/aerotownotes.pdf


Regards - Chris

[Tony[_5_]]

I think you're looking for March 2011, Page 30. You might also be interested in Tony Way's letter in May 2011 about the Water Knot shown in the article.

[JohnDeRosa]

On Apr 23, 4:13*pm, Tony > wrote:
> I think you're looking for March 2011, Page 30. You might also be interested in Tony Way's letter in May 2011 about the Water Knot shown in the article.

This how-to article can be found on the SSA web site (if you are an
SSA member) in the Soaring Magazine archive.
http://www.ssa.org/Archive/ViewIssue.aspx?year=2011&month=03, page 30.

This article was written by the official "rope-dude" at our club. I
did re-read the comments about the Water Knot in the May 2011 issue
(page 7). Our experience is having had no issues with these coming
apart using the water knot over the multiple years they have been in
use. The difference *MAY* be that we use the water knot on wider 1"
flat nylon "tubular" webbing rather than the 9/16" used in the test
article mentioned. I also believe that Greg read that testing review
and did lengthen the loose ends as mentioned.

My $0.02.

- John

[JohnDeRosa]

One other comment. I do remember another article in Soaring about
making tow ropes. I can visualize the pictures in the article; he
used a hand made copper fid, puts the tow rope through some black
tubing, and used electrical tape at the business end. But I cannot
find the article in the archives. I searched for "tow rope" without
luck. I think the search engine may be not quite right because
putting in "water knot" got zero hits. Hmmmm.

[Chuck Coyne]

At 15:50 24 April 2013, JohnDeRosa wrote:
>One other comment. I do remember another article in Soaring about
>making tow ropes. I can visualize the pictures in the article; he
>used a hand made copper fid, puts the tow rope through some black
>tubing, and used electrical tape at the business end. But I cannot
>find the article in the archives. I searched for "tow rope" without
>luck. I think the search engine may be not quite right because
>putting in "water knot" got zero hits. Hmmmm.
>

Soaring Magazine, March 2011, page 30. Tough Tow Ropes: Simple solution for
towrope ends that last. By Greg Palmer
Chuck Coyne

[svelusive]

On Monday, April 22, 2013 9:04:19 PM UTC-7, Paul Remde wrote:
> Hi,
>
>
>
> I'm trying to find a somewhat recent article in Soaring magazine that had
>
> instructions for making a towrope - how to attach the ring to the end of the
>
> rope.
>
>
>
> The good news is that the SSA web site's Soaring magazine search function is
>
> working again. The bad news is that I can't seem to find the article.
>
>
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions or know where I can find that article.
>
>
>
> Likewise, do any soaring clubs have instructions for how to make a towrope.
>
>
>
> I'm looking for resources to put onto my web site for customers that
>
> purchase towrope and towrings from me.
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
>
> Paul Remde
>
> Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

Hey Paul,

The article you want is in the July 2010 issue, page 39.

Regards,
Steve

[Chuck Coyne]

At 15:50 24 April 2013, JohnDeRosa wrote:
>One other comment. I do remember another article in Soaring about
>making tow ropes. I can visualize the pictures in the article; he
>used a hand made copper fid, puts the tow rope through some black
>tubing, and used electrical tape at the business end. But I cannot
>find the article in the archives. I searched for "tow rope" without
>luck. I think the search engine may be not quite right because
>putting in "water knot" got zero hits. Hmmmm.
>

Soaring Magazine, March 2011, page 30. Tough Tow Ropes: Simple solution for
towrope ends that last. By Greg Palmer
Chuck Coyne

[glidergreg]

On Monday, April 22, 2013 11:04:19 PM UTC-5, Paul Remde wrote:
> Hi,
>
>
>
> I'm trying to find a somewhat recent article in Soaring magazine that had
>
> instructions for making a towrope - how to attach the ring to the end of the
>
> rope.
>
>
>
> The good news is that the SSA web site's Soaring magazine search function is
>
> working again. The bad news is that I can't seem to find the article.
>
>
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions or know where I can find that article.
>
>
>
> Likewise, do any soaring clubs have instructions for how to make a towrope.
>
>
>
> I'm looking for resources to put onto my web site for customers that
>
> purchase towrope and towrings from me.
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
>
> Paul Remde
>
> Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

Paul you can either link to my article from the SSA site or if you wish I can send you my original text and photos. One note, although this webbing method is great for turf fields it does not work well with paved runways as the surface is too abrasive on the nylon webbing material. As John DeRosa noted the water knot has not failed or become lose in our operation over several years as was a concern of someone in the reader comments following the article. As required for use of any tow rope, frequent inspections would detect any potential issues.

Greg Palmer