Phoenix LSA / motorglider / towplane question

[Tom K (TK)]

This is an attractive aircraft with a lot of room. It also says it can be used as a tow plane ?!?!

Does anyone have any experience with it as a tow plane?

[150flivver]

On Thursday, February 20, 2014 7:55:02 AM UTC-6, Tom (2NO) wrote:
> This is an attractive aircraft with a lot of room. It also says it can be used as a tow plane ?!?!
>
>
>
> Does anyone have any experience with it as a tow plane?

We used to have a Lambada that is like an earlier version of the Phoenix, I believe. It was only adequate for towing ultralights and very light gliders such as our PW-5. Visibility towards the rear was very limited.

[[email protected]]

On Thursday, February 20, 2014 8:55:02 AM UTC-5, Tom (2NO) wrote:
> This is an attractive aircraft with a lot of room. It also says it can be used as a tow plane ?!?!
>
>
>
> Does anyone have any experience with it as a tow plane?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go8cB8ZxUUI

[Tom (2NO)]

Looks like better climb rate than our Super Cub. :)

[Mike the Strike]

I witnessed launches using the 100-HP Samba (cousin to the Lambada) at the 2000 Worlds in South Africa. As I recall, they restricted it to 15-m ships.. With heavy ships at high density-altitude, acceleration and the take-off run appeared long. Climb rates were a bit lower than with more powerful tugs, as you would expect, but seemed to be satisfactory.

This class of aircraft should work fine as a tug at sea level with light gliders, but might be under-powered for launching ballasted ships or two-seaters at higher density-altitudes.

Let the experiment be done!

Mike