What glider types can be retrofitted with a 'nose' tow hook? Whatglider types cannot?

[son_of_flubber]

I got a quote from Blanik America in June of 2012 of $1800 for a factory authorized complete kit-of-parts to add a nose hook to an L33.

I did not get a quote for installation labor. The L33 is a metal glider and perhaps that would make the installation less labor intensive. Does anyone know the labor cost for adding the nose hook to the L33 (to complete the picture)?

The L33 glider in question had about 200 hours on it and the price was in the low 20Ks. I would have spent the money on the nose hook if I had gone forward with the purchase, but I found a better 'first glider' that also happened to have a nose hook. The lack of the L33 nose hook was the only reason that I delayed the purchase until something better came along. At the time I was infatuated with the L33 and the money was 'burning a hole in my pocket'.

[Eric Greenwell[_4_]]

son_of_flubber wrote, On 2/23/2014 9:05 AM:
> I got a quote from Blanik America in June of 2012 of $1800 for a
> factory authorized complete kit-of-parts to add a nose hook to an
> L33.
>
> I did not get a quote for installation labor. The L33 is a metal
> glider and perhaps that would make the installation less labor
> intensive. Does anyone know the labor cost for adding the nose hook
> to the L33 (to complete the picture)?
>
> The L33 glider in question had about 200 hours on it and the price
> was in the low 20Ks. I would have spent the money on the nose hook
> if I had gone forward with the purchase, but I found a better 'first
> glider' that also happened to have a nose hook. The lack of the L33
> nose hook was the only reason that I delayed the purchase until
> something better came along. At the time I was infatuated with the
> L33 and the money was 'burning a hole in my pocket'.

I had my ASW 20 C retrofitted with a nose hook (better described as
"forward" hook) about 25 years ago. I assume that can still be done, and
also for the ASW 20 B. It was a very worthwhile change, I thought.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

[JS]

That's easy to find out.
Go to your manufacturer's website. Examples:
http://www.alexander-schleicher.de/tm/tm_main.htm
http://schempp-hirth.com/index.php?id=30&L=1
Look up the Technical Notes for your glider.
Scroll down until you find "fitting a nose hook" or similar title.
Download.
Contact the manufacturer or rep. Buy the parts for the TN.
Contact a repair station. Install.
Or like most of us, don't. I refused the nose hook when registering what is now Steve's Nimbus 3 in Australia. And used level tow.
But it's good to have two releases.
Yesterday my nose hook failed on launch. The second (successful) launch was on the CG hook, of course in level tow. Other than the lack of failure, couldn't tell the difference.
Jim

[Dave Nadler]

On Sunday, February 23, 2014 2:50:54 PM UTC-5, JS wrote:
> Yesterday my nose hook failed on launch. The second (successful)
> launch was on the CG hook, of course in level tow. Other than
> the lack of failure, couldn't tell the difference.
>
> Jim

Yikes! What was the failure Jim?
Sorry I'm not down there with you guys,
Best Regards, Dave

[JS]

Like most incidents, the failure was due to a combination of things.
> The nose release doesn't close 100%, need to investigate.
> That Tost ring was worn a bit thin so now retired.
Jim

On Sunday, February 23, 2014 12:02:07 PM UTC-8, Dave Nadler wrote:
>
> Yikes! What was the failure Jim?
> Sorry I'm not down there with you guys,
> Best Regards, Dave

[Dan Marotta]

What is a "level tow"? Is that somewhere between low and high tow?

Enquiring minds and all...


"JS" > wrote in message
...
> Like most incidents, the failure was due to a combination of things.
>> The nose release doesn't close 100%, need to investigate.
>> That Tost ring was worn a bit thin so now retired.
> Jim
>
> On Sunday, February 23, 2014 12:02:07 PM UTC-8, Dave Nadler wrote:
>>
>> Yikes! What was the failure Jim?
>> Sorry I'm not down there with you guys,
>> Best Regards, Dave
>

[JS]

Level tow is level with the towplane. It's the current terminology where I fly in Australia, and I think describes the glider's position better than high tow.
Jim

On Monday, February 24, 2014 10:17:04 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
> What is a "level tow"? Is that somewhere between low and high tow?
>
> Enquiring minds and all...

[John Carlyle]

As Dan said, the terminology gets confusing. I'd always been taught that "high tow" was above the wake, while "low tow" was below the wake. I only use "low tow" during aero-retrieves, as my LS8 tends to overtake the tow plane if I'm above the wake once the tow pilot starts his cruise.

"Level tow" would be what I usually use, eg, I'm just above the wake with the horizontal stabilizer of the Pawnee lined up with its wing during the climb.

Does "level tow" as you defined its use in Australia occur below the wake? If so, I don't see how the glider could be level with the tow plane.

-John, Q3

On Tuesday, February 25, 2014 12:33:21 PM UTC-5, JS wrote:
> Level tow is level with the towplane. It's the current terminology where I fly in Australia, and I think describes the glider's position better than high tow.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> On Monday, February 24, 2014 10:17:04 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
>
> > What is a "level tow"? Is that somewhere between low and high tow?
>
> >
>
> > Enquiring minds and all...

[Bob Kuykendall]

On Sunday, February 23, 2014 1:31:01 PM UTC-8, JS wrote:

> ...The nose release doesn't close 100%, need to investigate...

Can you please report back when you find out what the specific failure was? In my experience, the most likely cause is the spring being broken on one side, but not the other. In that condition, the hook appears to operate normally, but there is not enough spring pressure to hold the hook all the way closed.

Thanks, Bob K.

[JS]

Q3
Level tow = high tow, just above the wake, not just below it.
Jim

[John Carlyle]

Thanks, Jim. Interesting, I didn't realize the Aussies would let anyone tow above the wake. That will make it easier if I ever get down there again...

-John, Q3


On Tuesday, February 25, 2014 1:17:18 PM UTC-5, JS wrote:
> Q3
>
> Level tow = high tow, just above the wake, not just below it.
>
> Jim

[Don Johnstone[_4_]]

At 18:33 25 February 2014, John Carlyle wrote:
>Thanks, Jim. Interesting, I didn't realize the Aussies would let anyone
tow
>above the wake. That will make it easier if I ever get down there
again...
>
>-John, Q3
>
>
>On Tuesday, February 25, 2014 1:17:18 PM UTC-5, JS wrote:
>> Q3
>>
>> Level tow = high tow, just above the wake, not just below it.
>>
>> Jim
>
I don't know about others but I have always been taught/teach that high tow
is the position above and just clear of the turbulence caused by the tug
slipstream. Low tow is just below it. The position should be so that the
glider is just clear of the slipstream, any higher/lower is out of
position. There are terms to describe only two tow positions not three.