Ultra Light Towing

[Randal Cullen]

I've been informed that Czech does no allow ultralight
tow planes. Are you aware if this is the case in any
other countries? We are currently considering a SAMBA
as a tow plane for our club in South Africa.

[Doug Taylor]

Randal Cullen > wrote in message >...
> I've been informed that Czech does no allow ultralight
> tow planes. Are you aware if this is the case in any
> other countries? We are currently considering a SAMBA
> as a tow plane for our club in South Africa.

In the United States, ultralight tow planes exist, but they are only
allowed to tow ultralight gliders and only if operated with a waiver.
The regulations define and ultralight glider as any glider with an
empty weight less than 155 pounds (70 kgs.) so it is mostly for hang
gliders but there are a number of other designs that meet the rule. I
have heard of cases where ultralight tugs have pulled much heavier
things (like an ASW 20) without much trouble (Don't know where that
happened so don't ask me ;)). It is certainly viable if your
regulations allow it.

[Martin Gregorie]

On 5 Feb 2004 21:49:40 -0800, (Doug Taylor)
wrote:

>Randal Cullen > wrote in message >...
>> I've been informed that Czech does no allow ultralight
>> tow planes. Are you aware if this is the case in any
>> other countries? We are currently considering a SAMBA
>> as a tow plane for our club in South Africa.
>
>In the United States, ultralight tow planes exist, but they are only
>allowed to tow ultralight gliders and only if operated with a waiver.
>The regulations define and ultralight glider as any glider with an
>empty weight less than 155 pounds (70 kgs.) so it is mostly for hang
>gliders but there are a number of other designs that meet the rule. I
>have heard of cases where ultralight tugs have pulled much heavier
>things (like an ASW 20) without much trouble (Don't know where that
>happened so don't ask me ;)). It is certainly viable if your
>regulations allow it.

They tow single seaters (ASK-23, ASW-24) at the Wasserkuppe with the
trike gear Sinus/Virus type of all composite UL. Sorry I don't know
the exact type: I just checked their web site but there is no
information on the tugs there. However, they use a Robin GR400 for
their ASK-21s

I had a launch in an ASK-23 there behind a UL. The climb rate seemed
OK - certainly no worse than you'd get from a 160 hp 4 bladed Rallye.

--
martin@ : Martin Gregorie
gregorie : Harlow, UK
demon :
co : Zappa fan & glider pilot
uk :

[Robert John]

I flew from the Wasserkuppe in a K-21 behind a 'Pellican'.
Not a pleasant experience. Downwind take-off from
their sloping runway. After a 180 degree turn we passed
the take off point looking UP at it! Their Robins,
on the other hand, are immaculate and get you up there.
Rob

At 10:54 06 February 2004, Martin Gregorie wrote:
>On 5 Feb 2004 21:49:40 -0800,
>(Doug Taylor)
>wrote:
>
>>Randal Cullen wrote in message news:...
>>> I've been informed that Czech does no allow ultralight
>>> tow planes. Are you aware if this is the case in any
>>> other countries? We are currently considering a SAMBA
>>> as a tow plane for our club in South Africa.
>>
>>In the United States, ultralight tow planes exist,
>>but they are only
>>allowed to tow ultralight gliders and only if operated
>>with a waiver.
>>The regulations define and ultralight glider as any
>>glider with an
>>empty weight less than 155 pounds (70 kgs.) so it is
>>mostly for hang
>>gliders but there are a number of other designs that
>>meet the rule. I
>>have heard of cases where ultralight tugs have pulled
>>much heavier
>>things (like an ASW 20) without much trouble (Don't
>>know where that
>>happened so don't ask me ;)). It is certainly viable
>>if your
>>regulations allow it.
>
>They tow single seaters (ASK-23, ASW-24) at the Wasserkuppe
>with the
>trike gear Sinus/Virus type of all composite UL. Sorry
>I don't know
>the exact type: I just checked their web site but there
>is no
>information on the tugs there. However, they use a
>Robin GR400 for
>their ASK-21s
>
>I had a launch in an ASK-23 there behind a UL. The
>climb rate seemed
>OK - certainly no worse than you'd get from a 160 hp
>4 bladed Rallye.
>
>--
>martin@ : Martin Gregorie
>gregorie : Harlow, UK
>demon :
>co : Zappa fan & glider pilot
>uk :
>
>

[Stefan]

Robert John wrote:

> I flew from the Wasserkuppe in a K-21 behind a 'Pellican'.
> Not a pleasant experience.

I've flown a Janus behind a G3-Mirage. It takes definitely longer to get
off the ground, but once airborne, the climb rate is nearly that of an
"ordinary" plane. The whole tow takes a bit longer, but due to the much
lower cost of the UL, it's still much cheaper.

I'd say it works fine from a paved runway or from a long grass runway.
Not recommended from short runways or with a tailwind, especially if the
rope break options are difficult or if there are obstacles at the end of
the runway.

Stefan

[Andreas Maurer]

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 20:57:58 +0100, Stefan >
wrote:


>I've flown a Janus behind a G3-Mirage. It takes definitely longer to get
> off the ground, but once airborne, the climb rate is nearly that of an
>"ordinary" plane. The whole tow takes a bit longer, but due to the much
>lower cost of the UL, it's still much cheaper.
>
>I'd say it works fine from a paved runway or from a long grass runway.
>Not recommended from short runways or with a tailwind, especially if the
>rope break options are difficult or if there are obstacles at the end of
>the runway.

I heard from a reliable source that aerotow tests with a single-seater
(iirc Ventus) behind an Impule 100 with a 100 hp Rotax 912S showed a
climb rate of more than 1.000 fpm... (!). This might be the first
ultralight that is a full replacement for a Remorqeur, even on
less-than-perfect conditions.

It helps significantly if the tow plane is aerodynamically clean.
The G3 Mirage and Mattin Wezel's Condor are NOT clean.



Bye
Andreas

[Bruce Greeff]

Andreas Maurer wrote:

> On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 20:57:58 +0100, Stefan >
> wrote:
>
>
>
>>I've flown a Janus behind a G3-Mirage. It takes definitely longer to get
>> off the ground, but once airborne, the climb rate is nearly that of an
>>"ordinary" plane. The whole tow takes a bit longer, but due to the much
>>lower cost of the UL, it's still much cheaper.
>>
>>I'd say it works fine from a paved runway or from a long grass runway.
>>Not recommended from short runways or with a tailwind, especially if the
>>rope break options are difficult or if there are obstacles at the end of
>>the runway.
>
>
> I heard from a reliable source that aerotow tests with a single-seater
> (iirc Ventus) behind an Impule 100 with a 100 hp Rotax 912S showed a
> climb rate of more than 1.000 fpm... (!). This might be the first
> ultralight that is a full replacement for a Remorqeur, even on
> less-than-perfect conditions.
>
> It helps significantly if the tow plane is aerodynamically clean.
> The G3 Mirage and Mattin Wezel's Condor are NOT clean.
>
>
>
> Bye
> Andreas
Where could we get more information on said Impule ultralight?

Bruce

[Andreas Maurer]

On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 11:34:31 +0200, Bruce Greeff >
wrote:

>Where could we get more information on said Impule ultralight?

www.impulse-aircraft.de

Bye
Andreas

[Wayne Paul]

"Bruce Greeff" > wrote in message
...

> Where could we get more information on said Impule ultralight?
>
> Bruce

A Google search for "Impule ultralight" yielded nothing: however, "Impulse
ultralight" provided several links including the following:
http://www.impulse-aircraft.de/english/home/firma.html

Wayne
http://www.soaridaho.com/

[Bruce Greeff]

Wayne Paul wrote:
> "Bruce Greeff" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>
>>Where could we get more information on said Impule ultralight?
>>
>>Bruce
>
>
> A Google search for "Impule ultralight" yielded nothing: however, "Impulse
> ultralight" provided several links including the following:
> http://www.impulse-aircraft.de/english/home/firma.html
>
> Wayne
> http://www.soaridaho.com/
>
>
Thanks - I got the same and was wondering if it was a typo, or not.