Switching tow rings

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At Blairstown Airport we loose about two minutes each time switch between Tost and Schweizer tow rings. I'm wondering what is being done at other busy operations, there must be a faster way. Help!

[Hartley Falbaum[_2_]]

On Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 8:28:53 AM UTC-4, wrote:
> At Blairstown Airport we loose about two minutes each time switch between Tost and Schweizer tow rings. I'm wondering what is being done at other busy operations, there must be a faster way. Help!

I make the ropes for the Cordele contest. We have towplanes with Tost hooks, and towplanes with Schweitzers.
I put both rings on the rope end.
If you are talking about glider end, we have not tried that, but it should work.
Hartley

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

We use ropes with Schweizer rings on both ends, then have a about 4' rope with small rings on one end and a rope loop on the other. It just loops between the tow rope and glider.

[JS[_5_]]

On Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 5:44:05 AM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> We use ropes with Schweizer rings on both ends, then have a about 4' rope with small rings on one end and a rope loop on the other. It just loops between the tow rope and glider.

Believe that's what makes it slow. Try ropes with both types of rings on the glider end, as Hartley does at the towplane end.
But this means that normal wear will be on both and a break will lose both ring types.
Jim

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

If the glider needs the smaller ring, it's a 30second swap, if that.
Pilot is supposed to have the adaptor by the glider when he is getting ready to launch.

[Ron Gleason]

On Tuesday, 31 October 2017 10:14:53 UTC-6, JS wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 5:44:05 AM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> > We use ropes with Schweizer rings on both ends, then have a about 4' rope with small rings on one end and a rope loop on the other. It just loops between the tow rope and glider.
>
> Believe that's what makes it slow. Try ropes with both types of rings on the glider end, as Hartley does at the towplane end.
> But this means that normal wear will be on both and a break will lose both ring types.
> Jim

The extra Schweizer ring will bang on the fuselage and possibly cause gelcoat or other damage. In my experience weak links with a single ring are quick to switch out using a simple girth hitch https://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/girth-hitch

YMMV

Ron Gleason

[[email protected]]

On Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 12:14:53 PM UTC-4, JS wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 5:44:05 AM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> > We use ropes with Schweizer rings on both ends, then have a about 4' rope with small rings on one end and a rope loop on the other. It just loops between the tow rope and glider.
>
> Believe that's what makes it slow. Try ropes with both types of rings on the glider end, as Hartley does at the towplane end.
> But this means that normal wear will be on both and a break will lose both ring types.
> Jim

The incorrect hooking up of a small Tost ring on a Schweizer tow hook is a known hazard of this practice.
UH

[[email protected]]

Having both types of rings on the same tow rope (glider end) can, as the previous post noted, cause damage to the fuselage. In addition, the Tost rings can interfere with the operation of a Schweizer release. Not recommended.

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

Yep, nicer way to explain what we use. Wrap the loop on the end of the adaptor rope through the big ring, then pass the rest through and pull snug.
The length of the adaptor rope keeps the big ring off the fuselage, also makes it easier to find in the grass when not in use.

[Bob Gibbons[_2_]]

On Tue, 31 Oct 2017 05:28:52 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

>At Blairstown Airport we loose about two minutes each time switch between Tost and Schweizer tow rings. I'm wondering what is being done at other busy operations, there must be a faster way. Help!

Texas Soaring Association keeps a separate complete tow line for use
with our 1-26's. If needed, we disconnect the line with TOST rings at
both ends, move it off the edge of the staging area, and connect up
the 1-26 tow line with a Schweizer ring at the ship end. All our
towplanes use TOST hitches at their end.

Bob

[Darryl Ramm]

On Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 1:11:44 PM UTC-7, Bob Gibbons wrote:
> On Tue, 31 Oct 2017 05:28:52 -0700 (PDT), wrote:
>
> >At Blairstown Airport we loose about two minutes each time switch between Tost and Schweizer tow rings. I'm wondering what is being done at other busy operations, there must be a faster way. Help!
>
> Texas Soaring Association keeps a separate complete tow line for use
> with our 1-26's. If needed, we disconnect the line with TOST rings at
> both ends, move it off the edge of the staging area, and connect up
> the 1-26 tow line with a Schweizer ring at the ship end. All our
> towplanes use TOST hitches at their end.
>
> Bob

"All our towplanes use TOST hitches at their end." Well done TSA!