Any towing experiences with a Stinson 108-2 or 108-3?

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Looking for first-hand accounts of anyone towing with or towing behind
a Stinson, especially with a 200+ hp Continental or Lycoming.

Tow speeds?
Rates of climb?
Types and weights of gliders pulled?
Anything else interesting or unique?

We fly out of a 1900' MSL mountain field and pull heavy (1000 lb.)
sailplanes.

Thanks,

Michael

[Steve Hill]

I towed with a 108-2 and a 165 Franklin, with a fixed climb prop and never
had a single problem. My neighbor actually did the towing with me in the
sailplane. I've only towed my old SZD-36 Cobra and the DG-400 a few times.
Climb rates of 500 fpm were standard towing at 70 mph. Operated out of 2,400
feet of grass at 600 msl.
Used it for about three years and it suited my needs adequately.

With a bigger engine, I think it would be a good tug all around. It's never
gonna compete with a Pawnee, but not many will...a big problem was getting a
337 on the towhook, I do still have the mount and towhook but the paperwork
went elsewhere if you are interested.



Steve.

[Mike Lindsay]

In article . com>,
writes
>Looking for first-hand accounts of anyone towing with or towing behind
>a Stinson, especially with a 200+ hp Continental or Lycoming.
>
>Tow speeds?
>Rates of climb?
>Types and weights of gliders pulled?
>Anything else interesting or unique?
>
>We fly out of a 1900' MSL mountain field and pull heavy (1000 lb.)
>sailplanes.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Michael
>
They had a couple of Stinsons at Aosta, in the North Italian Alps.

They seemed petty good tugs to me, they would typically take a fully
loaded Poo-cats to 4000 in about ten minutes. Don't know which variety
of engine they had though.
--
Mike Lindsay

[nowhere]

They used to tow with a Stinson 108 at Invermere, an airfield at 2800
ASL (http://www.soartherockies.com/) before they bought a Pawnee. You
could try asking them how it well it worked. If it was adequate there,
they should work just about anywhere.