Low tows are cool! :-)

Like many clubs in Europe mine has been to the Czech Republic a couple of
times for a few weeks. I remember the first time we went there loads of
people among us had to qualify for towing (as we usually do
winch-launching).
The Dutch towing exam includes a low-tow. The Czech exam apparently did not,
because the towpilots had to be briefed on this, it was new to them.

All but one of the Czech towpilots said "yeah okay!", but one objected. He
thought the whole thing was crazy and if the others were going along in the
whole low-towing thing that was okay, but wasn't. He left after that, but he
can't have been far away when the first checkrides were done, because after
a fashion he came back and was more than happy to join in. :-) :-) :-)

Jasper
The Hague
The Netherlands


"Sleigh" wrote in message
...
At 13:54 24 July 2003, Geoff Vincent wrote:
On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:02:00 +0100, 'Chris Reed'
wrote:

I have experience of two different kinds aerotowing
from a CG hook:

1. Launching an LS4 (tailskid) from an unmade (dirt,
gravel, rocks) runway.
The problem here was directional control, with the
glider snaking around
until there was enough speed for the rudder to counter
the crosswind. Not a
real problem but hard work for 2 or 3 seconds. Hand
on release in case the
direction of tug and glider get too far apart.

2. Launching my Open Cirrus (tailwheel) from a paved
runway. Absolutely no
directional control problems at all. By the time the
tailwheel is lifting,
the rudder is working. Just be aware of the possibility
of swinging once the
tail comes up - whether there's any swing will probably
vary between glider
types, but I've never noticed anything with the Cirrus.

There is, for all CG hook aerotows, the danger that
if the glider gets high
it will begin to winch launch itself. I'm told this
will pull the tug tail
up and cause more excitement than anyone wants (or
worse than excitement if
low down). Neither the LS4 nor the Cirrus showed any
signs of doing so, but
I kept a watch on the tug position ready to release
if it got away from me.

Sounds like excellent justification to fly low tow.


Geoff Vincent
Australia


Geoff

You know that suggestion is, far too sensible and practical
,for this group


Low tow fan..England