On 5 Dec 2003 10:53:17 -0700, (Mark James Boyd)
wrote:

A lot of different techniques - little consensus

Bruce - Hi to slow and get slack out, then match speeds by diving
Brian - Yaw to reduce snappiness when line comes taut
Janusz - Shorter rope so tug and glider are in the same air
Michel - Low tow and avoid slack line

Let me add the standard procedure that I was told and that all pilots
I know of are using:
Extend the airbrakes (carefully - only about one inch) to get the
slack out. Don't let the speed difference between glider and tow plane
get too big.

Not mentioned is the use of spoilers. I've noticed
one ranked pilot who flies a slick glider sometimes with
ballast uses slight spoiler adjustment to regulate slack line.

Ooops... seems like others are using that method too..

There's one important part when trying to get the slack out: Do not
let the glider get too slow (compared to the tow plane) - otherwise
the acceleration when the tow rope tautens might break the weak link.

The method of how to slow the glider down is a question of taste -
I've used sideslips for that part which also work well (but I teach my
students to use tha airbrake).


Bye
Andreas