On 16 Sep 2006 13:30:15 -0700, "Doug Haluza"
wrote:

I think this is really ignorant and misguided thinking. Yes, absolutely
the glider can damage the tug. The tail structure of most airplanes was
not designed to handle the load of a glider on tow. It was only
designed to handle aerodynamic and landing loads. Considering that the
breaking strength of a 5/8" rope is greater than the weight of the
towplane, it's not hard to imagine that it is certainly strong enough
to damage the tail. A 1000 lb glider can deliver well over 6000 lb of
pull before it's wings come off.


my old auster J1b which is under a long slow restoration was used for
towing gliders at on stage of its life by the Narrogin Gliding Club in
Western Australia. You can clearly see a weld repair to the bottom two
longerons just in front of the tailpost where a glider did its
damndest to tear the back end out of the aircraft.

no weak link seems on evidence to warn of a funeral in the making.
Stealth Pilot
Oz