On Feb 13, 8:31*am, Jim Beckman wrote:
At 04:30 13 February 2011, wrote:



What is the "plus" of soft release as far as tow pilot is concerned?

The only thing I can imagine is that a soft release is less likely to put
a knot in the towrope. *Mostly I've heard tow pilots say they'd rather
be able to feel the release. *I try to avoid releasing at a moment when
the rope has extra tension in it, but generally release with a normal load
on the rope.

Jim Beckman

Hi Jim,

The "knot in the tow rope" is an arguement I have heard for the soft
release. But in reality, a "normal tension" release will usually not
put a knot in the tow rope. The normal tension is really not all that
much tension. Release under "extra" tension tends to knot the rope
more often.

Now knots in the tow rope is a problem in itself. If you spend the
whole day on the flight line, you will find some days there are no
knots at all, and sometimes quite a few. It is just one of those
things. Some knots form after release, and some form as the tow plane
is landing, dragging the rope on the ground.

But... the solution to knots in the rope is to inspect the rope each
flight, and remove the knot. A knot formed during release or during
landing is easy to untie. The problem comes when nobody sees the
loose knot, and then does another tow! Now the knot is almost
impossible to remove, and has most likely weakened the rope.

The solution to knots in the rope is not some cockamamie wierd
dangerous release "pull up and dive" deal!

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