There have been several fatal "aerotow upset" accidents in the U.K. where
it seems certain that towing on a hook intended for winch launching was a
factor.

These include:
Lasham new year 1963/4 Auster towing a Ka 6cr or Skylark 2 (I forget which),
Tug at Aboyne towing a Ka 6e,
Tugs (Super Cubs) towing K 18s at Portmoak and Dunstable (within a few
months of each other), this led to the tests by Chris Rollings, Verdun Luck
and Brian Spreckley at Booker see
http://www.glidingmagazine.com/ListF...Dtl.asp?id=327 .

Will that do, or how many others do you need?

Any glider which launches well on a cable using the aft launching hook, will
do the same behind a tug maybe killing the tug pilot in the process. If
you really think that the glider pilot can control or stop this process once
it starts, READ THE ARTICLE LINKED ABOVE; I suggest that the pilots who
conducted those tests were more experienced, more current and just plain
better than you.

To my certain knowledge it is possible to fit a forward hook for aerotow to
the ASW 15, 17, ASK 18, ASW 19, 20, and 22 and the Pegase; the ASK 21 and 23
and I think later types were fitted with it as standard. I don't know of
any examples of these in club (as distinct from private owner) use which
have not been modified.

I think you would be very wise to have your ASW 19 fitted with the approved
forward hook modification before your wife flies it on aerotow.

W.J. (Bill) Dean (U.K.).
Remove "ic" to reply.


"Andy Durbin" wrote in message
om...


Ian Strachan wrote in message
...


In article , Andy
Durbin writes

snip

LBA certification
prohibits the use of CG hook for aerotow


Does not that tell you something, then?


1. With over 1500 hours in the ASW 19 I am very familiar with aero tow
with CG hooks.


So I have no doubt also thought the glider pilots who got out of
position and killed the tug pilot.


If you have data on those accidents I would be interested in seeing
it. I used to be a tug pilot (2 USA clubs and 1 UK club). The only
tug pilot fatalities I am familiar with that resulted from glider
being too high did not involve a cg hook.


Just do not come to my club and expect to tow on your aft hook, or
anywhere where I am towing. I would have thought where life-and-death
was concerned you could be a tad more humble about your undoubted
handling abilities. But perhaps unlike the rest of us, you never have
an off-day ......


One of the reasons I included the forward hook in my order was the
slim chance that I would return to UK.

What should I do with my ASW 19? I had planned to transition my low
time wife to it but perhaps the risks are just too great. Is there an
approved forward hook modification?

Andy (GY)