Janusz Kesik )wrote of using 30m [98ft]
tow ropes as standard and 20m[65ft] for experienced pilots in Poland.

In the US I'm accustomed to being aerotowed behind a 150 to 200 foot
tow rope[45-61m]. However my club has been experimenting with using a
longer rope: 275ft[84m]. This struck me as non-standard and made me
wonder where the standard of 200ft came from and the possible
advantages/disadvantages of the longer 275ft rope.


275ft vs 200

Advantages
1. longer time to react to tow plane positional changes - easier for
beginners.
2. can be easily shortened as the ends fray/wear.
3. more room to turn away from towplane for an on-the-ground aborted
takeoff.
4. ?


Disadvantages
1. uses 75' more runway length - less room to land ahead or land back
incase of a rope break.
2. possibly lull pilots into complacency - will later be confronted
with 150'.
3. longer tow rope hanging behind towplane during its landing.
4. more rope to handle and untangle - I've had to clear it off the
runway in a hurry to allow a power plane to taxi onto the runway.
5. glider is smaller in towplane's mirror.
6. I've noticed the middle of the towrope continue to drag on the
runway at the beginning of the tow while waiting for the towplane to
takeoff. This is additional wear on the rope in the middle where it
gets inspected less.
7. ?


Can it make a glider that zooms too high easier or harder to recover
from - for either the towpilot or gliderpilot?

chris