"Jack" wrote in message
...
in article et, Bill
Daniels at wrote on 2003/10/31 11:39:



...a 180 return to the runway from a 200 foot airtow rope break
is not always possible.

...you may need as much as 1000 feet to be in a position for
a safe return to the airfield.

...two low altitude rope breaks (weak link failures) and...resulted
in...off-airfield landing[s].


More specifics please for those off-airport landings. Otherwise your "1000
feet" may be taken by some as a bit of an exageration.



Jack


In my friends case, the first break came shortly after crossing the field
boundary at about 50 feet. This was a case of insufficient climb angle to
reach 200 feet while still in range of the runway. The other, as I
understand it, was at about 300 feet but still out of gliding range of the
airport.

My comment about 1000 feet referred to a situation that happened to me
because the tug pilot turned downwind at 100 feet AGL with a heavy glider
and strayed still further downwind as the air tow ground on despite urgent
radio calls. It was only at 1000 feet AGL that I felt that I could release
and get back. (and get another tug pilot) This has happened to me too many
times to recall all of them.

Understand, I fly in an area where density altitude at takeoff can exceed
10,000 feet. It takes a strong tug to keep a heavy two seater constantly in
range of the runway.

My point with the original post is that there is no guarantee that the magic
200 feet AGL will always get you back.

Bill Daniels