Mxsmanic wrote:

george writes:

Winch rope breaks - aerotow rope breaks.

Even then, it's not quite the same as being in a powered airplane. A
glider is designed to fly without power; a powered aircraft is not.

The gliders power is provided by another a/c initially, and then it's
switched to natural power in the form of gravity.
If a "normally" poowered a/c was not designed to fly without power, it
would drop like a stone when the engine is cut.
It is not the engine that makes the a/c fly. It is the wings. The
engine simply pulls the a/c through the air, as does gravity/inertia in
the case of a glider.
The only difference is that a glider is usually much lighter, and the
wings longer. The glide ration, due to these differences is different
to a powered a/c. The principles are the same.
If a powered a/c loses power on take off, it lacks sufficient forward
motion and altitude to maintain flight. When a glider loses power (it's
tow plane), on take off, it lacks sufficient forward motion and altitude
to maintain flight.
Same same.
Crash Lander
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