towing with helicopter?

This completely ignores the desires/requirements for efficiency, cost
and cycle time, but has anyone out there ever towed a glider with a
helicopter?

Dick Schreder did once. In the book written by his
daughter, '10,000 Feet & Climbing: The Aviation Adventures
Of Dick Schreder', the story is recounted where he
had an aero retrieve by helicopter while flying in
a World Gliding Championship.

Apparently, the chopper pilot wasn't a glider pilot.
The helicopter didn't climb too high above the trees
and Dick had a time trying to stay low enough to keep
the rope out of the tail rotor, but high enough to
not fly into the trees. If I remember, he released
from tow when he found a field to land in.

By the way, this book is a GREAT book! It is difficult
for me to understand how one person could live the
life that Dick Schreder did. He did some amazing things.


Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

At 15:54 13 September 2005, Sid wrote:
This completely ignores the desires/requirements for
efficiency, cost
and cycle time, but has anyone out there ever towed
a glider with a
helicopter?

Ray Lovinggood wrote:
Dick Schreder did once. In the book written by his
daughter, '10,000 Feet & Climbing: The Aviation Adventures
Of Dick Schreder',

[snip]

By the way, this book is a GREAT book! It is difficult

Any suggestions on where to find it? Amazon sez its out of print.



--
Frank Stutzman
Bonanza N494B "Hula Girl"
Hood River, OR

Looks like Knauf & Grove or further information, contact Karen
Barbera, 22 Hawthorne Ct., Batesville, IN 47006.

Bob Wander has it listed on his web site:
http://www.bobwander.com/

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA



At 20:06 13 September 2005, wrote:
Looks like Knauf & Grove or further information, contact
Karen
Barbera, 22 Hawthorne Ct., Batesville, IN 47006.

Yes, I have towed behind Roger Buis flying a Schweizer
helicopter many times at airshows. Roger flies Otto,
the airshow helicopter. We call the helicopter tow
the 'Ot-Tow'. He hovers in for the rope hookup, hover
taxis backwards until the rope is tight, and begins
pulling sideways! No need for a mirror to see the
rudder waggle, since he's looking right at me.

Interesting note, there is no special pilot endorsement
required to helicopter tow. If you are a current tow
pilot with a helicopter rating, you're good to go.
(Requirements for the aircraft are another issue.)

Photos on my website at http://www.silentwingsairshows.com

Bob Carlton

At 20:12 13 September 2005, Ray Lovinggood wrote:
Bob Wander has it listed on his web site:
http://www.bobwander.com/

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA



At 20:06 13 September 2005, wrote:
Looks like Knauf & Grove or further information, contact
Karen
Barbera, 22 Hawthorne Ct., Batesville, IN 47006.

Bob C wrote:
Yes, I have towed behind Roger Buis flying a Schweizer
helicopter many times at airshows. Roger flies Otto,
the airshow helicopter. We call the helicopter tow
the 'Ot-Tow'. He hovers in for the rope hookup, hover
taxis backwards until the rope is tight, and begins
pulling sideways! No need for a mirror to see the
rudder waggle, since he's looking right at me.

Interesting note, there is no special pilot endorsement
required to helicopter tow. If you are a current tow
pilot with a helicopter rating, you're good to go.
(Requirements for the aircraft are another issue.)

Photos on my website at http://www.silentwingsairshows.com

Bob Carlton

At 20:12 13 September 2005, Ray Lovinggood wrote:

Bob Wander has it listed on his web site:
http://www.bobwander.com/

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA



At 20:06 13 September 2005, wrote:

Looks like Knauf & Grove or further information, contact
Karen
Barbera, 22 Hawthorne Ct., Batesville, IN 47006.









Looks pretty cool, Bob.
Thanks for the info.

Someone did at Omarama in the New Zealand South Island about 6 years ago!
Madness!
"Sid" wrote in message
...
This completely ignores the desires/requirements for efficiency, cost and
cycle time, but has anyone out there ever towed a glider with a
helicopter?

I have seen a video, from Poland I believe, of a helicopter
towing a glider. They did several tows including some
where the helicopter hovered with the glider hanging
underneath (stong cable in Poland) and then resuming
the tow. The glider also released while hanging underneath
on one of the tows.

I have seen a movie of a German submarine towing an autogyro - to spot enemy
craft.

This practice only lasted a short time. When the autogyro pilot reported an
enemy craft, the submarine submerged, leaving the autogyro pilot neither
high nor dry.

Colin