Self Retracting Aero Tow Rope?

On Sunday, April 6, 2014 9:29:22 PM UTC-6, wrote:
On TV they have been selling a garden hose that shrinks in length when it is not in use. On TV they advertise that that it will not kink or tangle. The hose is constructed of two parts. The outer cover is a canvas like material that is flat and sealed on the edges. The inner material is a elastic hose.



I am wondering if aero tow rope might constructed to shrink to about 1/4 its length when it is not under load. The outer tube would designed to pull the glider and take the dragging wear. In the center would be a slick elastic material (like a model glider high start).



A retracting rope would allow the tow plane to make lower approaches and be easier to handle on the ground. It might also keep slack out of the rope on tow.



Anyone for a garden hose tow?



Bill Snead

6W

I appreciate the help. I agree that a rope system that combines an elastic element and non elastic element is not a good system for production towing.. I have always thought that tost winches in the Pawnees were a really a good system.

I am more worried about the thrust of the fully extend rope tending to make the glider over fly the rope in turbulence than breaking the rope when hitting the end of the stretch. If the proposed rope system works at all, it probably should only used by skillful glider pilots.

When gliders are operated off of a typical rual general aviation airport, tow ropes (both auto and aero tows) do not mix well with runway lights and other signage. I have both bought runway lights and been run off airports because of rope damage to runway lights.

At Prievidza a couple of years ago many of the towplanes were equipped with tow line take up reels. They would taxi by about a wing span in front of the glider, the wing runner would grab the tow ring from the tail of the towplane, and hook up the glider as the towplane taxied to the end of the rope. Dangerous to the wing runner, but very fast.

My thought was that a short - non tangling - tow rope might helpful when operating a glider from a public airport.

Bill Snead