Wingrunner Checklist

Many pilots of single seaters will start the take-off run with open spoilers to increase aileron effectiveness and some pilots will deploy them to activate the wheel brake to prevent the glider overrunning the tow rope on taking up slack.

A clear pattern is overly conservative and in most cases it is best to get the tow- plane and glider off the runway to give landing ships more options. I usually hold a take-off only when a glider is on short final and there may be a potential conflict.

Good judgement is better than a one-rule-fits-all.

But tail dollies - definitely!

Mike