A trike will tow it?

Hello guys.
First of all, sorry for my poor English. I´m postng here because I
feel this place open minded enough to handle these kind of questions.
I notice some of you knows well or even owns Woodstocks. Yes, Maupin’s
home made super cool wooden glider. You know, I´m going to start
building one. Found this guy selling a never used original set of
plans. I have the tools, the space, time and skills for doing it. Why
not? Used to fly wooden birds for all my glider pilot time…
Problem is I’m living in a place with no glider clubs or tow planes
( nearest tow plane: 1000 km ) and Woodies and winches doesn’t mix.
But we have some ultralights and trikes around here. Do you think a
trike with a Rotax 912 will do the job? Will I have to build a tow
plane too?
Please, don’t try to make me deviate from my plans and buy some used
motorglider. Such things are really expensive around here.
All the best
Ricardo

It's worth finding a hang-glider tow park to talk with. They will
have tow pilots experienced at towing in trikes or similar ultra-
lights. I do know that the Carbon Dragon has been towed by a trike.

If the Woodstock tows at about 25-30 mph or 40-48 kph, then I would
bet that a trike could tow it.

Have fun, be safe.

Todd Smith

At 18:52 31 January 2009, Ricardo wrote:
Hello guys.
First of all, sorry for my poor English. I=B4m postng here because I
feel this place open minded enough to handle these kind of questions.
I notice some of you knows well or even owns Woodstocks. Yes, Maupin=92s
home made super cool wooden glider. You know, I=B4m going to start
building one. Found this guy selling a never used original set of
plans. I have the tools, the space, time and skills for doing it. Why
not? Used to fly wooden birds for all my glider pilot time=85
Problem is I=92m living in a place with no glider clubs or tow planes
( nearest tow plane: 1000 km ) and Woodies and winches doesn=92t mix.
But we have some ultralights and trikes around here. Do you think a
trike with a Rotax 912 will do the job? Will I have to build a tow
plane too?
Please, don=92t try to make me deviate from my plans and buy some used
motorglider. Such things are really expensive around here.
All the best
Ricardo


trike towing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alisport_Silent_Club
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Silent_Club.jpg

On 8 December 1994 the definitive prototype of Silent light sailplane made
its maiden flight from the small grass strip of Galliano in the
northeastern Italian province of Friuli. The glider, flown by test pilot
Walter Mauri and towed by a 50hp trike, was airborne in 200m and, after
climbing to 600m, successfully flew for 16 minutes.

On Jan 31, 1:52*pm, Ricardo wrote:
Hello guys.
First of all, sorry for my poor English. *I´m postng here because I
feel this place open minded enough to handle these kind of questions.
I notice some of you knows well or even owns Woodstocks. Yes, Maupin’s
home made super cool wooden glider. You know, I´m going to start
building one. Found this guy selling a never used original set of
plans. I have the tools, the space, time and skills for doing it. Why
not? Used to fly wooden birds for all my glider pilot *time…
Problem is I’m living in a place with no glider clubs or *tow planes
( nearest tow plane: 1000 km ) and Woodies and winches doesn’t mix.
But we have some ultralights and trikes around here. Do you think a
trike with a Rotax 912 will do the job? *Will I have to build a tow
plane too?
Please, don’t try to make me deviate from my plans and buy some used
motorglider. Such things are really expensive around here.
All the best
Ricardo

Ricardo,
first of all: no need to appologize - your english is great!
I agree with Dan and Todd that a light glider can be towed with a
trike or ultralight. However, I question your statement 'Woodies and
winches don't mix'. If your wooden glider can pull +2g or more and has
a CG hook, you are on the safe side of winching. Look back in history:
the WW-2 era SG-38 were winched regularly. Hanggliders are being
winched successfully all the time. And there is always the option of
auto-towing for you, which is probably the cheapes way of getting off
the ground, if you got the space (don't know where you live).
Uli Neumann

Hello guys. Thanks for the input.
I believe the Woodstock can handle the necessary g forces but a cg tow
hook is not in the project. And I have to follow the papers strictly
if I want to make the inspectors happy enough to allow me soar in
peace. I don´t think the hook placement is something very hard to
figure and cook up but in the plans you can see a forbidden next to
winch towing.
Uli, I have the space, I have huge, unbelievable weather (almost
desert conditions) most time of the year. I don´t have the club, the
tow plane and a glider flying culture around. Just hang gliders,
paragliders, some trikes,,, I´m in northeast Brazil.
Dan, the Silent being towed by a trike in its first flight is the
picture I really wanted to see.
Thanks again everybody.
Ricardo

At 13:53 01 February 2009, wrote:

there is always the option of auto-towing for you,
which is probably the , if you got the space
(don't know where you live).
Uli Neumann


cheapest way of getting off the ground????

probably this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwVRL...e=channel_page


Daniel Scopel
Silent 2 Targa
C-GODY serial 2027
Volez souvent et soyez prudent.
http://pages. videotron. com/dscopel/

The Woodstock is a fantastic machine. A true wonder. I have flown
mine 400K triangle.

I would not want to try towing at 25-30 mph or 40-48 kph. That would
be WAY too SLOW!

This is not a hang glider and only barely an ultralight. It is a real
soaring glider.

I'm sure a powerfull ultralight would tow it easily but it would have
to be more like 40-50 mph.

Email me and I will send you inspiring photos and stories of my
Woodstock to motivate you to finish building.

Matt Michael
Ames Iowa USA














On Jan 31, 12:52*pm, Ricardo wrote:
Hello guys.
First of all, sorry for my poor English. *I´m postng here because I
feel this place open minded enough to handle these kind of questions.
I notice some of you knows well or even owns Woodstocks. Yes, Maupin’s
home made super cool wooden glider. You know, I´m going to start
building one. Found this guy selling a never used original set of
plans. I have the tools, the space, time and skills for doing it. Why
not? Used to fly wooden birds for all my glider pilot *time…
Problem is I’m living in a place with no glider clubs or *tow planes
( nearest tow plane: 1000 km ) and Woodies and winches doesn’t mix.
But we have some ultralights and trikes around here. Do you think a
trike with a Rotax 912 will do the job? *Will I have to build a tow
plane too?
Please, don’t try to make me deviate from my plans and buy some used
motorglider. Such things are really expensive around here.
All the best
Ricardo

I have seen Gary Osoba in his Woodstock being towed by Dragonflies
with 85 hp. motors. It
works just fine.
The Dragonfly needs more power than most trikes as it has more drag at
higher speeds than most
trikes. This does depend on what wing the trike has. I have flown my
SparrowHawk behind
Dragonflies many times. The biggest issue is that I needed about 40
knots to get off the ground.
Without about 85hp. or more, the Dragonfly has a hard time going that
fast. Once off the ground,
we could slow down a bit to gain a better climb rate. Just a few
knots makes a big difference.

I have seen many trikes with small wings that cruise at over 100mph
with a Rotax 912S. Although
I have never had the opportunity to tow behind a trike, I am sure with
that kind of performance,
it would make a good towplane. Good luck and have fun.


On Feb 1, 9:45*pm, Ricardo wrote:
Hello guys. Thanks for the input.
I believe the Woodstock can handle the necessary g forces but a cg tow
hook is not in the project. And I have to follow the papers strictly
if I want to make the inspectors happy enough to allow me soar in
peace. I don´t think the hook placement is something very hard to
figure and cook up but in the plans you can see a forbidden next to
winch towing.
Uli, I have the space, I have huge, unbelievable weather (almost
desert conditions) most time of the year. I don´t have the club, the
tow plane and a glider flying culture around. Just hang gliders,
paragliders, some trikes,,, I´m in northeast Brazil.
Dan, the Silent being towed by a trike in its first flight is the
picture I really wanted to see.
Thanks again everybody.
Ricardo

You could always use a bungy launch

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KFFJx4pwHnU

I have seen a discus towed by a flex wing microlight tug in the UK

I have towed my DG303 behind a Dragonfly and have seen HP12 ans ASW
27's towed also. The climb speed is critical and best achieved with a
Rotax 914 but a 912 can do the job. The takeoff is interesting, the
Dragonfly will levae the ground in 20-30 feet while you are reaching
the needed airspeed. It is strange to see the tow plane above you
while you are still on the ground and care needs to be taken to not
climb to quickly.

Ron Gleason