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#1
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Tow Ropes
We are trying to collect some information about tow ropes used in the soaring community and the process people use deterime the condition of the rope. This is for aerowtow only. As an example the Tucson Soaring Club uses a 2000 lb breaking strength rope with weak links on both ends. Experience has shown that the rope is best retired after 60 tows. We fly off a packed gravel dirt surface in LOTS of sunshine. We sometimes have the rope break without applying a heavy load as migh be encountered during training or gusty conditions. Do others out there experience this ? Do you chalk it up to "just another rope break?" Or do you log the number of tows for a particular rope and retire it like we do ? Hope to hear back. Thanks, Bob Perry |
#2
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We at Mid Georgia Soaring (USA) fly from a paved strip. We dropped the rope
in the grass beside the initial paved part, on the side opposite, and away, from operations. We didn't count tows per rope, but discard the rope when it doesn't look right anymore. This is subjective but we got 6 months or more per rope and we have not had a "real" rope break in years. We agreed that if one 'group' of strands of a hollow-braided polypropylene was completely worn through, it was more bad than good. About 3 years ago we switched to the Tost Reel system, which allows us to land opposite takeoff and taxi up to the next tow without dragging the rope and rings down a paved runway, saving considerable time. Also no "lost" ropes anymore, and no worries about snagged powerlines. After the usual 'teething' problems, it is very satisfactory. Flying out of Minden, I once landed at Silver Springs airport, a gravel strip. The rocks were sharp edged, anout 1-3 cm diameter of some kind of flint or obsidian rock, of obvious igneous origin. Tow ropes dragged across this would surely suffer severely. I can only imagine what it does to tires! -- Hartley Falbaum wrote in message ups.com... We are trying to collect some information about tow ropes used in the soaring community and the process people use deterime the condition of the rope. This is for aerowtow only. As an example the Tucson Soaring Club uses a 2000 lb breaking strength rope with weak links on both ends. Experience has shown that the rope is best retired after 60 tows. We fly off a packed gravel dirt surface in LOTS of sunshine. We sometimes have the rope break without applying a heavy load as migh be encountered during training or gusty conditions. Do others out there experience this ? Do you chalk it up to "just another rope break?" Or do you log the number of tows for a particular rope and retire it like we do ? Hope to hear back. Thanks, Bob Perry |
#3
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We fly from a 3400' grass strip and I know of only one real rope break in
the last several years. The full length of the tow rope is examined by the tow pilot at the beginning of the day and each pilot examines 'their' end before every flight. An average summer day has about 40 tows and our ropes tend to stay in service for months. The tug lands downwind and rolls up to the grid. When it's busy we use two ropes. wrote in message ups.com... We are trying to collect some information about tow ropes used in the soaring community and the process people use deterime the condition of the rope. This is for aerowtow only. As an example the Tucson Soaring Club uses a 2000 lb breaking strength rope with weak links on both ends. Experience has shown that the rope is best retired after 60 tows. We fly off a packed gravel dirt surface in LOTS of sunshine. We sometimes have the rope break without applying a heavy load as migh be encountered during training or gusty conditions. Do others out there experience this ? Do you chalk it up to "just another rope break?" Or do you log the number of tows for a particular rope and retire it like we do ? Hope to hear back. Thanks, Bob Perry |
#4
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We fly off grass, replace ropes as inspection shows the need and have
never had a break (that I heard of) in the 6 years that I have been with the club. Todd |
#5
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About 3 years ago we switched to the Tost Reel system,...
What tow plane are you using the TOST Reel in? Any problems getting it approved? Just curious.. Uli Neumann |
#6
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Towplane---Pawnee
No problem installing or approving. -- Hartley Falbaum ASW27B USA "GM" wrote in message oups.com... About 3 years ago we switched to the Tost Reel system,... What tow plane are you using the TOST Reel in? Any problems getting it approved? Just curious.. Uli Neumann |
#7
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Hi There
Does anyone know of a user of the Tost reel system on a Super-Cub - I would appreciate contact details Regards John "HL Falbaum" wrote in message ... We at Mid Georgia Soaring (USA) fly from a paved strip. We dropped the rope in the grass beside the initial paved part, on the side opposite, and away, from operations. We didn't count tows per rope, but discard the rope when it doesn't look right anymore. This is subjective but we got 6 months or more per rope and we have not had a "real" rope break in years. We agreed that if one 'group' of strands of a hollow-braided polypropylene was completely worn through, it was more bad than good. About 3 years ago we switched to the Tost Reel system, which allows us to land opposite takeoff and taxi up to the next tow without dragging the rope and rings down a paved runway, saving considerable time. Also no "lost" ropes anymore, and no worries about snagged powerlines. After the usual 'teething' problems, it is very satisfactory. Flying out of Minden, I once landed at Silver Springs airport, a gravel strip. The rocks were sharp edged, anout 1-3 cm diameter of some kind of flint or obsidian rock, of obvious igneous origin. Tow ropes dragged across this would surely suffer severely. I can only imagine what it does to tires! -- Hartley Falbaum wrote in message ups.com... We are trying to collect some information about tow ropes used in the soaring community and the process people use deterime the condition of the rope. This is for aerowtow only. As an example the Tucson Soaring Club uses a 2000 lb breaking strength rope with weak links on both ends. Experience has shown that the rope is best retired after 60 tows. We fly off a packed gravel dirt surface in LOTS of sunshine. We sometimes have the rope break without applying a heavy load as migh be encountered during training or gusty conditions. Do others out there experience this ? Do you chalk it up to "just another rope break?" Or do you log the number of tows for a particular rope and retire it like we do ? Hope to hear back. Thanks, Bob Perry |
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