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#181
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Fatal Towplane Accident 5-9-20
I understand this particular accident was a distracted pilot issue. I was commenting on, and contributing to, the thread drift. My bad in that respect.
This still falls into another category though. Pilot discipline. Rule number 1. FLY THE F**KING PLANE! Rule number 2. See rule number 1. In my studies of accidents (I am working towards getting on my Unions accident investigation team), there is never 1 reason for a crash. There is always 3. Pilot discipline/distraction is more often in the first reason box than should be. Especially in General Aviation accidents. |
#182
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Fatal Towplane Accident 5-9-20
On Monday, June 1, 2020 at 5:58:03 PM UTC-7, Neal Alders wrote:
I understand this particular accident was a distracted pilot issue. I was commenting on, and contributing to, the thread drift. My bad in that respect. This still falls into another category though. Pilot discipline. Rule number 1. FLY THE F**KING PLANE! Rule number 2. See rule number 1. In my studies of accidents (I am working towards getting on my Unions accident investigation team), there is never 1 reason for a crash. There is always 3. Pilot discipline/distraction is more often in the first reason box than should be. Especially in General Aviation accidents. Virtually ALL of kiting glider accidents involve a distracted glider non-pilot. Telling them to fly the ****ing glider will be met with "Right, as soon as I close the canopy - what's your problem?" Tom |
#183
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A question for the Low tow advocates . How do CG hooks fare with low tow? Does the rope tend to pull to one side if some slack develops?
If there's a rope break in a low tow are you not in a worse position ? Preventing cockpit distractions should be part of the pre flight checklist as a reminder . Maybe the last thing on your list ? " Fly first " |
#184
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Fatal Towplane Accident 5-9-20
As I have said before, I am a firm believer in the KISS principle until it has been proven to me that another approach needs to be taken. And, then, that approach should use only the least complex solution available. I earned my living as a design engineer for over 40 years, so this is not my first rodeo. Tom I am a firm advocate of low tow, having flown many tows in both positions over the last 40 years. In high density-altitude conditions and/or with a weak towplane, I believe low tow offers superior aerodynamic efficiency. Having said that, when a sailplane pilot loses control and initiates a kiting scenario, things happen so quickly that there is probably little benefit to being in low tow. Mike |
#185
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Fatal Towplane Accident 5-9-20
On Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 2:43:11 AM UTC-4, Delta8 wrote:
... How do CG hooks fare with low tow? ... Here's another question about low tow: Has a glider on low tow ever pulled the tail of the towplane DOWN and caused the towplane wing to stall? |
#187
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Fatal Towplane Accident 5-9-20
How does one combat turbulence and fly smoothly in low tow with the tow plane 2 storeys above you ?
At least high tow puts the towplane and horizon at a reasonable perspective to help with stability . |
#188
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Fatal Towplane Accident 5-9-20
-A question for the Low tow advocates . How do CG hooks fare with low
tow? A: No issues I am aware of at all. -Does the rope tend to pull to one side if some slack develops? A: Never saw slack in a rope on low tow, but, no. -If there's a rope break in a low tow are you not in a worse position ? A: Practiced a fair amount of them, never had an issue. It is really less than a wing span difference in altitude from proper high tow, to proper low tow. |
#189
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Fatal Towplane Accident 5-9-20
-Here's another question about low tow:
-Has a glider on low tow ever pulled the tail of the towplane DOWN and caused the towplane wing to stall? A: No idea. Never heard of it happening, But, I would think you would need a proportionate amount of altitude to cause that, and a stall recovery is easier at low altitude when already at full power, especially if you dump the glider, than an extreme nose down at a far lower altitude on take off. Imagine the angles. Would you rather be nose up or nose down at 200 feet? |
#190
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Fatal Towplane Accident 5-9-20
-How does one combat turbulence and fly smoothly in low tow with the tow plane 2 storeys above you ?
At least high tow puts the towplane and horizon at a reasonable perspective to help with stability . A: In a properly flown low tow, you are almost in "trail" with the tow plane. As in, viewed from tail hook down rope to nose hook. If the tow plane is 2 stories above you, then you are NOT in low tow. You are screwing up, significantly, if you are that low. You should be able to slide up 2 feet and just feel a touch of the tow planes prop wash. |
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