The GFA has clearly prescribed that launching will be in low tow, this
decision was made more than twenty years ago following several fatal
accidents which occurred during the transition from low to high tow prior to
release. All clubs should be training this.
Some years ago we discovered some pilots in our club had formed the opinion
that it was safer for them to transition to high tow immediately after
takeoff especially with short strips in order to give them more options in
the event of an early rope break. This has particular hazards for the tow
pilot who now finds at low altitude he/she has to apply ever increasing back
stick in order to compensate for the upward load on their tail.
The chances of a rope break in a properly maintained environment are very
small, after 35 years of flying I had my first ever (a weak link failure)
only a couple of weeks ago when my student managed to get a loop in the rope
during a hang up procedure. Yes the rope came back to the glider and I
made the decision to release, and we unfortunately lost the rope.
John Parncutt
-----Original Message-----
From: aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net
[mailto:aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net] On Behalf Of Adam
Woolley
Sent: Tuesday, 12 April 2011 5:23 PM
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Where to sit on tow?
High tow all the way, so much easier - and definitely gives you more options
in the early stages of the tow.
WPP
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter F Bradshaw
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 4:47 PM
To: aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net
Subject: [Aus-soaring] Where to sit on tow?
Hi;
All this talk about rope breaks raises another question. When I'm on tow
I often look up at the weak link and shackles at the other end and ask
myself, "Do I want all that stuff in the cockpit with me?" The answer is
no so I sit slightly to the left of center - which also helps with the
torque reaction on the tug. Does anybody else do this or is it only me?
Cheers
--
Peter F Bradshaw: http://www.exadios.com (public keys avaliable there).
Personal site: http://personal.exadios.com
"I love truth, and the way the government still uses it occasionally to
keep us guessing." - Sam Kekovich.
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