I just rechecked the regs. Tow rope weak link can not be stronger
than twice the weight of the sailplane. Sailplanes sometimes exceed 1000
pound gross weight.

The weak link must not be less than 85 percent of the gross weight
of the sailplane.

Using this range, 850 to 2000 pounds on the tail of a towplane is not
out of reason. Another place in the installation design of tail
hooks calls for loads to stay within 30 degrees of backwards, as I
recall. I would try to keep the load as straight aft as possible.

In article . net,
(d b) wrote:

Checkout the numbers on towing gliders.

The number is based on the gross weight of the glider multiplied by
a fudge factor. There is a lot of stored energy when you pull with this
much force, be aware of breaking a springy rope. Might be good to
put a weak link on the plane end so that a weak link break will take
the rope away from the plane.

As I recall, a 1000 lb breaking strength isn't out of reason at all.

The towplane scenario pretty closely simulates the load direction
when pulling the plane backward into a hanger.



In article iKBZb.371333$na.564927@attbi_s04, (Ben Jackson)
wrote:
In article ,
Tarif Halabi wrote:

Is it ok to pull my Piper Archer by the tail hook back into the hanger?
Does any one know if that will cause any damage?

If your Archer is like my Comanche the tail ring is where you attach a
big honking (300lb?) weight while you're jacking up the wings. It must
be stronger than it looks! I've been considering doing the same thing
as you.