John,

Robert's suggestion of a winch is the best solution assuming you don't have
certification problems and the tug is physically capable of having one
fitted.

Failing that, how about putting a prominant marker about one and a half
ropes' length into the runway and having your tow pilots land beyond that?
That should allow enough length to allow for the rope to dangle and still
clear the fence.

I think your fence design underestimates the effect of a pair of metal rings
travelling at 60-70 knots. I've seen chunks of hedges ripped out by tow
ropes and I doubt if any wire fence (however well designed) would withstand
repeated attacks by the tow rope, let alone the lethal effect on any horses
that may be nearby. Avoiding hitting the fence altogether could be a much
better way of keeping good relations with your neigh-bours ('scuse the pun -
couldn't resist it!).

David Starer


"John Spargo" wrote in message
...
Tow rope friendly fences

We have a fence at the end of our runway that keeps our neighbors (Riding
School) horses out of the airfield. Occasionally the tow plane pilot snags
the fence with the rope, which winds round at least one, and sometimes
more
strands of barbed wire- resulting in a broken rope and fence and a nervous
pilot.

After some discussion at the club the following fence has been mooted -
Wire strands supporting small aperture mesh sized to exclude the passage
of
the ring on the end of the rope. (Chicken wire) tightly tensioned with a
split plastic pipe over the top - the whole aligned at 45 degrees. The
idea
being that the plastic pipe will prevent the fence damaging the rope while
it is passing over it, and the mesh will prevent the rope from turning
round
any strand.


Anyone solved a similar problem ? If so please let us have details


John Spargo

Cape Gliding Club