"Wayne Paul" wrote in message
...

"Vaughn" wrote in message
...

"COLIN LAMB" wrote in message
nk.net...

3. If I am in a glider connected to an airplane by a rope, and the
pilot ot
the airplane controls where I go...

I would really like to put you in the front seat of a glider and
let
you
try it. You will instantly find that the "pilot ot
the airplane controls" does NOT control where the glider goes. The
glider does
not willingly and automatically follow the tow plane like a trailer
follows a
car. The experience is much the same as formation flying, if you wish
to
remain
connected to the airplane, you must very precisely coordinate stick and
rudder
to follow. As a glider instructor, I have watched many an experienced
airplane
pilot sweat as they try it for the first time. Like riding a bicycle,
once the
skill is learned it becomes automatic.

Vaughn

If flying on tow isn't a big enough challenge, landing on tow should be a
lot of fun!! The procedure has been discussed on rec.aviation.soaring in
the unlikely event that both the tow plane and the glider have release
failures. Some believe that we should actually practice doing it.

Wayne
HP-14 N990 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/

Heh. I actually did a touch and go under tow as a student pilot with an
instructor. It was a weird feeling, making a much longer, much flatter
approach than usual. Not much I could do about it. Dropped to low tow on
final, touched down first, waited for the towplane to touch down, Then he
added power and we did another pattern tow, where I actually released.

Tim Ward