Bruce Hoult wrote:

Gosh. What was the tow plane?? Isn't the HP14 close to a 40:1 glider?

I'm used to a Pawnee climbing straight out from the airfield with a Grob
or Janus two-up behind and *always* being within gliding range of the
airfield. Normal climb is about 600 fpm at 65 knots, or about 11:1.

Obviously you have the luxury of operating at or near sea level. At
Owl Canyon Gliderport (4CO2), at 5,500 MSL, towing behind a 250hp
Pawnee-D, I see 3-400 FPM. I am functional at both ends of the
rope, tow pilot and CFI-Glider. In a no-wind situation, a straight
out tow will usually result in being beyond gliding distance of a
NORMAL, SAFE PATTERN.

Allowing ones self to be towed out of gliding range of the PATTERN
is looking for trouble. Towing out of gliding range of the
gliderport must mean we are headed for the wave, and trouble. :-)


Best regards,

Jer/ "Flight instruction/mountain flying are my vocation!" Eberhard

--
Jer/ (Slash) Eberhard, Mountain Flying Aviation, LTD, Ft Collins, CO
CELL 970 231-6325 EMAIL jeratfrii.com http://users.frii.com/jer/
C-206 N9513G, CFII Airplane&Glider FAA-DEN Aviation Safety Counselor
CAP-CO Mission&Aircraft CheckPilot BM218 HAM N0FZD 235 Young Eagles!