On Mar 31, 12:09*pm, lanebush wrote:
On Mar 31, 2:24*pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:



On Mar 31, 11:10*am, Ed wrote:

On Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:21:15 -0700 (PDT), Rocket

wrote:
I am looking for a Sweizer Tow Hook Kit to be used on a Cessna 172 for
towing Gliders, if anyone knows were to find one?

I also just noticed that Aircraft Spruce sells a hook, but they ain't
cheap. Also McFarlane sold their hook to an outfit in Olanthe Kansas.

And the Aircraft Spruce tow hook I believe is manufactured by Wings
Unlimitedhttp://www.wingsunlimitedtowhooks.com/products.html

Neither the Wings Unlimtied or McFarlane tow hooks have an STC AFAIK.
So you are in the same situation needing to do a 337/field approval
for any of these as you would for a Tost. So why would somebody pick
one of these over a Tost? (that's a question not a sarcastic comment).

Darryl

Your support for TOST is admirable. *How about getting them to develop
an STC the next time you guys have a company meeting.
XF

Ah you lost me there.

Somebody is asking for a particular type of tow hook. I point out they
are dangerous vs. a modern alternative like a Tost. Somebody else
points out other options (lets discount the found objects on ebay). I
provide more details and a link. None of any of the ones we are
talking about have an STC AFAIK. I am sure many people would like a
modern safe tow-hook option with STC'ed for popular tow aircraft. If
the lack of an STC is a problem for you then you can follow up with
the parts manufactures/reps (Tim Mara for Tost). But given the market
size/demand, I suspect it is awfully unlikely any manufacturer is
going to want to STC a tow hook for a Cessna 172. I am pretty sure
people are installing Tost tow hooks with a 337. If you have problems
maybe somebody who has done the paperwork before (with the same or a
different FSDO) can help you. If a FSDO is giving you problems for a
Tost then presumably the FSDO is going to give you a problem for all
the other available options now as well?

The other non-Tost releases mentioned claim to have improved release
under high load angles than the original Schweitzer. I believe the
McFarlane and the Wings Unlimited tow releases are the same item/
design, in which case I understand they were designed with knowledge
of the problems with the Schweitzer releases. But again they are not
STC'ed. I'm not necessarily a fan of the rubber block spring based
design, but maybe that is better in dirty/dusty situations than a
Tost? Is the attraction just they are cheaper than a Tost? Is the
attraction wanting to use the large Schweitzer tow rings at a club/
FBO? Or are people just instinctively asking for a "Schweitzer
release" because that is what they think tow planes have?


Darryl