Is there a difference between a Winch launch Weak Link, and an Aerotow Weak
Link?

I would think the Winch launch requires a much stronger link because of the
higher angle of attack.


At 00:46 15 November 2013, Dan Marotta wrote:
Our ropes are 200 ft long so the jig would either have to be very large or

the rope would need to mounted and dismounted numerous times.

I've had three rope breaks in the past three years while flying the tug at

Moriarty - never before in the previous 20+ years. Two were the fault of

the glider pilot horribly mishandling the glider and one of those resulted

in the rope being wrapped around the wing of the HP-14. The wing was cut

back to the spar before the rope broke. The third rope break had one of

our instructors flying his Libelle and the rope broke at about 300' AGL on

tow. He and I were both surprised and he handled the emergency perfectly.

The rope broke about 10 feet in front of the glider, probably in an area
of

high wear.

We inspect our ropes daily in the morning and during operations throughout

the day. If sufficient wear is noted, the rope is replaced. More often
it's the weak link which gets replaced due to abrasion with the pavement.

We use the top half of drinking water bottles, slipped over the weak link,

and wrapped heavily with duct tape. These work well, but, if the tug
lands

such that the protector hits the end of the runway, it's ripped off. We
then replace the weak link.

(Whew!)