On Wednesday, 31 March 2010 21:58:15 UTC+2, darrylr wrote:
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. XFAh 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

Hi Darry,

do you know by any chance whether or not since you have communicated all above, there has been any change it the legislation and TOST or any other hooks are now approved by either FAA or EASA on Cessna 172N or FR Cessna 172N?

Thank you

Regards
Juraj