On Tue, 18 Feb 2014 08:41:57 -0800, C-FFKQ (42) wrote:

On Tuesday, 18 February 2014 11:25:24 UTC-5, wrote:
On Tuesday, February 18, 2014 7:17:16 AM UTC-6, Don Johnstone wrote:

It occurred to me that attaching the tow rope to the tug near the
center of gravity (top of turtle deck on a Pawnee for example) would
make kiting a non-event. That's how all the RC gliders are towed since
you cannot control the position of the glider really well in relation
to the towplane while standing on the ground. Interference of the tow
rope with rudder and elevator does not seem to be a problem for RC
fliers.


Um... wouldn't that cause a great risk of fouling the tail feathers of
the tug? No more "boxing the wash".

From what I know of model aircraft I suspect, but can't prove it, that
the fin on an RC model is (relatively) considerably stronger than the fin
on a towplane. Structurally, most RC model fins are either solid balsa
sheet or a foam-filled fibreglass moulding. If its a sheet balsa fin its
almost guaranteed to be a lot harder and denser than I'd ever use on a
model I was building myself.

An RC model can be dumped on the strip in a manner that would wreck any
GA aircraft. They are very frequently landed this way. Rounding out? Whats
that? Land the model badly on grass enough to flip it over onto its back
and the fin is almost guaranteed to be undamaged. Could you say the same
about a typical towplane's fin?



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martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
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