On Sunday, February 9, 2014 4:27:23 PM UTC-6, son_of_flubber wrote:
This topic was buried in a drifting degenerate thread. I'm wondering if anyone knows more about the tow hook innovation mentioned below by UH.



On Saturday, February 8, 2014 9:31:13 AM UTC-5, son_of_flubber wrote:



Why does the pilot need to pull the release if the glider kites? Why is the release for a deadly tow position not fully automatic? Is a simple purely mechanical, totally foolproof and 100% automatic release not possible? As the guy in the glider, I would be fine with a 100% automatic release. If I kite, release me immediately.





On Sunday, February 9, 2014 5:05:52 PM UTC-5, wrote:



There was a design and prototype of a release like this created many years ago and published, I believe, in Soaring magazine. I know if no one that has adopted this which makes it fairly clear that this is not perceived as a huge problem.



In the 1970's I was flying the tow plane giving pattern tows. At about 1000 feet agl the student pilot in a 2-22 pulled the release (but not far enough to release the tow rope) and rolled to the right and up. In an instant the tow plane pitched into what seemed like a vertical dive. The tow rope either broke or was released. We never found any part of the tow rope. Nothing in my life ever happened faster than that upset. In over 7000 hours of flying, that upset is my most vivid memory.

Bill Snead