On Monday, June 16, 2014 12:21:16 AM UTC+12, firsys wrote:
Whether or not positive action is required to maintain airspeed
depends on the trim; this will be different for nose and belly hooks. A
belly hook on some ( older ) gliders requires
nose down trim to balance the rope force.

Yes, I have 60 or 70 hours PIC from aerotow (and a few flights on a winch) in an original model Janus, with only a belly hook. To be honest the only time it is really noticeable on aerotow is if you have slack rope and it comes tight with a jerk. It pays to be ready with forward stick, or even anticipate it.

But in any case, the removal of that nose-up force at tow release makes it even more certain that you'll be moving the stick rearwards after release.

That model is far more of a handfull on the winch, as the hook is really too far forward for good winching. It takes a lot of up elevator to keep the climb steep enough. The all moving tailplane means that it's easily possible to over do it and stall the elevator. And if you get a premature release then you're sitting there nose up with the stick most of the way back. *Definitely* need a positive check forward to neutral stick in that situation!