Of course, there is the reverse problem - I used to fly at an operation that did a lot of commercial rides with a fleet that included several 2-33s and G-103/ASK-21s, and supported a pretty large fleet of private owners (mostly Tost-equipped). They were using the Tost links on the 2-33s to save time finding and switching straws with the correct links - they used the large ring on the Schweizer release arm. It kinda fit, and WTF, it's a Schweizer, right?. One day while giving a ride from the back seat of a 2-33 I got to release altitude and found that the release was completely jammed - no movement at all. No radio, of course, so I moved out to the left and rocked my wings, at which point the tow pilot released his end. As soon as the rope tension was released, my release un-jammed and the rope disappeared into the desert never to be found again.
After the flight we figured that sometime during the flight (probably bumping along during takeoff) the small ring had flipped back and over the release arm, so now the entire pull force of the tow was keeping that arm from moving aft and releasing the rope! Of course, as soon as the rope was released by the tow pilot, it moved back in the release, the small ring slipped off the arm, and the hook back released as designed.
Shortly after that incident a bunch of new straws with proper Schweizer tow rings appeared and were used from then on.
TL
R Use the right tow link for the right tow release!
Kirk
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