Open Spoilers Alarm on tow

"Bob Lepp" wrote in message
om...

I'd rather have my hand near the tow release instead, especially during
the
first part of the tow.


Me too, what I meant to convey was.... if the spoilers are open and my
hand is not on the spoiler control handle it might be nice to have an
alarm sound. To me it matters not whether there is pressure on the tow
hook or not. It only matters that the spoliers are open and I am not
holding them open. I guess I'm thick, I haven't caught on why tow hook
pressure is important.

If I understand your proposal for a sensor to detect the pilots hand on the
spoiler handle correctly, it should fulfill the "spoiler open on tow"
warning function assuming no pilot would deliberately open the spoilers
while still on tow.

I do see a few problems that need a thoughtful review.

I have had pilots open the spoilers instead of pulling the release at the
top of a winch launch. A warning here would be nice.

It would create a problem if the pilot must move his hand from the spoilers
to the flaps to select a negative setting just after touchdown to maintain
aileron control. It would be a real nuisance to get a warning horn at that
busy moment.

Some gliders must start their takeoff roll with the spoilers open to augment
aileron control at low airspeeds. Again, it's a bad time to be distracted
by a audible warning. This is where a low airspeed lockout would be needed.

I think the system would need three sensors to give a useful warning -
airspeed above a certain value, ring in hook and spoiler open.

Bill Daniels