Tow Pilot Rand/Question

On Thursday, May 10, 2012 10:34:53 AM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
This is prompted by someone's description of a flight involving high sink
from tow release to landing. The pilot stated that he released from tow in
800 fpm sink at 3,000' AGL.

It's so common when I'm towing to have the glider pilot tell me, "I'll take
a tow to 3,000 feet." Then, during the tow, I hit super lift and the pilot
will hang on to the rope. He'll hang on until I'm struggling through sink
and hit the magic 3,000' and release!

I shouldn't complain since the higher tow means more income for the
operation, but I'd think pilot judgment would include releasing in lift -
even if it's below some preconceived release altitude.

Now, the instructors will say, "We need the altitude to accomplish the
objectives of the flight." I ask, "Wouldn't it better to demonstrate
judgment by releasing in strong lift and climbing to altitude to practice
maueuvers?"

Rant over...

I learned to release in lift early in my training (probably first page in
the logbook). I'd try releasing and going back to the thermal we'd hit
earlier, but could never find it. The instructor told me to release in lift
instead.

Last year I was climbing nicely in our house thermal. One of our rated (ATP!)
pilots was on tow going by me. The tow pilot pointed me out. He stayed on
for a couple more minutes, released, and tried to go back to my thermal.
I took pity on him, pulled spoilers, and tried to show him the lift. Twice.
I climbed up from 1100 AGL finally, and he had a 15 minute flight.

It did make for a good ground lesson afterwards...

-- Matt