Aerotow towrope instructions

The whiffle ball is free to slide on the tow rope. It slides up against the nose of the glider, including the release and pitot tube, but does not affect the airspeed indication.

We use hollow braid rope. For most of the gliders, 1/4 inch is strong enough. A stronger rope is used for the big, heavy gliders. The short piece, serving as the weak link, on both ends of the entire tow rope is only 3 feet or so long, and loops back, then weaves in and out three or four times, ending up inside the hollow braid rope.

The resulting loop is fed through the larger of the double Tost rings we use, then the free end of the weak/link tow rope (without the loop) goes through the loop in the rope before weaving in and out of the 1/4 inch rope serving as the weak link.

The other end of this weak link is fished inside of the actual, much stronger tow rope. We make it come in and out 3 or 4 times to keep it secure so it does not slip. No knots are used.

Of course both ends of the tow rope are assembled in the same manner, but the tow plane end does not have the whiffle ball.

The weak link / tow ring on the glider end of the tow rope is subject to the most abuse, and is carefully inspected by the wing runner, and pilot before each launch.

Most landings of the towplane at Ridge Soaring Gliderport are on grass. If we landed on a hard surface runway, we would have to re-think this. As a minimum, it might be necessary for the towplane to drop the rope.

Tom