Much Ado About Nothing

wrote on 3/28/2020 9:16 AM:
"I never noticed a difference either on take off or tow."

I don't agree, CG is more pleasing to fly on tow. Since there is little torque on the glider from the cable, a CG hook provides more options for holding position.

The CG hook is also quite stable (as in stick won't help) in a nose high, cable low, elevator stalled configuration. Which is fine unless you happen to be tied a tow plane also with a stalled elevator at the time. This is extremely unlikely to happen if the glider pilot understands the possibility and proactively doesn't go there. Sadly, we sometimes don't include this possibility in training and so it does happen.

Game on

I've owned three gliders with CG hooks, and three with nose hooks. The nose hooks
went straighter on the take off roll, ESPECIALLY during an unassisted launch. All
were easier to manage in the air, requiring less attention, particularly in
turbulent conditions. The only position I cared about holding was behind the towplane.

My ASW20C came with a CG hook; years later, I had a "forward" hook added (about 2'
from the nose). The difference was significant, and I was glad I spent the money.
Most of my launches were unassisted, and I was pleased I could handle crosswinds
better.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1

Hmmm.....many years, "a bit of sailplane hours"......a lot of "Mercian iron" (SGS) with nose hooks, about the same hours with CG hooks (mostly AS**** ships)..... all aero tow...frankly, in lots of conditions and suitable training, can't say I have an issue or preference.
Yes, low time training, nose hook can help since it tends to track to towplane tail a little easier.
Yes, most of my aerotow hours are low tow (please don't start that argument yet again here....I fly and trained on both...).
:-(

I have NO winch experience (would LOVE to do Karl's course in PA....if nothing more than to fly with Karl...;-)).