Winter project, tow out gear - wing wheel

Martin Gregorie wrote:


* * * "Thats why you NEVER push a glider by its wingtips."

From DG:

Pulling an aircraft
von friedelweber am Do Okt 25, 2007 1:36 pm
Is it okay to pull an aircraft on the wingtips?

The question tends to pop up in the gliding society. There is always a
concern that wings could suffer damage if the ground crew pulls on the
wingtips. Therefore we’d like to give you a short insight – without
going into too much detail – on the force that can be applied in a
longitudinal direction. Water tanks and other specific items are left
out in this abbreviated description. The length of the lever enable to
calculate the max. force a wing has to withstand without suffering any
damages.

The building describes a force of 400N as specification for every
glider. This will result in a force of 40kp (longitudinal). A normal
adult will commonly not be able to develop a force of 40kp in a
longitudinal direction without any problems. In other words – it is
save to pull a plane on its wingtips.

This March while at the Marfa Wave Camp, I was helping Dick Johnson move his
glider and he said just grab the tip and we will move it. Someone said
something about that and he said, "you can't put enough load on it to hurt
it"; if Dick says it is ok, it is ok in my book.
Fred
"brianDG303" wrote in message
...

Martin Gregorie wrote:


"Thats why you NEVER push a glider by its wingtips."

From DG:

Pulling an aircraft
von friedelweber am Do Okt 25, 2007 1:36 pm
Is it okay to pull an aircraft on the wingtips?

The question tends to pop up in the gliding society. There is always a
concern that wings could suffer damage if the ground crew pulls on the
wingtips. Therefore we’d like to give you a short insight – without
going into too much detail – on the force that can be applied in a
longitudinal direction. Water tanks and other specific items are left
out in this abbreviated description. The length of the lever enable to
calculate the max. force a wing has to withstand without suffering any
damages.

The building describes a force of 400N as specification for every
glider. This will result in a force of 40kp (longitudinal). A normal
adult will commonly not be able to develop a force of 40kp in a
longitudinal direction without any problems. In other words – it is
save to pull a plane on its wingtips.