Landing on Tow - YouTube link.

I'm convinced just breaking the weak link is the safer procedure in
the extremely unlikely case of a double release failure. *It can't be
hard - students do it all the time.

When this subject last came up some time ago, we had an informal poll
at our club of a mix of experienced cross-country and aerobatic pilots
and every one said they would opt for breaking the weak link at
altitude rather than try an on-tow landing.

Not one of us thought that trying a coordinated landing would be safer
than breaking the link. Not one!

Yet some seem to believe that we should train low-time students to do
this maneouver. Why?

Mike

On Nov 10, 1:22*pm, Mike the Strike wrote:


When this subject last came up some time ago, we had an informal poll
at our club of a mix of experienced cross-country and aerobatic pilots
and every one said they would opt for breaking the weak link at
altitude rather than try an on-tow landing.

Not one of us thought that trying a coordinated landing would be safer
than breaking the link. *Not one!

Mike


Nope. Not me. I am not doing that. I've never try to break a rope
before, and quite frankly, I don't trust my 35 years old ASW19 to
remain intact.

So I will do what I was trained to do from France, which is easy to
do:

- Open the airbrakes full.
- Go down below the tow pilot wake turbulence.
- Let the tow pilot set a rate of descent. He is in charge at this
point. And hopefully, he will remember to arrive higher on short
final!!!...:-)
I did this maneuver numerous times as a student, and later on as a
CFI. Really not a biggy.

Richard
Phoenix,AZ

I agree, breaking the rope makes more sense in the event of release
failure.

But, the notion that landing on tow is SO dangerous is really
curious.

Everything we do in gliders is potentially dangerous, if you screw it
up. If you do it right it's fun and satisfying.

Some argue that landing on tow is not necessary or practical.

Soaring is not necessary or practical. It's only fun and satisfying.

So is landing on tow. Especially touch-and-goes!

Matt Michael

Nope. Not me. I am not doing that. I've never try to break a rope
before, and quite frankly, I don't trust my 35 years old ASW19 to
remain intact.


You and that sailplane had better stop flying altogether if you don't
think it is airworthy enough to survive a rope break!!!