poor lateral control on a slow tow?

In a steady climb in any light aircraft the climb angles are so low (
10deg) that the lift remains pretty well equal to weight. For example a
10deg climb angle at 60 kts corresponds to an impressive climb rate of
10.5kts - but that would only give Lift = Weight/cos(10deg) = 1.02 x
Weight. You don't need to increase lift to climb - you increase thrust
to overcome the aft component of the weight, and the stick comes back to
maintain speed ... at constant speed the increased power input comes out
as increasing potential energy = increasing height.


whoops - I should have said Lift = Weight*cos(10deg) = 0.985 x
Weight, since in a climb the thrust (or tow cable) is supporting part of
the the weight .... long night, early morning :-)