tow rope brake practice crash, what can we learn...

On 7/12/2011 12:41 PM, Andy wrote:

Forgot point number 3. You can't just point the nose down and start your
turn back to the airport.

You have to wait until you have enough
airspeed to pull that off.


Why? If the simulated break is made at normal tow speed there is
sufficient speed to start the turn immediately.

Because most students don't start the turn immediately. Tye typical
reaction time is 3 seconds - with the nose high. The nose pointing down
does not necessarily mean that you can turn safely is all that I'm saying.

Tony

On Jul 13, 11:36*am, Tony V wrote:
On 7/12/2011 12:41 PM, Andy wrote:

Forgot point number 3. You can't just point the nose down and start your
turn back to the airport.

You have to wait until you have enough
airspeed to pull that off.

Why? *If the simulated break is made at normal tow speed there is
sufficient speed to start the turn immediately.

Because most students don't start the turn immediately. Tye typical
reaction time is 3 seconds - with the nose high. The nose pointing down
does not necessarily mean that you can turn safely is all that I'm saying..

That's far too long a reaction time and can surely be reduced.

The nose pointed up doesn't mean you can't turn safely. A typical
glass glider with 40 knot stall being towed at 65 - 70 knots can do a
chandelle[1] to accomplish the turn, for heaven's sake!

Stall/spin isn't about nose attitude, it isn't about speed, it's ALL
about stick position.

[1] "wing over" to USians I think -- I don't mean hammerhead/stall
turn.