PTT

Towplane @ 70 kph
70 kilometer/hour = 63.794 foot/second
200 foot towrope / 63.794 foot/second
3.135 seconds = 3+ Mississippi which seemed enough in that situation.

07-03-1994 Keystone Gliderport with Tom as CFI for transition to glass.
Towplane backtaxis after hook-up.
Towpilot shouts, "I'm getting pretty low, but I think I got enough for one more."
I pull the plug and shout, "I'll wait."
Could feel Tom's smile on the back of my neck.

In a crisis, you may not rise to the occasion,
But, you will sink to the level of your training.

Thanks, Tom

3.135 seconds implies that the tug will come to a dead stop which is not the
case. The speed should remain about the same with the tug arcing downward.

Once, with a 2-33 on tow, I experienced a blown front seal in the Pawnee
235. The windscreen was immediately coated with oil and the cockpit filled
with smoke. I waved the glider off and spiraled down to land (I try to stay
within gliding distance of the field when towing).

On debrief, I complimented the instructor and student with getting off so
quickly after I rocked my wings. He laughed and said that he could see a
pair of wingtips rocking in a cloud of smoke so he released immediately.

I've made three dead stick landings in tow planes; all successful for the
tug and the glider.

"Roy Clark, "B6"" wrote in message
...
Towplane @ 70 kph
70 kilometer/hour = 63.794 foot/second
200 foot towrope / 63.794 foot/second
3.135 seconds = 3+ Mississippi which seemed enough in that situation.

07-03-1994 Keystone Gliderport with Tom as CFI for transition to glass.
Towplane backtaxis after hook-up.
Towpilot shouts, "I'm getting pretty low, but I think I got enough for one
more."
I pull the plug and shout, "I'll wait."
Could feel Tom's smile on the back of my neck.

In a crisis, you may not rise to the occasion,
But, you will sink to the level of your training.

Thanks, Tom

When doing pre-take-off checks CBSIFT CB and always E(ventualities).
What will I do if the launch fails?
Where will I go after regaining flying speed?

Get it sorted in the brain on the ground before you need it in the air.

We at Dumfries & District Gliding Club have only one runway, a forest to
the East, rough ground to the West, North and South. We have to be very
aware of launch failure procedures and even our very early ab initio pilots
are taught launch failure very early in their training.


David Neilson
Dumfries & District GLiding Club