Does anyone use a tug tow hook that releases automatically whenglider kites?

On Sunday, February 9, 2014 5:58:56 PM UTC-8, Mike the Strike wrote:
The solution is simpler than that - it's called "low tow" - used in more civilized parts of the world.



Mike

I haven't tried low tow with my cg hook since it is up in the main wheel well. How does that (low tow) work with cg hook configurations? Any problems, or just chafing of the underbelly? Obviously, the tow rope has to extend forward on either the left or right side of the fuselage. Don't see flying two with constant yaw to prevent chafing. What about release? Any unintended consequences? I can maybe see the weak link rubbing up against the wheel well doors.

Also, our club has a PW-6 with chin hook. POH says - "Flying under the towing airplane downwash is not recommended since the towing cable rubs the fuselage front part."

Not sure low tow is the be-all, end-all answer.

Eric Bick -

On Monday, February 10, 2014 12:47:04 PM UTC-5, Eric Bick (1DB) wrote:
On Sunday, February 9, 2014 5:58:56 PM UTC-8, Mike the Strike wrote: The solution is simpler than that - it's called "low tow" - used in more civilized parts of the world. Mike I haven't tried low tow with my cg hook since it is up in the main wheel well. How does that (low tow) work with cg hook configurations? Any problems, or just chafing of the underbelly? Obviously, the tow rope has to extend forward on either the left or right side of the fuselage. Don't see flying two with constant yaw to prevent chafing. What about release? Any unintended consequences? I can maybe see the weak link rubbing up against the wheel well doors. Also, our club has a PW-6 with chin hook. POH says - "Flying under the towing airplane downwash is not recommended since the towing cable rubs the fuselage front part." Not sure low tow is the be-all, end-all answer. Eric Bick -

How much damage do you think the surface of the tow rope will do if it touches the belly?
My experience is absolutely none. We do use an adaptor on our ropes to convert from big (Schweizer) rings to Tost. It is about 4 ft long so there is no metal contact.
UH

At 17:47 10 February 2014, Eric Bick 1DB wrote:

What about release? Any
unintended=
consequences? I can maybe see the weak link rubbing up against the wheel
w=
ell doors.

Also, our club has a PW-6 with chin hook. POH says - "Flying under the
towi=
ng airplane downwash is not recommended since the towing cable rubs the
fus=
elage front part."

Not sure low tow is the be-all, end-all answer.

Eric Bick

I think you will find the recommended procedure is to move up to high tow
for release, ask the Aussies, they are the experts on this. I do use low
tow but always move to high tow for the release.

On Monday, February 10, 2014 1:35:29 PM UTC-5, Don Johnstone wrote:
At 17:47 10 February 2014, Eric Bick 1DB wrote: What about release? Any unintended= consequences? I can maybe see the weak link rubbing up against the wheel w= ell doors. Also, our club has a PW-6 with chin hook.. POH says - "Flying under the towi= ng airplane downwash is not recommended since the towing cable rubs the fus= elage front part." Not sure low tow is the be-all, end-all answer. Eric Bick I think you will find the recommended procedure is to move up to high tow for release, ask the Aussies, they are the experts on this. I do use low tow but always move to high tow for the release.

I have something over 11000 tow done in low tow and release from that position all the time. Properly done, the rope goes away straight out and does not end up above the sailplane. If does end up above, the pilot was too low when releasing.
UH

From our experiments, being in low tow would only increase the available
time in which to release by less than 1 second. More to the point, in my
opinion, descending through the turbulent prop wash shortly after take-off
could quite easily trigger the momentary loss of control that would
precipitate the kiting event.

At 18:35 10 February 2014, Don Johnstone wrote:
At 17:47 10 February 2014, Eric Bick 1DB wrote:

What about release? Any
unintended=
consequences? I can maybe see the weak link rubbing up against the
wheel
w=
ell doors.

Also, our club has a PW-6 with chin hook. POH says - "Flying under the
towi=
ng airplane downwash is not recommended since the towing cable rubs the
fus=
elage front part."

Not sure low tow is the be-all, end-all answer.

Eric Bick

I think you will find the recommended procedure is to move up to high to
for release, ask the Aussies, they are the experts on this. I do use lo
tow but always move to high tow for the release.