Recognizing and reacting to tow plane engine failure

On Friday, October 24, 2014 4:46:13 PM UTC-4, Bruce Hoult wrote:


Around here, if a tow pilot hits the stops on any control (including
rudder) then you're going to wear the rope.

Dumping the glider because the *rudder* hit the stop is way over the top. Someone needs to HTFU.

T8

On Saturday, October 25, 2014 10:16:38 AM UTC-5, Evan Ludeman wrote:

Dumping the glider because the *rudder* hit the stop is way over the top. Someone needs to HTFU.

What about a situation where the tug's vertical tail stalls due to the glider being way off to the side? If you are holding full rudder against the yaw, and the glider keeps on pulling the tail, you may stall the vertical tail - supposedly the ensuing snap roll is highly entertaining!

This situation may be more theoretical (I think the BGA had an article that mentioned it) but my technique is to let the glider pull my tail around if he really wants to. Unless wake boxing is prebriefed, I pretty much stay off the rudders and let the glider take me where he wants, if he gets out of position laterally.

Kirk
66

On Saturday, October 25, 2014 12:02:56 PM UTC-4, kirk.stant wrote:
On Saturday, October 25, 2014 10:16:38 AM UTC-5, Evan Ludeman wrote:

Dumping the glider because the *rudder* hit the stop is way over the top. Someone needs to HTFU.

What about a situation where the tug's vertical tail stalls due to the glider being way off to the side? If you are holding full rudder against the yaw, and the glider keeps on pulling the tail, you may stall the vertical tail - supposedly the ensuing snap roll is highly entertaining!

This situation may be more theoretical (I think the BGA had an article that mentioned it) but my technique is to let the glider pull my tail around if he really wants to. Unless wake boxing is prebriefed, I pretty much stay off the rudders and let the glider take me where he wants, if he gets out of position laterally.

Kirk
66

The release is there for real emergencies. 99+% of the time, the rudder hitting the stop momentarily is *not* an emergency.

T8

It's not unusual to hit the rudder stops on takeoff at Moriarty since
we're famous for winds (usually cross winds). That doesn't bother me at
all as long as the trend of the takeoff is good. When I start reaching
for the release is when the nose of the tug slews uncontrollably in any
direction and any of the controls have reached the stops. That happens
when newbies are practicing boxing the wake, but that's been pre-briefed
so I tolerate that.

Dan Marotta

On 10/25/2014 9:16 AM, Evan Ludeman wrote:
On Friday, October 24, 2014 4:46:13 PM UTC-4, Bruce Hoult wrote:


Around here, if a tow pilot hits the stops on any control (including
rudder) then you're going to wear the rope.
Dumping the glider because the *rudder* hit the stop is way over the top. Someone needs to HTFU.

T8