Tow ring attachment?

"Normaly" the large ring of the Tost pair will not hang up on a Schweizer hook, but occasionally it does so we never do that. I am wondering if having both rings at the glider end of the rope ever causes a problem. Using the wrong ring could be such a problem. Others?

Boggs

On Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 7:16:16 PM UTC-5, Waveguru wrote:
"Normaly" the large ring of the Tost pair will not hang up on a Schweizer hook, but occasionally it does so we never do that. I am wondering if having both rings at the glider end of the rope ever causes a problem. Using the wrong ring could be such a problem. Others?

Boggs

Boggs, using a Tost pair at the glider end of a Schweizer hook can definitely cause problems! From personal experience - right there in AZ overhead P48 - while giving a ride in a 2-33, I had the release jam solid, as in could not move the release AT ALL. At the time Turf was using the Tost ring set for both it's 2-33s and K-21/G-103s. I moved out and signaled to the tow pilot that I couldn't release, and he dropped his end - at which time my release unjammed and the rope back released into the desert, never to be seen again. On the ground, we found that with the Tost big ring inserted in the Schweizer tow hook, it's possible for the little ring to slip over the release arm in such a way as to totally jam the release as long as there is any tension on the rope. Needless to say, that was the end of that practice!

So not only is it illegal per FARs, it's also stupid and potentially dangerous.

Cheers,

Kirk
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