Use of ridge lift for tow - review of procedure/protocol

OP flies at *Sugarbush*, where they have been towing gliders into ridge lift for roughly a half century.

30 seconds of conversation with tow pilot is better than 30 hours of wasted time on r.a.s.

-T8 (& frequent tow pilot)

An interesting ridge tow. 1000 AGL, ridge on left, pull up, push down, release, and pull back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhozkvZSQ-Q&t=1m42s

It's called a soft release, saves banging the Schweizer hook on release. At least he briefed his pax on what he was going to do.
They can be in ridge lift at 500ft at Dillingham.

BillT

Us cranky tow pilots don't like a soft release very much. It wastes
time and fuel to be climbing merrily along with the glider gone. Do
that to me and you'll be charged for the altitude at which I realize
that you're no longer there. That is, unless you give me a radio call.

BTW, I had my first glider flight there on 5/3/86. Elmer let me fly the
entire flight; takeoff, tow, ridge, pattern, and landing. I was hooked!

:-D

On 7/1/2015 7:23 PM, Bill T wrote:
It's called a soft release, saves banging the Schweizer hook on release. At least he briefed his pax on what he was going to do.
They can be in ridge lift at 500ft at Dillingham.

BillT

--
Dan Marotta

"soft release" is a poor practice and not needed. It makes the release of the rope less positive, makes it much harder for the tug pilot to know the glider is off, and in extreme cases can leave enough slack to be a hazard.
Releasing from normal position, without excess tension beyond stable tow, does no harm to properly maintained Schweizer hooks.
Good example of RAS being a prime source for bad practices and misinformation.
UH

On Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 9:29:26 AM UTC-4, wrote:
"soft release" is a poor practice and not needed. It makes the release of the rope less positive, makes it much harder for the tug pilot to know the glider is off, and in extreme cases can leave enough slack to be a hazard..
Releasing from normal position, without excess tension beyond stable tow, does no harm to properly maintained Schweizer hooks.
Good example of RAS being a prime source for bad practices and misinformation.
UH

Ditto that. I had some guy show up at Blairstown one time for a field check.. At the assigned altitude, I suddenly find us diving at the towplane. I think I only got to "What the f..." before he released, at which point the rope passed within a couple of inches of my eyes in the back seat before pulling away. Seriously? It's a dangerous solution to a non-problem.

P3

On Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 8:50:14 AM UTC-5, Papa3 wrote:
On Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 9:29:26 AM UTC-4, wrote:
"soft release" is a poor practice and not needed. It makes the release of the rope less positive, makes it much harder for the tug pilot to know the glider is off, and in extreme cases can leave enough slack to be a hazard.
Releasing from normal position, without excess tension beyond stable tow, does no harm to properly maintained Schweizer hooks.
Good example of RAS being a prime source for bad practices and misinformation.
UH

Ditto that. I had some guy show up at Blairstown one time for a field check. At the assigned altitude, I suddenly find us diving at the towplane. I think I only got to "What the f..." before he released, at which point the rope passed within a couple of inches of my eyes in the back seat before pulling away. Seriously? It's a dangerous solution to a non-problem..

P3

Ditto ditto that! Had a young student on an early solo flight in a 2-33 (used to a heavy IP in the back) try a soft release on a pattern tow and just about kite me into the ground - he got talked to, you can be sure.

And soft releases off a Tost are REALLY stupid!

And while we are venting, "slingshotting" at the top of a tow to get an extra 20 ft of altitude really gets me steamed, too....

Kirk
66

See section taken from PTS private glider, below..."normal tension"

We argued about the Schweizer tow hook before here on RAS....It is easy to make the hook such that it doesn't "bang" open...metal on metal...

One of the worst things you can do is "go high" on the tow pilot!

And slack rope is something to be avoided too...

And why all the crazy gyrations, when you have more import concerns during release?

People who try this, and don't do it correctly...really interesting!

I teach my students to be in good, smooth, steady position before release....if your not in good position or stable..don't release until you are!

Cookie










FAA-S-8081-22
1-10
Change 1 (9/1/10)
F. TASK: TOW RELEASE
REFERENCE: Soaring Flight Manual.
Objective.
To determine that the applicant:
1. Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to tow release,
including related safety factors.
2. Maintains high-tow position with normal towline tension.
3. Clears the area before releasing the towline.
4. Releases the towline and confirms release by observing the
tow
line.
5. Makes level or climbing







On Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 10:19:01 AM UTC-4, kirk.stant wrote:
On Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 8:50:14 AM UTC-5, Papa3 wrote:
On Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 9:29:26 AM UTC-4, wrote:
"soft release" is a poor practice and not needed. It makes the release of the rope less positive, makes it much harder for the tug pilot to know the glider is off, and in extreme cases can leave enough slack to be a hazard.
Releasing from normal position, without excess tension beyond stable tow, does no harm to properly maintained Schweizer hooks.
Good example of RAS being a prime source for bad practices and misinformation.
UH

Ditto that. I had some guy show up at Blairstown one time for a field check. At the assigned altitude, I suddenly find us diving at the towplane.. I think I only got to "What the f..." before he released, at which point the rope passed within a couple of inches of my eyes in the back seat before pulling away. Seriously? It's a dangerous solution to a non-problem.

P3

Ditto ditto that! Had a young student on an early solo flight in a 2-33 (used to a heavy IP in the back) try a soft release on a pattern tow and just about kite me into the ground - he got talked to, you can be sure.

And soft releases off a Tost are REALLY stupid!

And while we are venting, "slingshotting" at the top of a tow to get an extra 20 ft of altitude really gets me steamed, too....

Kirk
66

Kirk, I had one recently rated pilot try that on me off tow. I saw it happening and I almost turned to the side of his zoom but decided not to make the situation worse.
I though of dropping the rope mid zoom, but did not want to loose two rings and all that new rope. I toughed it out, when he got off I told him on the radio to never do that again. When we were both on the ground I asked him about that maneuver and where he got the idea. He said it was something he read.

I told him we do not teach it, if I knew if him doing it again that would be his last flight at our club.

As for soft releases, when trained and done properly they are a non event.

BillT

UH , I didn't say it was proper, I said it is what he did.
BillT