Towing with a Pawnee 150

On Monday, May 12, 2003 at 12:17:15 PM UTC-4, Wallace Berry wrote:
Hi, Anyone out there every tow with a 150 hp Pawnee? How was it as a
tug? We currently tow with a Cessna 175 that has been re-engined with an
O-360 and equipped with a STOL kit. It is an OK tug off a 5000' paved
strip but not great. I've been towed by a 180 hp Pawnee (Jeff Cloud) and
find that to be an excellent towplane.

We are buying a low time Pawnee currently equipped with a low time 150
hp engine. We hope it will tow at least as well as the C-175. If so, we
will keep it and eventually re-engine it to 180 hp.

Thanks,


Wally

I have been pulled many times through 35 years of glider flying by a PA-18 150. Even pulled the ole Twin Grob off a 2500 foot strip that had obstructions at both ends and never had any problem. Wasn't the best tow plane, but she did the job well and was very efficient on fuel and other cost.
I own a Pawnee 150 that is a pretty good tow plane, she is not going to compete with the 235 by no means, but she will get you going at about 500 fpm on most any given day. Yes, we are at near sea level, but the days can get hot and humid. My strip is about 2000 feet and ole Dusty gets me up and out whenever I desire. The aircraft is over 500 pounds lighter that the 235, and is much lighter on the controls.
One of these days I will repower Dusty and get a 180 hp hung on the nose, but until then she keeps me in the air.