Tost hook on Cessns 180

"Paul" wrote in message ...
Gang
Anyone know of a STC to attach a tost tow hook to a Cessna 180 for glider
and banner towing?
Paul

This is what you will find if you do a google search on
rec.avaiation.soaring 'cessna 180 tow hook':

"An STC to install Tow Hook on Cessna 180 was donated to the SSA by
David Blanton Sr. the owner of Javelin Aircraft. The SSA sent me a
drawing showing how to fabricate and install a bracket and tow hook on
the tailwheel after I requested it by e-mail. Took about 10 days for
the SSA to reply but there was no charge. Wag-Aero sells Schweizer
hook, release and cable as a package cat. no. H-865-000 for $383.45.
As best I can tell you will have to fabricate mounting bracket
yourself out of 4130 0.10 plates. I am planning on doing all this on
my 180 as soon as more pressing maintenance issues are finished.

I investigated TOST hook and folks at TOST were very helpful sending
drawings of their E-85 series hooks. Mounting the TOST hooks to a 180
tailwheel bracket seems a little more complicated than Schweizer but
may be worth it for a very well-engineered release. Talking with the
old-timers at the Miami Glider Club, the opinion is that a Schweizer
hook installed "upside down" is dirt simple, easy to inspect and
should last for 10,000 tows. Haven't actually done anything yet except
research.

Charles Pate at Cessna Engineering pointed me to Cessna Documents that
tested towhooks on most of their aircraft (including 180 & 185).
Towhook was an option on nose-wheel 100 series Cessnas but not on
tailwheel. Likely to be some paperwork issues and will need a 337. It
has been done many times. The Advisory Circular referenced below helps
your IA build a case for field-approval. Will forward documents if you
need - just don't want to violate any copyright/ownership issues."

The FAA Advisory Circular on Aircraft Inspection and Repair
(EA-AC 43.13-1A&2, my copy is old, this may have been since
amended)has a section on the installation of towhooks. Chap
8 Glider aand Banner Tow-Hitch Installations (page 44-8 AC
43.13-2 chg 5 dtd 11/9/67) has a picture of a Schweizer
hook on a 180/185 stinger. I am not aware of an STC (may
well exist however) but with this drawing in the FAA's
official publication, it make make a 337 easier ...well
maybe possible.

If I were doing the installation, I would flip the hook
upside down per Jim Burch's 337 to insure better releases in
tension of the glider gets high on tow.


UPDATE - As best I can tell nobody still manufactures the bracket
needed to mount the Schweizer hook to the Scott 3400 tailwheel. I
built the bracket based on SSA/Javelin STC drawings but my mounting
holes were not quite right. I have a second bracket partially
completed - waiting until I can get the airplane near a shop with a
drill press and a welder to finish it right. Very tough to maintain
necessary tolerances for the bracket without a machine shop or more
skill than I have. I also found out the AIG insurance policy on my
180 excludes towing but I will try to get a rider if the need to tow
presents itself.

SSA does have all the documents for the STC necessary in "PDF" format.
They should be able to e-mail them to you easily.Scanned drawings of
the Bracket that SSA has are partially illegible. I believe it will be
a lot harder to get approval for a Tost hook but I hope that someone
will blaze that trail. -

Stuart