Aero-Towing - Favorite Tugs

[vwchad]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Dumorian
	Did you build your Spirit with ailerons? It can be extremely difficult to get a glider off the ground without ailerons. The bottom line is the glider pilot is supposed to just keep the glider level. The tug pulls it where it is to go and up as well. It could be really hit or miss on keeping the Spirit level without ailerons.

Yes it does have ailerons. Actually it is the Spirit Elite, I think thats what it is called anyway, and it has ailerons, flaps, spoilers, rudder, and elevator.

[vwchad]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Dumorian
	Absolutely the top. If it were on the bottom, when the glider goes up, it would lift the tail of the tug sending it into a dive. The glider needs the release on the nose not in the standard hi-start or bungee launch location. Both models should have a release for the tow line, which should be around 100 feet long. It's hard to actually watch both models at the same time, so both pilots need to be able to release. Furthermore, the glider obviously needs a release, but the tug should have a release so that it can do a fly over to drop the tug line before landing. In some locations it would be easy to snag the line on approach... bushes, weeds, trees, fences.... unless you have a huge perfectly manicured field! Either way, it's better to be able to cut and run if needed from either pilot's perspective.

That makes sense. I have an idea for the release mechanism for both planes. I wasn't sure about the length of the line though, so thanks. As for dropping the line before landing, I probably don't need to. Our runway is about 40 feet wide and was approximately 1500 feet long before it was stretched another couple hundred feet. However, it would be a good idea to be able to drop the line from either end for safety reasons.

[rocketman47]

Can't say it's our favorite tug yet, but hopefully it will be! A Top Model 3.2 meter Pilatus PC6 with a DA150 up front! Go BIG or go home!

[pitviper51]

AASWWEEEEETTTTTT.. put a smoke system on that beast! bet itll tow a VW if you let it..
mike

[RustyTumbles]

	Quote: Originally Posted by rocketman47
	Can't say it's our favorite tug yet, but hopefully it will be! A Top Model 3.2 meter Pilatus PC6 with a DA150 up front! Go BIG or go home!

Turbo porters are awesome. I would love to build a big scale one, turbo prop and all.

[Rookey]

	Quote: Originally Posted by rocketman47
	Can't say it's our favorite tug yet, but hopefully it will be! A Top Model 3.2 meter Pilatus PC6 with a DA150 up front! Go BIG or go home!

Tug looks great. Is that a D A 50 poking its head out?

[rcdart]

Previously mentioned the 1/3 Piper Cub and DA-50, here is a quick video towing my 4.8m DG 600, as you can see it does not struggle as some thought it would with only a 50 in it,

[RustyTumbles]

Nice one mick. Are you towing straight up or are you making turns as well?

[rcdart]

We tend to do around a full circuit, gives an estimate 700ft, depends on the wind, sometime we only need a half circiut, but we always do some turns, no drama at all.

I want to do a roll on tow, but still to scared!

[RustyTumbles]

Cool,

Give it a go up high, you can always release if it goes bad.

[TheTank]

	Quote: Originally Posted by rocketman47
	Can't say it's our favorite tug yet, but hopefully it will be! A Top Model 3.2 meter Pilatus PC6 with a DA150 up front! Go BIG or go home!

That one in the picture you posted, I believe is my buddy Lenny's Pilatus that we are running a DA85 on with a can. The 85 is enough power to pull an 8 meter, 40 pound bird that he has. A 150 would be tremendous overkill.

[TheTank]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Rookey
	Tug looks great. Is that a D A 50 poking its head out?

DA85.

[TheTank]

	Quote: Originally Posted by rcdart
	We tend to do around a full circuit, gives an estimate 700ft, depends on the wind, sometime we only need a half circiut, but we always do some turns, no drama at all. I want to do a roll on tow, but still to scared!

We have had some issues towing down wind if we are not careful as we have found that the gliders like to outrun the tow plane some times. A little rudder usually stops this. We have been towing to 1500 feet or so based on an altimeter in the glider that transmits back. I would have never thought I would be interested in aero-tow, but it really is bad ass!!!

[rocketman47]

	Quote: Originally Posted by TheTank
	That one in the picture you posted, I believe is my buddy Lenny's Pilatus that we are running a DA85 on with a can. The 85 is enough power to pull an 8 meter, 50 pound bird that he has. A 150 would be tremendous overkill.

You are correct John! Actually qwe have not yet decided on an exact cc yet for the PC6. It will be a twin though.

Randy

[smokin]

The guys at our field have had pretty good success with using the sig 1/4scale cubby to pull up 2 meter gliders. I haven't really participated much but it sure looks like a blast and the cubby with an old US41 on the nose seems to get the job done just fine. its been a couple of years since i've witnessed this and seeing this thread now makes me want to start "tugging" again!