MY FIRST Glider towing experiences England 1970 fascinated have doing ever since Its really fun exciting way launch 14-scale larger Gliders Today almost always go field ac companied friend RC powered tow plane particularly enjoy large-scale Gliders towing up great way reduce 14-ft wing speck sky its also lot fun tow pilot Heres towline should around 75 ft long loop Glider end three feet bungee cord tow plane end use 80-lb monofilament towline ex act length towline critical bungee cord extremely important does two things 1 absorbs shock towline jerking Glider gets out position 2 prevents towline getting caught elevator rudder tow plane attach line tow plane some near center-of-gravity bi plane line can attached wing struts monoplane like Cub can anchored rear wing bolts use low-wing tow plane attach cradle rear wing bolts let come over top fuselage tach towline tail tow plane tow release should always nose Glider should operate separate servo use throttle control release its always fingers no reaching required use simple homemade tow release nose Glider Take piece piano wire bend U-shape Drill two holes nose epoxy U-shaped piece place should protrude approxi mately % Once its place drill another hole just below pushrod hook up towline put loop through U top extend the pushrod lock place release Glider pushrod retracts entirely nose Its positive foolproof release mechanism launching larger Gliders use trol ley rise-off-ground ROG takeoffs especially windless days use large wheels accommodate grass fields trolley simply frame four wheels supports Gliders wings piece wood butts up against leading edge wing keep Glider trolley until its ready fly attach hook front trolley making easier move around field Smaller lightweight Gliders best hand launched Line Glider up tow plane take up slack towline Dont take off until ready sure signal tow plane pilot before hand tow plane pulls full throt tle run along let Glider lift off test glide tow plane too fast Glider apply little down trim June 1989 85 Pictured 80-in oin witn inc towline attached wing bolts near back wing optimal position almost airplane bungee cord makes towing much gentler especially slack intro duced causing line jerk subject Glider great stress thick bungee cord also isnt likely become entangled rudder elevator towline should always run across top tow plane keep clear tail climb ing Dont attach towline tail un less youve lot towing experience Left The authors homemade tow release mechanism Its simply U-shaped section piano wire epoxied nose servocontrolled pin locks towline loop extended cleanly releases retracted mechanism properly installed cant jam entangle towline Right trolley used launching large Gliders Its simple box frame padded wing rests vertical stops prevent premature takeoff front left large wheels keep trolley stable make easier move over rough ground grass fields small hook front axle connects short strap maneuvering trolley around field airspeeds well matched apply lit tle up trim Once youre airborne tow plane flying maintain close communication tow plane pilot tow plane turns hold Glider outside turn order keep slack out line tow plane does make sharp turn end up getting slack turn direc tion tow plane line will jerk bungee cord should absorb shock doubt release Glider tow especially first attempts Dont fly out sight Remember can tow much higher can see get off tow before have problem Also Glider very high dont let eyes wanderyoull lose trolley comes play launching flying larger heavier Gliders Takeoffs resemble launches low-powered air plane Crosswind takeoffs no problem have ailerons make sure tow plane pilot path Glider lifts off Often little up elevator help ful followed just touch up trim Dont try take off spoilers extended tow plane somewhat underpow ered give Glider trolley bit push get whole thing started tow plane should stable easy fly have fair amount excess power especially inexperienced have used everything Proctor Antic mono plane first OS FS6O en gines tow Airtronics Olympic II 1/3-scale Laser Bob Godfrey OS FS300 engine Laser will tow light Glider up 450 climb angle outof-sight turn will also tow heav ier Gliders realistic manner goal match airspeed Glider tow plane After towline stretched taut tow plane pilot should apply full throttle take off after Glider air borne should trim give good angle Jason Lehman maneuvering trolley WIK Speed Astir resting atop same Glider shown cover photograph Though fuselage identical semisymmetrical wing section makes quite bit faster little bit aerobatic As can see trolley really makes easy move around field takeoff position 86 Model Aviation Graupner quarter-scale Discus mounted trolley Paul Melnyk L Jason Leh man watching Notice Gliders wings supported trolley butt up against vertical restrainers keep Glider trolley until its ready fly climb being careful avoid stalling climbing too fast should inform Glider pilot maneuver flying giant circle keeping turns wide gentle should avoid flying straight line unless very windy stay out path sun Glider releas es should throttle back descend land towline will affect flight characteristics tow plane A-size Laser takes about three minutes tow -scale Discus out sight en tire flight tow plane takeoff landing can little six minutes spinning down land Theoretically several large Gliders could towed up 16-oz tank fuel course probable well-matched Glider tow plane As illustration follow ing reasonably well-matched Glider-tow plane combinations h-scale Laser Bob Godfrey OS F5300 engine tows to-lb A-scale Discus Graupner 8-lb A-scale Salto Laser powerful will really tow almost anything Proctor Antic biplane monoplane OS F560 engine tow 3-lb Air tronics Olympic 2-lb Hobie Hawk 3-lb Clou 2-lb Graupner Amigo II Sig Gazariator 05 60 en gine tows 4-lb Dodgson Maestro 3lb Olympic II 2-lb Hobie Hawk 5-lb ASW 17 A-scale Fleet Biplane Kavan F5300 engine tows 12-lb A-scale LS3 15-lb LS5 both Rowing 8-lb Graupner Discus A-scale Sig Cub OS FSl2O engine tows 8-lb A-scale WIK Speed Astir 4-lb Dodgson Maestro 10lb A-scale Jantarand believe very slowly carefully A-scale LS5 weighs 16 lb Hobby Lobby Senior Telemaster OS F5120 engine tows L53 Amigo II Speed Astir Jantar 80-in Robin Zenoah G-23 en gine tows 8-lb A-scale Speed Astir 8-lb A-scale Discus 10-lb A-scale Jantar L53 L55 11-lb A-scale DG 202 Roland Kern de sign Any good floater can towed experienced less excess power need tow although ascend slowly Ive heard said Gliders pow ered models compatible ex perience thats simply thermal days need limit flight time someone else waiting go up Large-scale Gliders really come own coupled tow planes Fifteenminute flights common theres plenty room aerobatic routine wish Perhaps Scale RC Glider contests should launched Find friend suitable tow plane Both will have challenging thor oughly good time June 1989 87 Paul Melnyk seen piloting Glider tow plane pilot view Graupner Discus has lifted off trolley before tow plane Glider should stay slightly higher throughout towed flight Both models should trimmed climbing position still low clearly visible goes well both planes properly trimmed out tow pilot will almost flying Glider pilot will hardly have touch con trols trick fly smoothly wide circles avoid getting slack towline Both planes just after takeoff tow plane has just started its first turn dont turn relatively soon may fly out sight Jason Lehman watching intently Tony Na poleon pilots tow plane Glider obediently behind another successful flight tow teamTony Napoleon has towline Paul Melnyk holds quarter-scale Graupner Discus tow plane use Robin 80 However number tow plane/Glider combinations will work long reasonably matched power speed After have gotten over first-flight jitters will find can tow very large Gliders relatively low-powered tow planes see text some examples this
Edition: Model Aviation - 1989/06
Page Numbers: 85, 86, 87
MY FIRST Glider towing experiences England 1970 fascinated have doing ever since Its really fun exciting way launch 14-scale larger Gliders Today almost always go field ac companied friend RC powered tow plane particularly enjoy large-scale Gliders towing up great way reduce 14-ft wing speck sky its also lot fun tow pilot Heres towline should around 75 ft long loop Glider end three feet bungee cord tow plane end use 80-lb monofilament towline ex act length towline critical bungee cord extremely important does two things 1 absorbs shock towline jerking Glider gets out position 2 prevents towline getting caught elevator rudder tow plane attach line tow plane some near center-of-gravity bi plane line can attached wing struts monoplane like Cub can anchored rear wing bolts use low-wing tow plane attach cradle rear wing bolts let come over top fuselage tach towline tail tow plane tow release should always nose Glider should operate separate servo use throttle control release its always fingers no reaching required use simple homemade tow release nose Glider Take piece piano wire bend U-shape Drill two holes nose epoxy U-shaped piece place should protrude approxi mately % Once its place drill another hole just below pushrod hook up towline put loop through U top extend the pushrod lock place release Glider pushrod retracts entirely nose Its positive foolproof release mechanism launching larger Gliders use trol ley rise-off-ground ROG takeoffs especially windless days use large wheels accommodate grass fields trolley simply frame four wheels supports Gliders wings piece wood butts up against leading edge wing keep Glider trolley until its ready fly attach hook front trolley making easier move around field Smaller lightweight Gliders best hand launched Line Glider up tow plane take up slack towline Dont take off until ready sure signal tow plane pilot before hand tow plane pulls full throt tle run along let Glider lift off test glide tow plane too fast Glider apply little down trim June 1989 85 Pictured 80-in oin witn inc towline attached wing bolts near back wing optimal position almost airplane bungee cord makes towing much gentler especially slack intro duced causing line jerk subject Glider great stress thick bungee cord also isnt likely become entangled rudder elevator towline should always run across top tow plane keep clear tail climb ing Dont attach towline tail un less youve lot towing experience Left The authors homemade tow release mechanism Its simply U-shaped section piano wire epoxied nose servocontrolled pin locks towline loop extended cleanly releases retracted mechanism properly installed cant jam entangle towline Right trolley used launching large Gliders Its simple box frame padded wing rests vertical stops prevent premature takeoff front left large wheels keep trolley stable make easier move over rough ground grass fields small hook front axle connects short strap maneuvering trolley around field airspeeds well matched apply lit tle up trim Once youre airborne tow plane flying maintain close communication tow plane pilot tow plane turns hold Glider outside turn order keep slack out line tow plane does make sharp turn end up getting slack turn direc tion tow plane line will jerk bungee cord should absorb shock doubt release Glider tow especially first attempts Dont fly out sight Remember can tow much higher can see get off tow before have problem Also Glider very high dont let eyes wanderyoull lose trolley comes play launching flying larger heavier Gliders Takeoffs resemble launches low-powered air plane Crosswind takeoffs no problem have ailerons make sure tow plane pilot path Glider lifts off Often little up elevator help ful followed just touch up trim Dont try take off spoilers extended tow plane somewhat underpow ered give Glider trolley bit push get whole thing started tow plane should stable easy fly have fair amount excess power especially inexperienced have used everything Proctor Antic mono plane first OS FS6O en gines tow Airtronics Olympic II 1/3-scale Laser Bob Godfrey OS FS300 engine Laser will tow light Glider up 450 climb angle outof-sight turn will also tow heav ier Gliders realistic manner goal match airspeed Glider tow plane After towline stretched taut tow plane pilot should apply full throttle take off after Glider air borne should trim give good angle Jason Lehman maneuvering trolley WIK Speed Astir resting atop same Glider shown cover photograph Though fuselage identical semisymmetrical wing section makes quite bit faster little bit aerobatic As can see trolley really makes easy move around field takeoff position 86 Model Aviation Graupner quarter-scale Discus mounted trolley Paul Melnyk L Jason Leh man watching Notice Gliders wings supported trolley butt up against vertical restrainers keep Glider trolley until its ready fly climb being careful avoid stalling climbing too fast should inform Glider pilot maneuver flying giant circle keeping turns wide gentle should avoid flying straight line unless very windy stay out path sun Glider releas es should throttle back descend land towline will affect flight characteristics tow plane A-size Laser takes about three minutes tow -scale Discus out sight en tire flight tow plane takeoff landing can little six minutes spinning down land Theoretically several large Gliders could towed up 16-oz tank fuel course probable well-matched Glider tow plane As illustration follow ing reasonably well-matched Glider-tow plane combinations h-scale Laser Bob Godfrey OS F5300 engine tows to-lb A-scale Discus Graupner 8-lb A-scale Salto Laser powerful will really tow almost anything Proctor Antic biplane monoplane OS F560 engine tow 3-lb Air tronics Olympic 2-lb Hobie Hawk 3-lb Clou 2-lb Graupner Amigo II Sig Gazariator 05 60 en gine tows 4-lb Dodgson Maestro 3lb Olympic II 2-lb Hobie Hawk 5-lb ASW 17 A-scale Fleet Biplane Kavan F5300 engine tows 12-lb A-scale LS3 15-lb LS5 both Rowing 8-lb Graupner Discus A-scale Sig Cub OS FSl2O engine tows 8-lb A-scale WIK Speed Astir 4-lb Dodgson Maestro 10lb A-scale Jantarand believe very slowly carefully A-scale LS5 weighs 16 lb Hobby Lobby Senior Telemaster OS F5120 engine tows L53 Amigo II Speed Astir Jantar 80-in Robin Zenoah G-23 en gine tows 8-lb A-scale Speed Astir 8-lb A-scale Discus 10-lb A-scale Jantar L53 L55 11-lb A-scale DG 202 Roland Kern de sign Any good floater can towed experienced less excess power need tow although ascend slowly Ive heard said Gliders pow ered models compatible ex perience thats simply thermal days need limit flight time someone else waiting go up Large-scale Gliders really come own coupled tow planes Fifteenminute flights common theres plenty room aerobatic routine wish Perhaps Scale RC Glider contests should launched Find friend suitable tow plane Both will have challenging thor oughly good time June 1989 87 Paul Melnyk seen piloting Glider tow plane pilot view Graupner Discus has lifted off trolley before tow plane Glider should stay slightly higher throughout towed flight Both models should trimmed climbing position still low clearly visible goes well both planes properly trimmed out tow pilot will almost flying Glider pilot will hardly have touch con trols trick fly smoothly wide circles avoid getting slack towline Both planes just after takeoff tow plane has just started its first turn dont turn relatively soon may fly out sight Jason Lehman watching intently Tony Na poleon pilots tow plane Glider obediently behind another successful flight tow teamTony Napoleon has towline Paul Melnyk holds quarter-scale Graupner Discus tow plane use Robin 80 However number tow plane/Glider combinations will work long reasonably matched power speed After have gotten over first-flight jitters will find can tow very large Gliders relatively low-powered tow planes see text some examples this
Edition: Model Aviation - 1989/06
Page Numbers: 85, 86, 87
MY FIRST Glider towing experiences England 1970 fascinated have doing ever since Its really fun exciting way launch 14-scale larger Gliders Today almost always go field ac companied friend RC powered tow plane particularly enjoy large-scale Gliders towing up great way reduce 14-ft wing speck sky its also lot fun tow pilot Heres towline should around 75 ft long loop Glider end three feet bungee cord tow plane end use 80-lb monofilament towline ex act length towline critical bungee cord extremely important does two things 1 absorbs shock towline jerking Glider gets out position 2 prevents towline getting caught elevator rudder tow plane attach line tow plane some near center-of-gravity bi plane line can attached wing struts monoplane like Cub can anchored rear wing bolts use low-wing tow plane attach cradle rear wing bolts let come over top fuselage tach towline tail tow plane tow release should always nose Glider should operate separate servo use throttle control release its always fingers no reaching required use simple homemade tow release nose Glider Take piece piano wire bend U-shape Drill two holes nose epoxy U-shaped piece place should protrude approxi mately % Once its place drill another hole just below pushrod hook up towline put loop through U top extend the pushrod lock place release Glider pushrod retracts entirely nose Its positive foolproof release mechanism launching larger Gliders use trol ley rise-off-ground ROG takeoffs especially windless days use large wheels accommodate grass fields trolley simply frame four wheels supports Gliders wings piece wood butts up against leading edge wing keep Glider trolley until its ready fly attach hook front trolley making easier move around field Smaller lightweight Gliders best hand launched Line Glider up tow plane take up slack towline Dont take off until ready sure signal tow plane pilot before hand tow plane pulls full throt tle run along let Glider lift off test glide tow plane too fast Glider apply little down trim June 1989 85 Pictured 80-in oin witn inc towline attached wing bolts near back wing optimal position almost airplane bungee cord makes towing much gentler especially slack intro duced causing line jerk subject Glider great stress thick bungee cord also isnt likely become entangled rudder elevator towline should always run across top tow plane keep clear tail climb ing Dont attach towline tail un less youve lot towing experience Left The authors homemade tow release mechanism Its simply U-shaped section piano wire epoxied nose servocontrolled pin locks towline loop extended cleanly releases retracted mechanism properly installed cant jam entangle towline Right trolley used launching large Gliders Its simple box frame padded wing rests vertical stops prevent premature takeoff front left large wheels keep trolley stable make easier move over rough ground grass fields small hook front axle connects short strap maneuvering trolley around field airspeeds well matched apply lit tle up trim Once youre airborne tow plane flying maintain close communication tow plane pilot tow plane turns hold Glider outside turn order keep slack out line tow plane does make sharp turn end up getting slack turn direc tion tow plane line will jerk bungee cord should absorb shock doubt release Glider tow especially first attempts Dont fly out sight Remember can tow much higher can see get off tow before have problem Also Glider very high dont let eyes wanderyoull lose trolley comes play launching flying larger heavier Gliders Takeoffs resemble launches low-powered air plane Crosswind takeoffs no problem have ailerons make sure tow plane pilot path Glider lifts off Often little up elevator help ful followed just touch up trim Dont try take off spoilers extended tow plane somewhat underpow ered give Glider trolley bit push get whole thing started tow plane should stable easy fly have fair amount excess power especially inexperienced have used everything Proctor Antic mono plane first OS FS6O en gines tow Airtronics Olympic II 1/3-scale Laser Bob Godfrey OS FS300 engine Laser will tow light Glider up 450 climb angle outof-sight turn will also tow heav ier Gliders realistic manner goal match airspeed Glider tow plane After towline stretched taut tow plane pilot should apply full throttle take off after Glider air borne should trim give good angle Jason Lehman maneuvering trolley WIK Speed Astir resting atop same Glider shown cover photograph Though fuselage identical semisymmetrical wing section makes quite bit faster little bit aerobatic As can see trolley really makes easy move around field takeoff position 86 Model Aviation Graupner quarter-scale Discus mounted trolley Paul Melnyk L Jason Leh man watching Notice Gliders wings supported trolley butt up against vertical restrainers keep Glider trolley until its ready fly climb being careful avoid stalling climbing too fast should inform Glider pilot maneuver flying giant circle keeping turns wide gentle should avoid flying straight line unless very windy stay out path sun Glider releas es should throttle back descend land towline will affect flight characteristics tow plane A-size Laser takes about three minutes tow -scale Discus out sight en tire flight tow plane takeoff landing can little six minutes spinning down land Theoretically several large Gliders could towed up 16-oz tank fuel course probable well-matched Glider tow plane As illustration follow ing reasonably well-matched Glider-tow plane combinations h-scale Laser Bob Godfrey OS F5300 engine tows to-lb A-scale Discus Graupner 8-lb A-scale Salto Laser powerful will really tow almost anything Proctor Antic biplane monoplane OS F560 engine tow 3-lb Air tronics Olympic 2-lb Hobie Hawk 3-lb Clou 2-lb Graupner Amigo II Sig Gazariator 05 60 en gine tows 4-lb Dodgson Maestro 3lb Olympic II 2-lb Hobie Hawk 5-lb ASW 17 A-scale Fleet Biplane Kavan F5300 engine tows 12-lb A-scale LS3 15-lb LS5 both Rowing 8-lb Graupner Discus A-scale Sig Cub OS FSl2O engine tows 8-lb A-scale WIK Speed Astir 4-lb Dodgson Maestro 10lb A-scale Jantarand believe very slowly carefully A-scale LS5 weighs 16 lb Hobby Lobby Senior Telemaster OS F5120 engine tows L53 Amigo II Speed Astir Jantar 80-in Robin Zenoah G-23 en gine tows 8-lb A-scale Speed Astir 8-lb A-scale Discus 10-lb A-scale Jantar L53 L55 11-lb A-scale DG 202 Roland Kern de sign Any good floater can towed experienced less excess power need tow although ascend slowly Ive heard said Gliders pow ered models compatible ex perience thats simply thermal days need limit flight time someone else waiting go up Large-scale Gliders really come own coupled tow planes Fifteenminute flights common theres plenty room aerobatic routine wish Perhaps Scale RC Glider contests should launched Find friend suitable tow plane Both will have challenging thor oughly good time June 1989 87 Paul Melnyk seen piloting Glider tow plane pilot view Graupner Discus has lifted off trolley before tow plane Glider should stay slightly higher throughout towed flight Both models should trimmed climbing position still low clearly visible goes well both planes properly trimmed out tow pilot will almost flying Glider pilot will hardly have touch con trols trick fly smoothly wide circles avoid getting slack towline Both planes just after takeoff tow plane has just started its first turn dont turn relatively soon may fly out sight Jason Lehman watching intently Tony Na poleon pilots tow plane Glider obediently behind another successful flight tow teamTony Napoleon has towline Paul Melnyk holds quarter-scale Graupner Discus tow plane use Robin 80 However number tow plane/Glider combinations will work long reasonably matched power speed After have gotten over first-flight jitters will find can tow very large Gliders relatively low-powered tow planes see text some examples this