A simple question i know someone has the answer to. It is something that crops up in my mind every time i see a glider being towed into the air by a powered aircraft. When the tow cable is released what happens to the cable?
Probably obvious but humor me please !!
By: mike currill - 29th August 2014 at 22:49
I also find that sometimes our idle musings are triggered by some thing we’ve seen and this forum is a great place to get them cleared up. Half of my questions have originated that way.
By: stangman - 12th August 2014 at 20:07
Thanks for that guys sounds logical. Another of my idle musings answered.
By: bazv - 10th August 2014 at 00:17
Varies a little depending on club/country.
Sometimes the rope is dropped in a designated area (prob if very small airfield)
Mostly the tug just lands with the rope attached (high enough approach to miss hedge/fence etc)
Some tugs have a system where the rope is reeled in after release and then just pulled back out for next launch
By: frankvw - 9th August 2014 at 22:40
From what I could observe, when the glider releases the cable, it stays attached to the tow plane, that flies back to the airfield. I think they do a low pass over the field, and release it from their end, to be reused, then land.
But I’m sure someone can correct me if I’m wrong
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August 9, 2014 at 5:13 pm