tow hook location for gentle lady

[patv]

I've got my gentle lady all set up and balanced. I installed the tow hook according to the measurements iin the instructions but its about 1/2 inch behind the specified cg range. I don't think this should be!
Anyone know where the hook should be placed relative to the cg location?

Pat

[fhhuber506771]

the hook should be forward of the CG by about 1.2 inch. hang the airplane upside down by the hook and it should hang with the tail down significantly (about 30 deg angle)

[flyingdogtwo]

the hook should be forward of the CG by about 1.2 inch. hang the airplane upside down by the hook and it should hang with the tail down significantly (about 30 deg angle)

1/4" forward of CG is a good starting point

[kwmtrubrit]

Was this an ARF or kit? I have the plans and can measure it from there if you wish. That location works fine on my GL.

[Sparky Paul]

On my GL, the hook is 3/4" forward of the c.g.
Anything more forward will limit the ability to climb when launched.
Much further aft -can- result in early pop-offs as it pitches up.
Work back with flight experience.
The photo, BTW, was taken with a launch into a cross-wind.. that's why it's not looking up the back end of the airplane, but the side.

[fhhuber506771]

OOPS.. typo.. I MEANT 1/2" :p (good start point) and I didn't catch it. :p Yep 1.2" is way too far forward for High-start.. too far back for aero-tow.. just a bad spot.

[patv]

Thanks for the tow hook info guys....3/4 inch in front of the cg worked fine. The plans called for 10 3/4 inches, measured back from the firewall, for mounting the tow hook. This is the center of a reinforced arrea obviously designed to support the hook but its just not in the right location. the reinforced area was large enough that it covered the area(barely) where the hook was inserted in front of the cg. I must say this is the only problem I found with the ARF to this point.
I got to the field bright and early today and what a beautiful day it was in NJ.
With almost no wind, I spent about 1/2 hour doing tosses to get the plane trimmed with a nice straight glide. Then it was time to stretch out the high start. To this point everything I have flow has been EPP so I was a bit nervous to let the GL go on the hi start. I was confident I had it pretty well trimmed so I set it up (with a mild stretch of the hi start). Up it went! tracked pretty straight with a slight rudder correction but no pop off!! Not a very high launch but man does she float!! I circled around a bit and made a careful landing. over the next couple of launches I progressively put greater tension on the hi start. By this time it was about 9:30 am and starting the warm up. I was able to find some lift and get a few flights of about 6-7 minutes. Couldn't seem to wipe the grin off my face!! :D I'm sure if I had better thermalling skills they would have been longer flights. By this time I had to pack it in to get to my daughter's soccer game but what a great day it was!!
A sucessful maiden flight of the GL.

[Yardbird]

Congrats on the flight!

My GL had her maiden flight today (and my first flight) as well in Durham, Connecticut. One or two test glides then a launch. Loved it.

I'm using a so-called upstart - about 33 feet of rubber and 120 feet of line. Figured it was fine for a beginner.

I was leary of the high start bacause I didn't want to fold the wings. What are you using for a hi-start. I'd like to transition to the "adult" hi-start and get some higher launches.

[patv]

Yardbird,

Congrats to you as well!

I'm using the hobby lobby red tubing. 100 ft of latex and 400 ft of mono. line. I streched it to about 80 paces and got great launch height. I built up to this gradually but saw no flex or flutter in the wing. It seemed a rather mild launch.

Did you build it from a kit or ARF? I was wondering if you had a questionable tow hook location on your instructions.

Pat

[Sparky Paul]

I fly off concrete a lot, and fitted this skid ahead of the hook to keep it from bending back and up when landing..
1/4" hardwood.

[kwmtrubrit]

Hey PATV,

Congratulations, I know what you mean about the grin! I have a GL. She needs repaires right now after the tree magnet pulled her in. No major damage due to impact, but the tail feathers were ripped off during recovery. I'm just finishing a Riser 100, then I will repair the Lady.

[Yardbird]

Sorry for the delay Pat.

Built from a kit 15 years ago, acted like a lawn dart on the glide test, put it away and forgot about it.

I got interested again and a group of super guys here in CT gave me some help and encouragement - the result is a old GL but flyable GL.

Tony