Launching a Glider from a Plane

[HavingFun2002]

I saw that the Wingo offers a glider that you can launch at attitude. They want about $30 for this. Does anyone know what kind of mechanism they use to launch the glider? I figure it’s just servo on a latch that releases a strap holding the glider, but I don’t know if there is a better way to do it.

Anyway, I picked up a few small foam gliders at my LHS today, I would like to give this a try on a few of my larger planes.

Thanks.

[Sparky Paul]

Here's the way I do it:
http://home.earthlink.net/~pjburke1/release.htm
.
http://home.earthlink.net/~pjburke1/IMAGES/KADMSHP3.JPG

[HavingFun2002]

Looks great. However, I'm going to do this from a pusher plane. Thus, mounting it on top will cause a problem.

However, should work on the bottom with a strap.

[ChrisP]

We tow up small R/C gliders with Twinstars at our club. All you need is a line attached to the Twinstar (no fancy release) and the glider attached to the line via a strip of tape. Full up on the glider peels off the tape and releases the glider.

Can't get much simpler than that !

[Thomas Stein]

Hey Chris,

how do you start with a glider in tow? Had yesterday the same idea watching a bunch of small slope gliders. Figured out a landing gear would be helpful, and took a little release mechanism too.
Just a little unsure how and where to attach the release mechanism. Whats happening to the tow when released? Sure could use some simple stuff, but what about a reusable unit with a little parachute;)

Best Regards,


Thomas

[ChrisP]

Originally posted by Thomas Stein
Hey Chris, how do you start with a glider in tow?
Thomas
We have all kinds of glider towing variations in our club. On the cheapo Twinstar trick I described, you hand launch both models. The towline is not detachable from the Twinstar, but that's no big deal. The line is attached to the top of the wing near the centre of gravity.
We also have full-blast electric towing for up to 4 metre gliders. Both models start from the ground. The glider releases first (using an available commercial tow coupling in the nose). The tug does a fly past and drops the tow line, also using a commercial coupling attached to a small rig on top of the wing. You just need some decent power i.e. an Ultra 1300 with a gearbox swinging a big prop.

It really is dead easy !

Chris

[Toaster]

Now now, it's so simple! all you gotta do is imitate this!
http://www2.acc.af.mil/accnews/sep99/Front.jpg
See? It's EASY! :D :p
Toasty

[raythomas]

This may be a little upscale to what you are thinking, but this is how we do it down here in the South. My brother-in-law works for NASA and he built the model you see mounted on the launcher. I already had the big green homebuilt plane from my glow days. The launcher took about 30 minutes to design and construct and it works great. Check out the pic. Thanks Ray


http://www.rcgroups.com/cgi-bin/photopost/index.pl?photo=417

[Zephyr]

I searched and only found one glider tow launch thread so I thought I'd revive it.
I have just put an attempted glider release mechanism on my TS. I consists of a gentle paperclip hook, wrapped onto the rudder servo-the idea being that full rudder turns it side on and so it no longer "hooks" the glider.
What do ppl think, is it a bad idea to leave the cable on the glider.

Also, I thought it would be a good idea to make this glider out of depron Idealy it would be a motorless Rudderon and elevator, has anyone got any plans?

Cheers