Discussion Aero-tow East

[rcmorrow]

Have to wite something here since my name was brought up

The Super Cub I have works very well for towing sailplanes up to about the 4m to 5m span with all up weights at 10-15lbs or so.

The advantage I see with this plane is that I can slow it down and tow smaller planes without stressing out their airframes. This also allows me to get a few more tows on the Super Cub before having to change and charge batteries.

We have had some great interest building up at New Canaan at Waveny over the past several weeks with Steve bringing his beautiful scale sailplanes for me to tow (Steve is way to trusting of my abilities !)

I have a second Super Cub I just picked up that I plane on putting in a slightly larger Axi motor (I currently am using an Axi 5330-18 and the new motor I plan on is an Axi 5345-14), this should allow for towing of larger sailplanes, up to 20lbs I am hoping.

Steve and I have been estimating the ability of the Super Cub based on our trials at Waveny and we are hopeful that it should tow my new DG-600 up. I am certain It will be able to be towed up with the larger motor set-up.

there are more and more scale planes in the 1/4 scale range, or even a bit smaller that would work very well for towing sailplanes up to 3m or so spans. Just have to choose an airframe that will suit the needs and also match the powerplant carefully to be able to pull both planes.

Rambling here, but I hope anyone in the area that is interested in trying aerowtow with a smaller sailplane (in the 2m-4m range) will give it a try. Having just gotten into the scale sailplanes myself I have to say that I am so taken with how wonderful it is to see them being towed up like this, and I am having a great time being the tow pilot.

[SteveR]

Len, have you considered a job in the UN...you're such a diplomat!

[cooper998]

Thanks for the support guys, this will hopefully help bring more people into our hobby.

SteveP hit the nail on the head, so many people spend their hard earned cash on this hobby and want to participate but feel they can't keep up with the "Big Dogs" I am sure Nitro Planes has sold a ton of those cheap Discus/Ventus as well as several other vendors which leaves a gap in the available places to fly. Sure they could toss it off a hill and hope they get enough lift (still need to try that myself) or try the next best thing and go for aerotowing.

In no way do I want to suggest people start with a small plane just to get into the hobby but instead let them start at a modest pace and work up to bigger planes as they gather more experience and knowledge.

Oh and Steve, if your talking about that Bridge between Brooklyn and Manhattan I already own it! Would you care to lease it?

BillG, yes some of our current planes will slow down quite well for the smaller planes but you know me I'm not happy unless I am building something!

Tony

[Lbuff1]

I do suggest people start with a small plane to get accustomed. After all, when you learned to fly power R/C its with a trainer, not a 1/3 scale P-51 Mustang. Most folks will eventually go bigger. It's the same as power , bigger just flies better, you decide how big.

len
What are you going to build Tony?

[cooper998]

Len,
The "new" tug will be a "stick" type plane similar to the Pegasus but with a modified Clark Y airfoil to provide more lift at slower speeds.
My Decathlon is the perfect size but its symmetrical airfoil and short tail moment is more suited to its aerobatic heritage than towing.
I am leaning towards the stick type in order to keep the tow point as close to the centerline of the plane vs. a high wing plane where the tow point is far above the centerline.

more info will follow as I finish the plans and start construction,

Tony

With so much time on my hands lately I have been working on two different cad plans, the tug and a sailplane to be revealed at a later date (it will be BIG, 1/3rd scale). I am hoping to have the plans for them finished before the end of the year so I can start building in January

[creeve]

Guys My AMR 50 will Tow Slow with the flaps down
Its all about that left thumb!
I also have two smaller tow planes that will do the same thing
If you want to grow the sport put that good flyer that's near you on the sticks
Share the fun!
Get a cheap sailplane with a tow release and make it a club trainer
Give a kid that old dusty sailplane that's been on your shelf that hasn't flown in years.
Or if Lens in your area and leaves his trailer at your house cut the lock and tell him you forgot to tell him you live in a bad area
Or if you see a trailer on 95 with a picture of a sailplane and fly hard on the side
do a citizens arrest

Chas

[iflytailies]

In case you haven't seen my flyer yet, we will be having our 2nd Annual Susquehanna Soaring event on 4/24/2010 and 4/25/2010. We are planning to provide bigger tow planes as well as a small tug for gliders under 100". Beginners to aerotowing are definitely welcome to attend. We will be glad to show you the do's and don'ts, and have you leave with a big on your face!

http://iflytailies.jimdo.com/

[Lbuff1]

Just downloaded some photos from a recent trip to the SKSS flying field in Newark DE. This is a place that should be on your bucket list to get to.
SteveR and I both ventured down there on the Oct 10, 11th Weekend. Slope flying on Saturday and Aero-tow and thermals on Sunday.

[seanpcola]

I didn't read every post here so if I repeat someone I plead ignorance.

I've been talking about this very idea for a while. There is no doubt that the bigger stuff does fly better and is easier to see. I have not flown a lot of small scale ships. However, I have an Alpina 4001 (160") that is easily transportable and it hangs in there just fine. Thermals wonderfully and I can land it like a TD ship. I feel more comfortable flying it in a smaller field than I do the 1/3 and above size planes. I'm no super pilot so I prefer a lot of room. I feel that designers out there haven't spent time optimizing flying characteristics of 2M-4M scale models. Not saying I can do it, and there are certain compromises made for appearance certainly. There is a popular AS-K18 out there in 1/4 scale (Asher knows which one) that I have some long flights on. It is a blast to fly and I've worked some very light lift with it.

Well Asher, you ready for the weekend? I am.

[erict]

link to the build of my pilatus.

eric



http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1130090

[Lbuff1]

Hi Guys.
We braved the wind today and got in some flight with the Ventus and SteveP's Nimbus. The wind was kicking 15-25 and Rob once again was thrown into the tow pilot role. He handles that Pilatus like its on rails, even with the wind blowing, he got right down and hooked up the next glider. Thanks again Rob.
I strayed a little today and did a maiden flight on an Aero-Works Pitts Python I have been putting together. It flew very well and looks soooooooo nice with the big round cowl, I even put a round spinner on it for fun. It has a DA/3w 60 with a three blade carbon prop.

I hope some other flying took plance around the East. Let us know.

LEN

[SPasierb]

A great day of flying! Yes, a bit more windy than we would have bargained for. Actually by 1:00 PM the winds dropped a bit and the fast-moving thermals kept popping. I managed to speck out the Nimbus on a couple occasions far downwind, turning in a 40 minute final flight without really trying to hunt lift.

My Ariane V11 F5D took to the air again after a couple years of gathering dust. Neu 1509/1.5D on 4S 5000 30c turning a RF 16x17. I forgot what a moster that bird is on the climbs. What fun!

Between tows I took a few trips with my pylon stuff culminating with planting the Skat about a foot deep in the corn field. In addition to his superb tow skills, Rob is a heck of a downed plane hound. He found it right away. Fuse snapped in half, wing and tail fine. It will live to die another day.

Fall flying at it's best! Makes it hard to go back to work in the morning.

Steve

[Lbuff1]

Flying In Salem CT this Sunday at the Propbusters field. Aero-towing, whatever.
Hopefully Eric will have his new Pilatus out and we can get some time on it.

Be there.

len

[iflytailies]

And the following weekend will be the Cumberland Soar-for-Fun. The flying field is in WV. We are expecting at least one tug capable of towing up to 15lbs. More info here:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1122466

http://iflytailies.jimdo.com/

[Lbuff1]

Cumberland Soar 4 Fun.

If the weather is looking good....... I'll be coming round the mountain.
Electric only or a gas tug?

len