First Flight
I have attended the Cumberland MD Soar For Fun event for a number of years (it’s my home field). However, I’ve never been a big sailplane guy. But over the last two or three years there has been a movement toward aerotowing at the event. I would stand there and watch these beautiful scale sailplanes get towed into the sky where the High Starts and Winched sailplanes couldn’t go.
So, after the Spring Soar For Fun my friend Jim bought a used Easy Glider Pro sailplane. Shortly after he installed a tow release in the little guy and modified his Telemaster 40 with a tow release, he offered me a chance to try aerotowing. Right! I’m suppose to fly a sailplane tied to another plane with a “rope”. You see I’m a helicopter guy, so this doesn’t make any sense to me. But like they say “I don’t have a dime in it”. So after we talked about what to expect and sheepishly, trying to stop my knees from knocking I was hooked up to the tow plane. ( the pro’s call it a “TUG”)
The instructions seemed too easy, just stay behind the tow plane and relax! Jim advanced the throttle of the Telemaster and we started moving. Now what do I do? OK, try and keep the wings level, keep the slack out of the tow line, make sure I don’t stall the EZ glider, always watch the sailplane, don’t fly into the sun. bla,bla,bla, HELP! Someone hand me a helicopter!
We were climbing and Jim said we would make a turn out over the valley. OK by me, I was just along for the ride. The first turn was pretty ugly but we made it and started the downwind run to the release point. Jim says anytime. Now what switch did he say to move? Nope not that one, oh here it is. Released from the tow plane I finally took another breath. Now what? That’s it? Hey I did it. I landed the EZ and stood there thinking “Again”.
Well that’s how it started for me. For the next 3 months we towed and towed. Sometime 20 to 30 tows a day. Then we put the “EZ” in another members hands and then another. It was like an addiction.
Everyone that tried towing went out and bought an “EZ”. I bought a Cularis and we started towing it. It’s also an excellent training sailplane.
Jim and I heard about an event up in New England and we started planning a “Tow Vacation” (try and explain that one to your wife). I ordered shirts and Jim got the hats and we hit the road with a truck full of foam sailplanes. Our friend Butch and Jim did most of the towing while I would hook up the tow line and hand the transmitter to the next person in line. Give them some easy instructions and off they would go. Only to get back in line to do it again.
Well that’s about it. I returned home and started talking to Len about an origination.
“And by the way, I am now putting the finishing touches on a 4.5M Ventus scale sailplane and a 2M Pilatus Porter tow plane. Who knew that a scale sailplane pilot lived inside this helicopter guy!”
My name is Dave Darr
Co Founder of rcAerotowing.com
EZ & Cularis
