Is there an optimal tow line length?

[Mosquito]

I went to make a new tow line today since mine is getting shorter and shorter due to occasisonal breaks and splices.

Like a fool, I took a 150 foot line and cut it in half. Then, I realized that at 75 feet, my "new" line was shorter than my "old" line! So, a splice knot later and I'm back to a longer line of around 90 feet.

Up here in Minnesota, we use Planer Tow Line for fishing at 200 lb strength. Comes in either blaze orange or bright lime green. Awesome for towing as it does not tangle often and is easier to see on the ground. Most spools are 150 feet so I thought I could get two lines with one spool.

My question is, is there an optimal length for towing? I guess after towing for several years, I really have not paid too close attention to it but what do people normally run for length? (Some may think that my 75 footer would be plenty but that's only about 25 yards, a chip shot in archery). I realize that runway length is also going to play into this as well.

Tim

[pelle_gris]

I have towed with everything from 50 to 100ft lines, and in my experience the lenght is not that important.
These days I make my lines around 65ft. They fit our runway size, and are a common length of line available at the shop.

Personally I like a thick line that shows up well while towing, and normally use 5-6/32 dia line meant for flagpoles.

[Gudmund]

We have found that short lines are more problematic than longer ones and we have settled at 120 feet as being optimal.

We started with a fairly thick line and actually used the material that military parachutes are made of (also called 550 chord) with the inner elements removed. More recently we have been using thinner, braided line, but still the same length.

The 120-foot length allows me as the tow pilot to stand relatively close to my tug at the beginning of the tow. By the time the sailplane comes into view, it is either flying fine, or it has released; either way, there is no propensity for my mind to become occupied with the process of flying it - something that has happened in the past with disasterous results.

Gudmund

[Len]

Hi Tim,
Funny thing, Charlie and I just had this conversation yesterday. I agree with Gudmund, the tow lines we use here are 120 ish, in length and 300+ lb test. I have been using this http://www.memphisnet.net/product/22...tebraidedseine as well as the #48 for some time with excellent results. We make the week link the tow loop and the attach point of the tug if needed.

You can get it in green too, thats what I use, but some say it blends in with the grass too much. Its ok, we have a colored ribbon on the end.

Now for the exception.
If you are towing something small, like 3 meter and under, I would go about 75-90 ft.
That works very well, and a lighter line is fine too.
But anything in the 4 meter and up range will start to bounce around a lot on tow, also, it has a tendency to whip in the corners more when using short lines for heavy planes.

When we tow the 10m Nimbus, its a dream on a long tow line, but bounces around a lot on a short one.

hope this helps

LEN

[Alex]

From my experience, it also depends on what size sailplane you are towing. I would recommend 60-70' tow line for sailplanes up to 100" and a 90' tow line for anything bigger

[Marnochs]

I'm with Len on the #48 MemphisNet braided line.

When I started towing, I was schooled for 125' line length. Visual 10' streamer( red, 2" wide) placed 25' ahead of the glider end of the towline ( on a heavy duty swivel) to help indicate if the glider is above or below the towline.

I think there's 580' on a spool so there's lots of extra, I keep a roll in the van incase I need to make a new line (......anybody see where it dropped )

Scott

[Mosquito]

Great information. Sounds like shorter for smaller, longer for bigger!

Tow on boys!

Tim

[Pilatuspc12]

Thanks for the interesting information. So, if you are towing RES ships, 3 meters and under, what would be a good tow line length? I know you're supposed to tow aileron ships only but our club has a lot of the simpler, smaller, rudder, elevator ones. When we towed full size, we used 3/8 inch polypropylene braided line and they were made to 200 feet long. So, it sounds proportionate to the size of the ship being towed.

Randy

[Alex]

I would not recommend towing sailplanes without ailerons. One of the most common crash situations occurs when the tow plane / sailplane take off. Then, one wing tip hits the ground, and the sailplane makes a 90 degrees turn to the side where the wingtip hit the ground. The result is most often a crash unless the sailplane or tow plane pilot is able to release early enough.
Ailerons are also needed during to tow to keep the wings level.

It is possible to tow a RES ship, but it is much more challenging and requires more experience.

That's why I always recommended the Multiplex Easyglider (EZ) over the Radian (before it came out with ailerons), because the EZ comes with ailerons and is a superb sailplane to get introduced to towing. I still recommend the EZ, it's just fantastic!

To answer your question, Randy: I would recommend a 90' line for 3m ships (TLA-90): http://www.iflytailies.com/store/tow-line/

[Len]

I agree 100% with Alex.