Glider Tow Anyone?

Well, my Dynaflight Super Decathlon is tweaked into shape for the tug. I recently picked up one of the Hobby-Lobby ASW 28s on a crash sale. All it lacks is some wire tie downs. We had planned to attempt the first tug/tow yesterday, but T-storms interrupted that outing. So, we have rescheduled that for today or tomorrow. I'm going to be under a lot of pressure on this one!

First, it's my Decathlon. But, it will be in the hands of my flying buddy who is a much better pilot than me. So, that 's a good thing. That one was kit built and I'd really hate to lose that model. The ASW will be in my hands... but it was on sale for $99 and was a fairly quick build, so if something has to go, it will not be a terrible loss.

Either way, first we'll need to work out communications before take off and the planned flight route. Then we'll need to get it all off the ground hopefully in one piece without catching a wing tip on the ASW. Again, communication and pilot skills. But, my Cularis has taught me well with regards to the use of ailerons on the ground during landings. Most of the time a wing never touches even after it stops. Still.... this is a lot different for a take off as there is no air to start with. We might try to make use of this dolly I made on an earlier comical attempt.

So, then, if we get off the ground... I'll be on a maiden flight with the ASW. So, I'll need to be trimming the model as we go. Next, hopefully we'll have some favorable wind and take it all up to 1000 or more feet. Then the release. So, I'll then have a bit of time to do more trim work. Hopefully feel out the flight speed, as this model I hear has the need for speed... but I'll find out. Then I'll need to figure out the stall speed, test out what effect camber has on the model. Supposedly this is NOT a thermal machine and drops quickly. Most people have added motors to theirs. Drag.... Anyway, so after all of that, I hope my fingers remain calm enough to not twitch... but then there is the landing.

You see, one has to stop at some point with a sacrificial bird. It doesn't come with flaps or spoilers. I really didn't want to put that much more time into it 'yet'. It supposedly needs to fly fast and drops quickly. Well, this all adds up for me as a tough landing situation. Add to that... I have one chance as there is no go around and not really enough time to practice.... then add the excitement of all this "new stuff".

This hobby sure is fun! Most of the time.... It's doing stuff like this that really gets the adrenalin flowing. Hopefully, we'll pull it all off and everything will live for another day. If it goes really well, we might try it for a second or third flight on the first outing. We have an exhibition on Sunday and would like to do this as a part of that show.