How to Start Towing, Lesson 1, Get Instruction

What's Foot-Launch Towing Like?

Compared to other forms of launching a hang glider, static towing is like riding a rocket ship to 2000+ feet. Because of the "false gravity" supplied by the truck through the towline, it's really quite amazing to step off flat, level ground and into the air. The foot launch starts with resisting the tow force before haltingly going along with the pull.. Climbing at a high angle of attack - at times climbing near 1400 feet per minute, bumping the bar to correct, topping out, releasing the towline and wrapping up the bridle... wow! In two minutes we've gone from standing to gliding.

Driving the tow vehicle is unique, too... space here doesn't permit a full explanation on all the details, but let it be said that you've never driven quite this way for any reason (see TowDriver SOP). The driver watches ONLY a pressure gauge and varies the speed of the car to maintain a constant tension. Every tow team has horror stories of what can happen when the driver does not watch the gauge. (Maybe some day we'll have those stories on a separate page)

Learning to Tow the Reel Pilots' Way

Our style of introducing pilots safely and successfully to static line towing is a 2-day process (usually). Our ideal process starts on Day 1 when you show up at a site without your glider. You'll learn all the elements, including the teamwork, that's necessary for a good towing system: the towing hardware, the vehicle use and driving, radio usage on the ground as well as hearing pilots in flight, weaklinks, towline, and other equipment du jour. This may seem elemental, but we've found it the best way to start.

On Day 2, with all the above in your head, you'll set up early in the morning for your first tow. It'll be a smooth, light wind day with no thermals or turbulence to interfere with that first flight. After several successful tows in real calm conditions, you may be allowed to tow in increasingly turbulent conditions.

Pilots whose skill and ability is known to the "coaches" have been allowed to tow on Day 1, but that is not the norm. We've seen some pilots have problems that could have lead to disaster. Others have done just fine. And there is no way for us to know beforehand who can do what. Therefore, your patience is required while we get to know you and your ability.

Aerotowing to get a solid start, and more

Aerotowing is probably the best way to get introduced to hang gliding, and for an experienced pilot it can be an awesome way of getting airtime. Beginners fly tandem with an instructor after the ground school session, and actually fly the glider on their first flight... from about 3000 feet above the ground. Around the Chicago area there are two aerotow parks – Enjoy Field , and Whitewater WI – where on most any day pilots are carving up the sky. Pilots launch from a 3-wheel dolly with 200-250 feet of line connecting them to the tug plane, then release (usually in a thermal) at 2000-2500 feet.

Check the other pages if this interests you. Your comments are welcome, as is your friendship and teamwork at the sites. LET'S FLY!!!

Static Line Towing