My glider will use a tow rope that is too strong. That rope, when under maximum pull, may damage the glider.
I need to install a weak link as a mechanical 'safety fuse'.
Here is one weak link system I can use:
wingsandwheels.com/tost-weak-l…
But which weak link is appropriate for my glider?
Federal Aviation regulations require a tow rope (or weak link) to have a certain breaking strength with regard to the maximum operating weight of the glider:
"The towline used has breaking strength not less than 80 percent of the maximum certificated operating weight of the glider or unpowered ultralight vehicle and not more than twice this operating weight."
ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chap…
To complicate matters, my glider can carry 400 pounds of water ballast. When I'm flying 'dry', I wo
... show moreMy glider will use a tow rope that is too strong. That rope, when under maximum pull, may damage the glider.
I need to install a weak link as a mechanical 'safety fuse'.
Here is one weak link system I can use:
wingsandwheels.com/tost-weak-lβ¦
But which weak link is appropriate for my glider?
Federal Aviation regulations require a tow rope (or weak link) to have a certain breaking strength with regard to the maximum operating weight of the glider:
"The towline used has breaking strength not less than 80 percent of the maximum certificated operating weight of the glider or unpowered ultralight vehicle and not more than twice this operating weight."
ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapβ¦
To complicate matters, my glider can carry 400 pounds of water ballast. When I'm flying 'dry', I would prefer to have a weak link that is just strong enough for the dry glider, and when flying 'wet' I would prefer a (somewhat stronger) weak link appropriate to the heavier operating weight.
See the second graphic, which shows which Tost weak links I can use in the dry or wet ballast condition.
I will start out getting the weakest weak links allowed (green, yellow, and white) and see if that launches me well without premature weak link breaks.
Pro-tip. Try not to lift the rear end of the ground launch car.
youtu.be/kd9QxRPb3hk?t=33
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avi2022
in reply to TomKrajci πΊπ¦ π³οΈβπ π³οΈββ§οΈ • • •What're you using for tow ? Plane/winch/something else?
I would presume anything able to accelerate the glider beyond its limits can't be great for the occupants... ?
TomKrajci πΊπ¦ π³οΈβπ π³οΈββ§οΈ
in reply to avi2022 • • •@avi2022
My first tows will come from a car/truck. They can't accelerate very fast, unlike a winch, because the motor must accelerate thousands of pounds of its own vehicle, plus the relatively light weight of the glider.
The problem comes during the climb phase. If the pilot goes 45-degrees nose high, the load on the tow rope is roughly the weight of the glider.
Like this:
youtube.com/watch?v=78rag4ugvy…
My glider is equipped with a front electric sustainer system:
front-electric-sustainer.com/
Battery energy density being what it is these days, you can consume 1/3 of your battery capacity merely going from zero knots to just getting airborne. A car launch to 300 feet would be a great help. And in that case, I can perform a gentle climb while on tow, which
... show more@avi2022
My first tows will come from a car/truck. They can't accelerate very fast, unlike a winch, because the motor must accelerate thousands of pounds of its own vehicle, plus the relatively light weight of the glider.
The problem comes during the climb phase. If the pilot goes 45-degrees nose high, the load on the tow rope is roughly the weight of the glider.
Like this:
youtube.com/watch?v=78rag4ugvyβ¦
My glider is equipped with a front electric sustainer system:
front-electric-sustainer.com/
Battery energy density being what it is these days, you can consume 1/3 of your battery capacity merely going from zero knots to just getting airborne. A car launch to 300 feet would be a great help. And in that case, I can perform a gentle climb while on tow, which keeps the rope load light.
A modern, low drag glider can stay airborne with just a light load on the tow rope:
youtube.com/watch?v=DCerZcIVlOβ¦
I live in New Mexico. My lowest elevation local airfields are at 4,200 feet above sea level. On hot summer days density altitude can be above 7,000 feet. I may need the help of an auto-tow to get airborne on hot days. Some nearby airports in the mountains are 3,000 feet higher. I may need auto tow there no matter how cold the air temperature.
There is much I need to analyze and characterize as I go through flight testing.
- YouTube
www.youtube.comSam - WiredForFlight
in reply to TomKrajci πΊπ¦ π³οΈβπ π³οΈββ§οΈ • • •