A Y-AEROTOW

Authors

  • Hans Nietlispach

Keywords:

Design, Training and Safety

Abstract

On November 15, 1987, at the Bern-Belp Airport in Switzerland, a two-seater ASK-21 was towed up to 800 m AGL by two Robin towplanes. This was the first flight of this kind in the civil seclor. During World War II, the German 'Luftwaffe'achieved aerotows of heavy Me321 transport gliders with three Me110 ("Troika-Schleep") towplanes and of one DFS 230 glider with five He 72 "Kadett"lowplanes. Since 1986, the idea of a so-called Y-tow has been discussed in a humorous way by a few club instructors and tow pilos. The reason for the laughing matter: Why not invert the classic double tow with two gliders and one tug to a two-tugs-one-glider tow? In spite of the cabaret laughter, careful investigations showed that in no way would legal or club regulations be infringed by such a trial.

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Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (1990)

Section

Articles

License

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