Tow Patterns

[Bill Cummings]

Looks like 2,286 feet from take off to the pulley.
The grid direction is 174 degrees. About 14 degrees off of magnetic north.

Real Co. Airport.JPG (30.96 KiB) Viewed 10706 times

[Bob Kuczewski]

This is a rough idea of what we could do ...

south_wind_right.gif (349.27 KiB) Viewed 10706 times

I haven't done any checking on the scale, so let me know if you think the pattern is too large or small. I could also add a little hang glider or use one color for tow and another for glide.

[SamKellner]

Thanks for all the help Guys,

Bob, That pattern is too large by about 33%.

Can you reduce the width and length?

Our weather is wintery this week If the weather would cooperate, then we could get outside and fly and get away from the PC.

For Christmas, Effie got me a dorm size frig for the hangar.

[Bill Cummings]

Pattern right.JPG (28.57 KiB) Viewed 10700 times

pattern left.JPG (32.21 KiB) Viewed 10700 times

[SamKellner]

Bill,

That looks about right for size. As I recall, Dave was having them turn the other direction after release. That would be a Left approach, right?

Also doing payout towing, if feels easier/safer to turn left for the down wind leg. Sorta follow the airport rd. Keep your speed up when approaching the tree line corner. G-12 on the grid.

Did you see that "ultralight adjacent to runway" remark on the 49R site you copied?

[Bill Cummings]

I was thinking that to release and turn left would be turning toward a descending GA aircraft on its downwind leg of the DBF.
Greater distance is why I was turning right for HG & PG.

Bob’s pattern would have the base leg of the HG & PG crossing the runway low and possibly in the way of GA air traffic on final for the 15.

The pattern I chose would keep tow operations inside the left DBF for GA.

The closest conflict would be if GA taking off down the 15 and turning left before passing the 33 Displaced runway would have a releasing HG & PG just about to release in close proximity of the departing GA that might turn left too soon.

My pattern would not cross GA DBF or the runway.

Some tow operations at airports usually have each, GA & tow, turning opposite directions to avoid conflict. The problem with 49R is that your operation can’t be on the west side of the runway. If it were on the west side GA and tow turning opposite directions would give the most clearance.

I can see the benefit of turning left after take off. It stays away from the runway.
Possibly releasing and turning left will yield enough clearance with GA on the downwind leg of DBF.

It seems crowded when laying in bed in the dark and thinking about it.
(It makes my feet sweat and keeps me awake.)

I’ll have to check for the ultralight note.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Hi Bill and Sam!!!

You guys each know waaaaaaaayyyyyy more about towing than I do, and it looks like Bill's got a handle on graphics. So if you can work together to come up with a concept, I'll be happy to lend my help in turning it into a final product.

At this point, I'm thinking that it might be clearest to have a different diagram for each major wind direction that you expect to handle when towing. If you can come up with a rough sketch for each of several wind conditions, then I can make up the animations for them.

How does that sound?

[SamKellner]

It seems crowded when laying in bed in the dark and thinking about it.
(It makes my feet sweat and keeps me awake.

Bill I'm asking you to be the test pilot.


Actually...
Turning away from the main runway will be safer. There is plenty of room to land in that field if need be, although I've never seen that happen.

However, the hill just to the west of the airport is very inviting to ridge soar.

There's always something else we need that would make our scooter ops safer. A strobe light might help on the scooter. Airtraffic out here is minimal.

If Bill can reverse his last example, so as to show a left turn after release, that would reflect the pattern I've seen work.

Any other aircraft on downwind will have more altitude. I've been getting some stick and rudder airtime here recently and don't see a conflict.

Thanks again,

[Bill Cummings]

tow & flt. path.JPG (42.66 KiB) Viewed 10687 times

[Bill Cummings]

Tree line.JPG (36.64 KiB) Viewed 10687 times