Towing Aloft
Table of Contents
Back to Towing Aloft Description
PREFACE
PART I - TOWING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
CHAPTER 1 - AN INTRODUCTION TO TOWING
I - The Story of Towing
From the Beginning - The Rebirth of Towing - Modern Towing - Paragliding Towing
- Where To Now?
II - Understanding Towing
Towing Instruction - Some Terminology - Towing Types (Aerotowing, Static Line
Towing, Retrieve or Pulley Tow, Reel-in or Stationary Winch, Payout Winch,
Variations) - Comparing Towing Types (Aerotowing, Static Line Towing, Reel-in or
Stationary Winch, Payout Winch Towing) - Hand Towing and Tethering Caution! -
Towing Safety
CHAPTER 2 - TOWING EQUIPMENT
I - Towing Bridles
The Evolution of Bridles - Hang Gliding Bridle Types (Bridle Construction, The
Skyting Bridle, Skyting Bridle Attachment, One-to-One V Bridles, Single Point
Bridle Aerotowing, Single Point Bridle Surface Towing, Two-stage Single Point
System, Tandem Bridles, Bridle Summary, Paraglider Bridles and Tow Bars,
Attachment to Ultralight Sailplanes)
II - Releases
The Ring Release - The String Release - Tubular Webbing Release - Schweizer
Style Release - Two-Stage Release - The Linknife - Other Releases - Other
Concerns - Release Lines
III - Weak Links
Weak Links and Lockouts - Construction of Weak Links - Desired Breaking
Thresholds (Hang Glider Thresholds, Paragliders and Ultralight Sailplanes) -
Minimizing Weak Link Failure
IV - Towlines
Towlines and Towing Methods (Payout Winch, Static Line Towing, Aerotowing,
Stationary or Reel-in Winch, Boat Towing) - Towline Options (Polypropylene,
Polyester, Ultraline, Kevlar, Spectra, Nylon, Steel Cable) - Towline Preparation
- Towline Maintenance
V - Towline Parachutes
Drogue Chute Types (Round or Conical Parachutes, Parafoil Type Parachutes) -
Drogue Chute Deployment Systems (Chute Held Collapsed by Line Tension,
Deployment Bag Held Closed by Line Tension, Deployment Bag Tripped by Towline
Separation From Release, Deployment Bag Mounted on Glider, Harness, Release or
Bridle) - Other Precautions
VI - Ground Launch Dollies
Good Dolly Design - Attitude Check - Sloping Ground
VII - Safety Equipment
Radio Equipment - First Aid Kit - Emergency Data List - Hook Knife - Glasses -
Cellular Phones- Wheels
CHAPTER 3 - TOWING RIGS
I - Payout Winch Equipment
Types of Payout Winch Systems (The Hydraulically Braked Winch, Friction Brakes
Winch) - Operating Controls (Hydraulic Winch, Friction Winch) - Drum Speed
Indicators - Line Tension Control Problems (Changing Spool Diameter, Changing
Lateral Angle, Changing Vertical Angle - Avoiding Line Tension Errors (Line
Guides) - Winch Drums (Line Wrap Change, Drum Inertia, Line Leveling, Drum
Strength) - Level-Wind Systems (By Hand, Manual Systems, Automatic Levelers,
Line Guides) - Electrical Equipment (Automotive Starters, Batteries) - Launch
Platform (Airspeed Indicator, Platform Launch Cradle, The Nose Release, Safety
Considerations) - Miscellaneous Maintenance - Brake Fluid
II - Boat Towing Equipment
The Boat - Tow Winch Equipment - The Glider - Hang Glider Floats - Harnesses -
Parachutes - Miscellaneous and Safety Equipment
III - Static Line Towing Equipment
Tension Measurement Systems (The Hydraulic Cylinder, Pressure Lines) - Pressure
Gauge - Towline Management (Rewind Systems) - Pulleys (Pulley Types, Pulley
Anchors)
IV - Stationary Winches
Hydraulic Systems - Mechanical Drive Winches (Scooter Winches, Car Winches) -
Tension Measuring Systems - Winch Drums - Level-Wind and Guide Systems - Safety
Systems - Line Retrieval
PART II - SURFACE TOWING
CHAPTER 4 - LEAVING THE GROUND
I - The Tow Site
Airports - Open Fields and Roads
II - Tow Forces
Effects of Tow Forces - Lockouts (Paragliding Lockouts, Hang Glider Lockouts,
Severe Lockouts)
III - Launching Under tow
Launching a Paraglider (Forward Inflation Tow Launches, Reverse Inflation Tow
Launches, Crosswind Launches, Visual Signs for Paragliding Tows) - Launching
Hang Glider (Foot-Launching Preparation, Into the Air, Skyting Bridle Launches,
Control on-Line, Crosswind Foot Launches, Dolly Launching a Hang Glider Setup,
Dolly Launching Pilot Preparation, Dolly Launch, Wheel launching, Hang Glider
Visual Signals, Platform Launching Preparation, Setting the Nose Release, Cradle
and Retainer Considerations, Connecting the Towline, Platform Launching
Technique I, Platform Launching Technique II) - Launching an Ultralight
Sailplane (Launch Preparation, Launch Procedures, Crosswind Takeoffs, Failure to
Release)
CHAPTER 5 - THE CLIMBOUT AND RELEASE
I - Flying a Paraglider on Tow
Condition Factors - Control on Tow - Tracking the Line - Crosswinds Climbouts -
Maximizing Climbout - Releasing from Tow
II - Flying a Hang Glider on Tow
Controlling Roll and Position - Yaw Corrections - Oscillating on Tow (Stability
Fins) - Speed Control - Line Tension Effect
III - Crosswind Operations
Site Requirements - Flying Procedures -
IV - Maximizing Altitude
Efficient Flying - Understanding Maximum Climb - Finding Proper Tow Angles of
Attack - Skyting Bridles and V Bridles
V - Terminating the Tow
High Tension Release - Stowing the Bridle - Dropping the Line
VI - Advanced Techniques
Slingshoting - Circuit Towing - Step Towing (The Step Tow Method, Step Towing
Equipment, Step Tow Procedures Stationary Winch, Step Tow procedures Payout
Winch)
VII - Tandem Towing
Launching - Flying Tandem on Tow
VIII - Emergency Procedures
Situation Awareness - Escaping Lockouts - Release Failures (Landing With the
Line) - Line Breaks - Tension Control Failures (Too Little Tension, Too Much
Tension) - Line Snags on a Glider - Line Snag on a Wing
CHAPTER 6 - OPERATING TOW SYSTEMS
I - The Tow Team
Ideal Tow Personnel - Launch Observer - Winch Operator - Vehicle Driver - Pulley
Monitor
II - Launching
Radio Communications - Tow Team Task for Launching Paraglider (Preparing to
Launch, Line Tensions) - Tow Team Tasks for Foot Launching a Hang Glider (Launch
Observer Duties, Towline Tension Control) - Tow Team Task for Dolly Launching a
Hang Glider (Launch Observer Duties, Towline Tension Control)
III - Glider Climbout
Tow Force Changes - Tow Force Limits (Hang Glider Tow Force Limits, Paraglider
Tow Force Limits, Ultralight Sailplane Tow Force Limits)
IV - Safe Towing Procedures
Benign Paragliding Problems - Dealing With Paraglider Emergencies (Lockout
Defense, Canopy Problems, Release Problems) - Hang Glider Problems
V - Payout Winch Towing
Pre-Operation Preparations - Preparing for Foot and Dolly Launches (Laying out
the Line, Pre-Tow Inspection) - Commencing the Tow Foot and Dolly Launches
(Start Methods, Launching) - Preparation for Platform Launch (Arranging the
Glider, Hooking up the Pilot and Line) - Commencing the Launch Platform Launches
- Completing the Tow All Payout Winches (Line Retrieval, Line Snags) - Boat Tow
Operations (Shore Operations, Boat Launching, Handling the Towline, Equipment
Matters)
VI - Static Line Operations
Pre-Operation Preparations (Line Lengths, Stopping Point for Return Pulley Tows)
- Preparing for Each Tow (Laying out The Line With a Rewind Reel, Laying out the
Line Without a Reel, Pre-Tow Inspection) - Towline Ground Friction - Commencing
the Launch and Tow Process (Paraglider Procedures, Hang Glider Procedures,
Gearing and Traction, Controlling Speed and Tension) - Completing the Tow
(Retrieving the Line With a Reel, Retrieving the Line Without a Reel, Retrieval
With a Pulley System) - Emergency Procedures (Terminating the Tow, Emergency
Line Entanglements, Pulley Monitoring, Tension Gauge Failures, Failure to
Release)
VII - Stationary Winch Operations
Pre-Operation Preparations - Preparing for Each Tow (Laying out the Line,
Pre-Tow Inspection Commencing the Launch and Tow Process (Launching, The
Climbout) - Completing the Tow - Emergency Procedures
VIII - Airport Operations
Runway Designation - Airport Patterns - Airport Procedures - Towline
Considerations - Airport Communications (Airplane Talk, Radio Frequencies) -
Line Strikes
PART III - AIR-TO-AIR TOWING
CHAPTER 7 - PREPARING FOR AEROTOWING
I - Aerotowing from the Beginning
Solving the Problems
II - Aerotowing Operations
Operating Areas - Operating Conditions
III - Towing Signals
Ground Signals - Aerial Signals
IV - Aerotowing Equipment
Towlines (Towline Lengths, Towline Construction) - Aerotowing Bridles (Two-Point
Bridle, Single-Point Bridle) - Aerotowing Releases (Tug Releases, Aerotowing
Glider Releases, Attaching the Primary Release, Shoulder Releases and Secondary
Releases) - Weak Links (The Tug Weak Link, The Glider Weak Link)
CHAPTER 8 - THE AEROTOWING LAUNCH
I - Aerotow Launch Methods
By Foot or by Dolly (Dolly or Trolley Launch, Foot Launching)
II - Dolly Launching Techniques
Preparing for Launch (Loading the Dolly, Hooking in, Hooking in to the Towline)
- The Takeoff Two-Point Bridle - What you Should Do - The Takeoff Single-Point
Bridle
III - Aerotow Foot Launching
Getting Ready - Taking off on Foot - What you Should Do
IV - Launching in Various Conditions
Crosswinds on Launch - Turbulent Launches
V - Emergency Procedures
Weak Link Break - Crooked Tow - Premature Releases
CHAPTER 9 - THE AEROTOW CLIMBOUT
I - Flying Under Tow
Pitching for Position - Roll Controls - Oscillating Under Tow - Following a Tug
- Flying in Varied Conditions (Crosswinds, Thermals) - Aerotow Lockouts
II - Releasing from Tow
Release Procedures - Finding Thermals - Emergency Procedures (Emergency Release,
Failure to Release, Flying With the Towline)
CHAPTER 10 - AEROTOWING OPERATIONS
I - Starting a Club
Aerotowing Costs - Your Field of Operation - Legal Matters - Operating
Efficiently
II - The Tug
Tug Maintenance - The Tug Pilot (Learning to Tow, Landing With the Line, Towing
Inexperienced Pilots, Outlandings)
III - Dual Towing
Launching Dual - Dual Flying Under Tow
IV - Towing in Competition
Equipment - Towing at a Meet - Releasing in Thermals - Towing Traffic
APPENDIX I - TOWING THEORY
APPENDIX II - USEFUL KNOTS
APPENDIX III - RELEASE TEST PROCEDURES
APPENDIX IV - USEFUL ADDRESSES
INDEX
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