weak link
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- December 18, 2024
Gliding safety begins before you take off. Proper Preparation on the ground is essential to prevent emergencies before they happen. One risk to address before the start of your flight is related to the tow rope, specifically the potential danger it poses, NOT breaking. The solution to this issue lies in a simple but vital component: the TOST weak link.
What is a Weak Link?
A weak link is a safety
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- May 20, 2020
Snatching Yourself Airborne: An Auto Tow Odyssey
Imagine a world where the club towplane is parked. Maybe the annual from hell, maybe you can’t find qualified tailwheel pilots, perhaps flying is restricted due to Coronavirus. You can’t afford a motor glider. You keep watching great soaring days go by. Suddenly you remember a paragraph from the Glider Flying Handbook about auto towing. Is this your
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- February 17, 2016
In the USA we have a tradition to use a weaker rope to meet FAR 91.309. Polypropylene is probably the most common. However in Europe a heavier duty rope is more common.
At the JWGC 2005 I borrowed a rope from the glider owner (each pilot was required to bring their own rope), it had to be close to a 1 inch diameter and about 110 ft long. We tied small streamers to it so it could be found in the field.