2014 ISR Gliding events

[Fred]

Aerotowing Event is a go!

Dates: 12 - 13 July
Location: TBC (near Portlaoise)

The event will take place on a big private field!
Camping (tent, camper van etc) will be possible on site for the duration of the event.

A few tugs are confirmed and should accommodate any size of gliders! Big or small, bring something!  

More details to follow! Your chance to take part to history! (how's that for dramatic effect!  :lol: )

[mario]

Peux pas venir au :cry:

[Fred]

:cry:
More drink for us!  

[mario]

Mort de rire

[johnfireball]

Whats required to modify a glider to take a tow?
John

[Fred]

Hey John,

Not much
Main thing is to keep it simple, and above all, reliable!
I simply drill a hole as close as possible to the glider's nose. About 4mm diam. Can be anywhere, on the side, under the fuselage etc.
I then glue a plastic tube on each side of the hole. This will allow to guide the piano wire (about 2mm diameter) properly.
That gives you something like this roughly: nose <-o-----
And the piano wire, commanded by a servo. std size if you have the space. Can be glued on the side of the fuselage for exemple.
On release, the piano wire must fully release from the aperture to make sure that it will release!

Harder to explain than to actually do it! Should take you about 10 minutes to install.

I asked one of the daughter to draw a picture! (that's my excuse!) Might be way easier to understand!  :oops:



Now, depending of the size of your glider, just stick Velcro underneath, and this can be used to tow your glider. The Velcro will hold when you pull, but will release if you apply down force (put the nose up, the glider will release).
Did it this way when I was flying F3I with gliders up to 4m!

Simple  

[Happy Days]

Hey John,
the easiest way to hook up a glider for towing is as Fred says with a small piece of Velcro.

How it works in flight is rather difficult to explain, but be assured it certainly does. I can vouch for that.  So if you're going to the aerotow event, this is all you'd need to do to your glider.
I’ve taken a couple of snaps of the under side of my Phase 6. (They're not as good as Fred’s daughters drawing of a hook release system because she is very cleaver at drawing……She must get the ability from her mother) But it shows all you would need to do to tow a model up to about 4mtr wingspan.

 Here they are, a Before & After shot. Couldn’t be simpler! Ignore all the other “work in progress” in the background.



I never believed such a simple thing as Velcro would work, until I saw it in operation!

K.

[johnfireball]

Thanks,
          I do hope to attend, like to see aerotow in action. I like Keiths method with velcro, simplistic and easy.Perhaps it requires a more skilled pilot?
John.

[Alan_Perse]

I hope to make the Aerotow event.

[Alan_Perse]

Any more info on the Aerotow event Fred?

[gerryb]

ok, some details on aerator event next weekend, 12th, 13th july.

the event will take place at andreas balsiger's farm, bellmount, co offaly.  this is a very large site, perfectly suitable for aerotowing.

how to get there…..

from the north and east,  get onto m6 to exit 6, moat, take r444 to ferbane, then turn right to bellmount village, then turn left to cross over river, then cross over grand canal.  flying site is on the right 60m after canal bridge. watch for barns just inside gate.

alternative is to continue on m6 to athlone, then take exit 8 to n62 to ferbane.

from the south,  get on to m7 to nenagh, then n52 to borrisokane, then r438 to cloghan, at the roundabout in cloghan take the exit marked bellmount. flying site is just after 's' bend on the left approx. 5 or 6k from cloghan. if you cross the canal bridge, you've passed the site.

alternative from cork, m8 to exit 6 thurles, then n62 to birr, then n52 to kennedy's cross roads, then n62 to cloghan. b&b's are available locally, close to the site.  contact andreas on 086 8147 891 for more info. camping is available on site, but there are no toilet facilities.

anyone traveling might let us know on this page. anyone with tugs might also let us know

regards,
gb

[gerryb]

aerotow is cancelled due to several factors but mostly lack of tugs and bad weather forecast.

regards,
gb

[andrew wallace]

good call Gerry
i'm due to go away for a few days in the caravan and it's not looking good up here for next week  

[rogallo]

Fred and I are heading to Mount L in the morning if you care to join us after 11am. Be there Sunday too

Ralph

[selleri]

Lucky gits, have fun!