QUAD Tow Promo Video

A discussion restricted to the topic of hang gliding.
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The Oz Report
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QUAD Tow Promo Video

Post by The Oz Report »

<div id="1571929925"><i>Running after the pilot</i><br><p> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bYPvx3 ... u.be"><img border="0" src="../pub/images/quadtow.JPG" width="640" height="362"></a></p><p class="BN">ATV Towing is the use of an ATV used as a non stationary moving vehicle with a static line to tow a hang glider or paraglider into the air.<br> Compared to a scooter tow setup, there are not many changes which have to be made to the ATV.</p><p class="BN">The tow line is laid out in an open field and runs from the rear of the ATV to a turn-around pulley anchored to the ground a few feet behind the ATV, then past ATV to another turn-around pulley some distance away and back to the glider which sits a certain distance in front of the ATV.</p><p class="BN">Since the line almost completes a full circle the glider and ATV are placed directly behind one another. If now the tension increases through the pull of the ATV it will increase the tension on the glider which will be pulled forward. From this point on the instructor on the ATV is driving and pulling the glider a set distance in front of him. The easiest way to picture this is a dog chasing his own tail.</p></div>
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Blindrodie
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Awesome but not new…

Post by Blindrodie »

I considered putting this kind of system together a long time ago (when I had suitable space) based on an early training book by Pagen I believe. Tension and release were the only sticky issues
with knowledgeable operators.

SO, lets talk about the TAIL on the "Alpha" wing was it?

New? Old? What up?

8)
Jim

Tow me up. I'll find my way down
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Neumann Philipp
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RE: Awesome but not new…

Post by Neumann Philipp »

@Bilndrodie
I considered putting this kind of system together a long time ago (when I had suitable space) based on an early training book by Pagen I believe. Tension and release were the only sticky issues
with knowledgeable operators.
You are absolutely right, the idea is not new and definitely didn't one day come to me. I had the pleasure of being hooked into a system like the one I developed back in 2016 in the German Alps. That was when I was blown away by it and had to build one myself. After two years I was finally given the resources to do it and do it thoroughly.
Tension and Release turned out to be less of a sticky issue than the glider choice and setup. A release set up on the ATV side with bridles and weak links did the trick on the operator side which is already a lot more for safety than scooter or winch tow can offer. (At least if you don't consider cutting the line as a release option)
Tension is limited by the weak links on operator and pilot side on the high so not really an issue either.
SO, lets talk about the TAIL on the "Alpha" wing was it?

New? Old? What up?
The tail was something were I took a little bit of a leap. I knew I will be adding a fin for yaw stability but I also notice throughout the first testing flights with early pilots that pitch pressure is absolutely crucial. We were thinking about increasing pitch pressure through the reflex in the glider. We test flew Alphas with raised luff lines but ran into other issues created by that and decided to leave the glider stock. The idea of this system was meant to be simple so I was against making major modifications to the glider itself. So in order to create a deeper pitch well and more bar pressure I thought of a horizontal stab like the Combat or ATOS has. I made the first V-Tail prototype, stuck it on the original keel of an Alpha and flew it. I was really nervous about that it would pitch me down and significantly speed me up but thanks to my already functioning system I could test fly it never leaving 5 ft of altitude. Not having to run it of a mountain or hill was really great. To my surprise it didn't change trim at all and created a perfect amount of pitch pressure for the student to notice if they were pushing out or pulling in.
With the V-Tail I was able to create desired yaw stability as well as pitch stability by using the original WillsWing fin frames and not have to come up with my own tail-plane design.
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Blindrodie
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Post by Blindrodie »

Very nice. Thanks for the reply...

I should be able to look into this again in the near future! Great idea on the tail!

8)
Jim

Tow me up. I'll find my way down
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Steve Baran
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Quad-tow

Post by Steve Baran »

Dropped in on the USHPA BOD Mtg in Colorado Springs last weekend where Matt Taber showed this video and talked up the quad-tow system. All present were impressed. Zapped Pearson a note asking a bit more about it and it looks like the Alpha 235 is best suited. WW will likely offer the additions to the 235 that are best for quad towing in 2020. We have more places to do this kind of towing than we do training hills (and nearer to town) in our area. Two of us are planning to head to Lookout to see the system in action this coming Spring. Taber mentioned that the 235 could be flown clear down to 14 mph. We feel it'll make a great addition to foot launched hill training by using the tow first until the student can fly and land well. Both Taber and Pearson suggested that it's use will substantially cut down on the time it takes to learn hang gliding. I can't wait to see it and give it a go :) We hope to put the system into use in 2020 in our area (Spokane, WA).
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