KEEP IT ON THE LEVEL

When initiating aero-tow, many pilots pull back stick at some point to get airborne. Not me. Here’s what works better, and why.

Any time you’re near the ground it’s safest to have both fuselage and wings level with the surface (yes windward wing low in a crosswind, but more than slightly low creates other problems). Tailwheels tend to come up automatically during acceleration, and skids and nose wheels do too, after which there’s still that sensitive phase of building speed for liftoff.

Impatiently trying to pull the glider up trades the most efficient attitude for a higher angle of attack, adding drag to both aircraft at the most critical point while also sacrificing some degree of control. Instead, try doing nothing except holding level a few seconds longer. If your bird has a nose wheel and you feel it softly bouncing, nudge back only enough to keep it up and wait for the miracle of flight to happen by itself. That way you’ll enter the sky in a stable attitude with minimal drag and maximum control.

Then occasionally you’ll be a couple feet up and something atmospheric puts you back down momentarily. Trying to hold it off with elevator may work, but why bother? The risk of overreacting is unnecessary. Doing nothing allows you to bounce right back up still in the same efficient attitude.

Keep It Simple, Sweetie.

However… say it’s really hot and there’s no headwind (think density altitude). The takeoff roll may last an uncomfortably long time, but here too patience remains a virtue. Execute your liftoff the same way, but then hold the glider low with steadily increasing forward pressure even as the towplane begins to climb. By staying in ground effect a few seconds longer before transitioning to high tow position you further reduce drag the tug must overcome, which ultimately gets both birds higher sooner.

Note: If you intend to use this last technique, be smart and mention it to tow pilots beforehand so they won’t think you’re unable to climb and cut you loose…