Tow Talk

Excerpt from page 46 of Soaring Beyond the Basics:

Too often, glider pilots release their tow at some arbitrarily predetermined altitude before reaching where they need to be, or after passing through lift and leaving it behind, or dumbest of all, in SINK… Know what average climb rate to expect from your tow plane in no lift and no sink, and then observe what you’re actually getting throughout the tow. You need a sustained minimum of 300 feet per minute more than the average towing climb rate, to be sure of soarable lift after release. 

Beginners are wise to tow higher than necessary, in case they fail to make good use of the first available lift. On the other hand, those confident of their skills may choose to release as soon as staying aloft seems possible, just for the challenge. (One who fails on the first try might also benefit from some extra landing practice…) 

An exception to always releasing in lift is when you’re sure what you need is within easy reach, or you see birds or other gliders soaring nearby. But when they’re even a few hundred feet higher, the bottom of their lift could be still above you… Few things are more frustrating than falling out of zero sink from slightly below others who are climbing away. Most of the tow cost has already been incurred at this point, so if you’re unsure (especially early in the tow) staying on those few seconds longer is usually a good idea.

Nonetheless, when you see others blissfully soaring, there’s no reason to tow beyond them and pay to be taken somewhere else, maybe even above the best lift. Climbing on air is the point of our sport, and towing up through lift defeats that lofty purpose at the start.



Before releasing, always look both ways to confirm there’s room for you and the tow plane to separate quite clear of traffic, terrain, or clouds. Do not release where a distracted tow pilot could turn left into anything but open space. Tow pilots are as human as the rest of us; never assume they’re seeing (or thinking) what you are.