Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 17

Thread: towing gliders

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Berlin, Berlin Germany
    Posts
    7

    Default towing gliders

    Hi folks,

    has anybody of you made any experiences with towing gliders in a Carbon Cub SS or Carbon Cub EX?

    If yes how did it work, what are the tow - weight limitations?

    Do you have any video footage of it?

    I have tried out Carbon Cub SS last summer with some of my mates and we are stunned.
    But we are a gliding club and would have to use it as a towplane.

    Thanks, Best,

    Peter...

  2. #2
    Senior Member Steve Y's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Indian Wells, CA
    Posts
    212

    Default Re: towing gliders

    Quote Originally Posted by The Flying STIG View Post
    Hi folks,

    has anybody of you made any experiences with towing gliders in a Carbon Cub SS or Carbon Cub EX?

    If yes how did it work, what are the tow - weight limitations?

    Do you have any video footage of it?

    I have tried out Carbon Cub SS last summer with some of my mates and we are stunned.
    But we are a gliding club and would have to use it as a towplane.

    Thanks, Best,

    Peter...
    Seems like a CC towing gliders is like a Mercedes Benz with a U-Haul Bumper Hitch for towing a trailer to Walmart? (-:
    Last edited by Steve Y; 06-09-2014 at 10:53 PM.
    XCub: CCX-2300-0011
    SPOT X TRACKING: https://maps.findmespot.com/s/09SL

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Shelby, NC
    Posts
    41

    Default Re: towing gliders

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Y View Post
    Seems like a CC towing gliders is like a Mercedes Benz with a U-Haul Bumper Hitch for towing a trailer to Walmart? (-:
    Way to go Steve!!!

  4. #4
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Berlin, Berlin Germany
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: towing gliders

    Quote Originally Posted by richphil View Post
    Way to go Steve!!!
    ...thanks for the qualified replies...

  5. #5
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Shelby, NC
    Posts
    41

    Default Re: towing gliders

    Quote Originally Posted by The Flying STIG View Post
    ...thanks for the qualified replies...
    Sorry Peter! Should have thought about the comment before agreeing. No offense meant! As a builder of an EX cub, I would think you would have an unstable platform to tow a glider given the light weight of the EX. Mine weighs 1022 lbs. and can be a handful in very windy conditions. I am sure those who have a lot more time in one than me would be much more qualified to answer the stability question. Just saying!

    Richard

  6. #6
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Berlin, Berlin Germany
    Posts
    7

    Question Re: towing gliders

    Hi, again
    and thanks to all of the answers.

    Still it seems somebody needs to build and test it. I am not at this point, yet.

    Question also would be what would the maximum tow weight be? Could we legally tow an 800kg Duo Discus?

    Super Cub only is certified for 600kg isnīt she?

    Best, Peter.

  7. #7
    Member Tahoe Cub's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Zephyr Cove, NV
    Posts
    46

    Default Re: towing gliders

    CHT's would be the limiting factor. In many soaring locations temperatures are seasonally relatively high. These temperature conditions are not compatible with full power 60-65 MPH tow speeds to typical release altitudes using a CC340. Don't bother unless it is a cold climate. But why waste a CC340 towing!? That's what Husky's are made for. Mike

  8. #8
    Senior Member randylervold's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Yakima, WA
    Posts
    1,378

    Default Re: towing gliders

    Quote Originally Posted by The Flying STIG View Post
    Hi folks,

    has anybody of you made any experiences with towing gliders in a Carbon Cub SS or Carbon Cub EX?

    If yes how did it work, what are the tow - weight limitations?

    Do you have any video footage of it?

    I have tried out Carbon Cub SS last summer with some of my mates and we are stunned.
    But we are a gliding club and would have to use it as a towplane.

    Thanks, Best,

    Peter...
    Hi Peter,

    We have received lots of interest from glider clubs in Europe, and Kamil from directSky, our European distributor, tells us there may be a significant market segment there for us. To answer you question, no, we haven't yet outfitted a Carbon Cub SS with a tow hook and tried it out. We have a significant engineering development queue right now and that item, though enthusiastically requested by Kamil, has not come near the top of our list. Also, we have the EASA regulatory maze to navigate.

    All that said it should be very possible, and the quickest path might be for your club to build the kit version of the Carbon Cub and install the tow hook system yourselves. Sorry we don't have a more immediate solution for you but I can assure you it is definitely on our list!
    Randy Lervold

  9. #9
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Berlin, Berlin Germany
    Posts
    7

    Smile Re: towing gliders

    Quote Originally Posted by randylervold View Post
    Hi Peter,

    We have received lots of interest from glider clubs in Europe, and Kamil from directSky, our European distributor, tells us there may be a significant market segment there for us. To answer you question, no, we haven't yet outfitted a Carbon Cub SS with a tow hook and tried it out. We have a significant engineering development queue right now and that item, though enthusiastically requested by Kamil, has not come near the top of our list. Also, we have the EASA regulatory maze to navigate.

    All that said it should be very possible, and the quickest path might be for your club to build the kit version of the Carbon Cub and install the tow hook system yourselves. Sorry we don't have a more immediate solution for you but I can assure you it is definitely on our list!
    Hi Randy,

    thanks for your reply.

    We met Kamil last year, very professional and kind guy. It has been a pleasure to fly the Cub with him.

    And yes we are also thinking about the EX to build and install the tow hook.

    The question at directsky (We probably have been one of those who kept Kamil pushing :-) ) was and in general still is how the CUB, if SS or EX performs as a towplane.

    Maybe there is already someone who put a tow hook at the EX.

    Cheers, Peter.

  10. #10
    Senior Member randylervold's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Yakima, WA
    Posts
    1,378

    Default Re: towing gliders

    Quote Originally Posted by The Flying STIG View Post
    The question at directsky (We probably have been one of those who kept Kamil pushing :-) ) was and in general still is how the CUB, if SS or EX performs as a towplane.

    Maybe there is already someone who put a tow hook at the EX.
    I'm not aware of anyone who has put a tow hook on a Carbon Cub yet. I can't help but think it would do quite well, at least with the medium to smaller gliders. An 18 meter duo with full water ballast might be a bit of a challenge though. ;-)

    No question you'd want the later model cowling with the improved cooling that has been standard for a couple of years now.
    Randy Lervold

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •