is a cessna a good tug?

[ger kilbey]

hi lads
i have a 80" graupner cessna 152 with a mvvs 144 twin,
im facinated with glider tuging and was wondering would this model make a good tug?

the model is really designed for a 120 4t so the 1442t has bags off power,

if anybody can advise me with setup and transforming this model into a tug i would greatly appriciate it

thanks ger

[andrew wallace]

hi ger
can't see any reason why the cessna wouldn't make a good tug
what size of glider would you hope to be towing?
the tow release goes at the back of the trailing edge of the wing

check out this site www.scalesoaring.co.uk this is where i learnt all about aerotowng

all the best
andrew  

[ger kilbey]

hi andrew
thanks for the reply,to be honest i wouldnt be looking to tow any too big at the begining as the im new to glider tuging,i mainly wantad to see was the model suited to it and it gives me insperation now to go ahead and convert it to a tug,
i will have a look at that site an im sure it will give me some ideas and nowleadge that i need,
thanks again andrew for the help and ill let you know how i got on

ger

[andrew wallace]

hi ger
we use a hanger 9 pawnee with a lazer 100 about 20cc and tow  2.5 to 3 metre gliders and it works well

this is my cm pro discus on tow and i've had some great flights with it  

andrew

[ger kilbey]

hi andrew
i would have never thought that model would pull a glider that big thats savage, :shock:
i had a good look on that website you recommended and got some good advise,
where abouts are you flying it would be great to come down for a days flying and have a good look at tuging the right way :lol:

ger

[andrew wallace]

i belong to the ballymoney flying club  www.bmfc.btinternet.co.uk
you would be more than welcome any time to come and fly with us

andrew  

[ger kilbey]

thanks for that andrew,might make a weekend off it over the next few weeks :wink:
im a member off the shankhill flying club www.srfc.net and likewise your more than welcome to come down,have a look on the website and you will see there is plenty places to slope ie the sugerloaf mountain :wink: directly in front off the flying site!

ger

[Fred]

Hey Ger (sorry, catching up!!!)
Welcome to the forum !

As Andrew said, any plane can be a tow plane. Just need a hook (as close as possible of the CofG) and a strong release servo (just in case !    )

Also, for the power etc etc, I think today's tendencies is to fit the biggest engine possible to tow on an airframe...
Just to say that a few years ago, we used to tow 4 m gliders with a 15cc without any problems... 5m possible, but you need a good tow and glider pilot (and not be in a rush   )...

144 twin, you should be able to tow pretty much everything in Ireland, except the old exeption of course, but as far as week end models goes, you are more than Ok  

[ger kilbey]

hi fred
yeah i didnt realise that realitively small models can tug models up to 4m+,
as andrew was saying they were using a hanger9 pawne to pull 2.6m+ with no problems thats savage :shock:
i suppose like anything it all about setup and getting everything working smoothly in case off unforseen errors :wink:
the cessna is a really smooth easy flyer more like a fancy trainer if you like so im hoping it will make a good tug and with the mvvs 144 twin 2 stroke its plenty power,
just waiting on a few bits and pieces to come in to start working on the release mecanisim,
thanks for the reply fred

ger

[Fred]

You're welcome Ger  
Let us know about your progress, or if you need a hand!
I'm actually 10 mins drive from the club, when you are ready, we might give a go at towing, showing you a few things (I bring the gliders   ).

And I haven't seen Gary in a long time !

[ger kilbey]

hi fred
what club are you flying with,i notice your in churchtown not that far from myself is there any tuging going on in your club?

[Fred]

Welll... My club is pretty much everywhere with a slope !  
But I'm with the ISR, based mainly (well, officially for the MACI) at Mt Leinster, Co Wexford.
But I live in Churchtown (near the Bottle Tower   )

We should definitively meet one of these days if you live nearby  

[ger kilbey]

yeah defo,im up there every wed and sunday,drop in any time and have a flight your more than welcome,ill have the cessna with me,it would be great if you could have a look at the model and see whay you think,
my number is 0858182772 ring me anytime if your thinking about heading up,the help would be great
it would be great to get some tugging going in the club and then maybe organise an avent when we are more experianced :wink:

ger