Aerotow High-Low Transition

Lesson Objective

Regulatory Requirement

• §61.87(i)(2)
• Private Pilot Practical Test Standard II-C

Content

• Appearance of tow plane in high tow
• Appearance of tow plane in low tow
• Effects of tow plane's wake on the glider
• Rate at which the glider must descend through the tow plane's wake.
• When to stop descending
• When the glider is too low relative to the towplane

Completion Standards

• a successful transition from high tow to low tow.
• a successful transition from low tow to high tow.

Common Errors

• Rushing the maneuver too quickly, causing slack,
• Allowing the glider to rise up too quickly, getting into a very high tow position

Prerequisite Study

• http://home.att.net/~jdburch/aerotow.htm JD Burch's "Top Ten Ways to Fail the Practical Test"
• Learning to fly Gliders, page 40, "Shifting through the wake"
• Glider Flying Handbook, pages 7-10 and 7-11