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Slack Rope

Glider pilots often fly in turbulent conditions, so the ability to recover from slack rope is essential. The towrope is designed to break to prevent damage to either the towplane or the glider. However, this is not always when turbulence or other factors cause the glider to get out of position and slack develops in the towline. When trying to remove the slack, the idea is to create some drag to slow down the glider, and then ease off the drag once the slack in the line is taken up. Yawing the glider is a convenient way to do this, and the least complicated from a control point of view. Severe cases may require the use of spoilers.

Since the outcome is not always certain, the pilot must anticipate that the tow line may break and be prepared. This exercise is done once the student can easily maintain normal tow position under varying conditions, and has successfully completed the box the propwash exercise.  The outline for this exercise is:

  1. Tow plane signalled that this exercise will be done.
  2. Once the tow plane levels out above 1000 feet on an upwind course the exercise can begin.
  3. Instructor takes control with student following through on controls. Instructor moves the glider slightly high and to one side, then dives down to the normal tow position to put slack into the rope.
  4. Instructor demonstrates recovery by yawing the glider away from the loop.
  5. Instructor then creates the slack rope again and gives control to the student to do the recovery.
  6. Option to use spoilers in extreme cases discussed briefly.
  7. Student flies rest of flight in control as normally done.

It is important that the instructor does a demonstration and all of the entries into the slack rope condition.  Students will rarely have the appropriate skills and will often break the rope or cause other grief to the tow pilot. The general technique to create the slack is to gently climb a bit above the normal tow position and to one side and then to dive back into the normal tow position. Use of spoilers to help in getting rid of the slack rope can be done on a subsequent flight. In this lesson only enough slack should be introduced such that simply yawing the aircraft will produce the necessary drag to recover properly.  This is a good time for instructors to remind themselves of not getting too macho or over zealous with a manoeuvre.