Glider Towing with a Tiger Moth

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: South of 65N
I used to tug with a Tiger moth back in the early 60's. The Power budget is quite tight and because of the towing speed of the gliders in those days (55kts) the attitude was quite nose high and therefore the forward visability much reduced. I think a modern heavy glass glider would be beyond the tigers capabilities

Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 115
From: UK
A good friend of mine got "tipped in" by a Grunau Baby that got too high on a tow in Germany. He broke almost every bone in his body and lost his memory for several months.
The Grunau Baby was a very light machine but it did have the problem of only having a belly hook.
I certainly would not give any consideration to towing anything bigger than a Ka 6 with a Tiger Moth!
The Tiger Moth has just about enough power to look after itself.
Having said that, I once (and I mean ONCE) had a tow in an ASK 13 with a pupil behind a J3 Cub. I never ever was tempted to repeat the experience. Thank God for the curvature of the Earth!
The Grunau Baby was a very light machine but it did have the problem of only having a belly hook.
I certainly would not give any consideration to towing anything bigger than a Ka 6 with a Tiger Moth!
The Tiger Moth has just about enough power to look after itself.
Having said that, I once (and I mean ONCE) had a tow in an ASK 13 with a pupil behind a J3 Cub. I never ever was tempted to repeat the experience. Thank God for the curvature of the Earth!

Joined: Sep 2001
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 208
From: Toronto
Grunau Babies tend to get too high
I saw a GB get too high on tow before the pilot released and subsequently bent it on the downwind landing.
The tow pilot used the usual speed for the Blanik -- 70 kt. -- wayyyy too fast for the GB.
While glider pilots do have the responsibility to advise the tow pilot of the desired airspeed, the GB was a club machine, but seldom flown.
Well run clubs with a small number of types (in this case two) make sure their tow pilots are clued in.
The tow pilot used the usual speed for the Blanik -- 70 kt. -- wayyyy too fast for the GB.
While glider pilots do have the responsibility to advise the tow pilot of the desired airspeed, the GB was a club machine, but seldom flown.
Well run clubs with a small number of types (in this case two) make sure their tow pilots are clued in.




