Being
a new guy on the block so to speak at Bendal
Gliderport, I'm flying an 1-26 until I accumulate a
total of 20 flights, and then I can move up to one of
the higher L/DO ships. Well on Flight number 18, all
was going fine, preflight and towing the plane to the
runway and waiting my turn. The tow plane returns and
turns around and Dave shuts down for a quick relief.
Ken will be my wing runner, so we strike up a little
small talk and
George walked up to retrieve the tow
rope, and add the weak link. We use a little heavier
rope with weak links. Dave restarts the tow plane,
hook up, made proper signals given and off we go.
Being pulled by a super cub the climb is slower but
all goes well , and I was about to call to myself 200'
and a loud bang startled me and got my attention. A
quick visual of the rope, told me I'm still on tow, so
I ever so slowly moved all my controls, all is well
there and a visual of the wings for damage by bird
strike showed nothing.
I continued with my tow to 3000
feet and take my release and check my controls once
again. At least I would have some time to sort things
out if I did have a problem. Every thing once again
check out ok so I had a very good 1 hr flight. Upon
landing I was waiting for the tire to tell me that it
had gone flat, but this also was of no concern. All
was glorious! I slowed and made a small turn off the
runway and made a full stop. I was still sitting in
the 1-26 when George pulls up in the tow vehicle,
hooks me for the tow to the end of the runway. When
all was done, I made certain that I tell someone of my
experience so the plane can be checked, but George
said that was not necessary , he had the answer. and
he held up the weak link to show me that only 5
strands of cord was all that remained of this rope.
Wow, was the only reply I
made.
George went on to explain that when
he retrieved the rope, he did not have the flag with
the hook on the end to pull the rope, so he looped the
weak link around the main rope and pull the line to
the 1-26, and maybe the heat generated from this
pulling of the main tow rope damaged the weak link
rope.
Lesson learned, I think I will
watch the rope when it is pulled back to the glider.
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