[ULF-1] Aerotow Speed

From: Member 132
Date: 2020-11-25 07:16 UTC-05:00
Message: #0738

If you look close in the 2020 video posted earlier D-NMGL appears to have extra braces between the wing ribs for the rib bays between the aileron and wing root.

I did not see the braces in other ULF airframes. They appear to be bottom wing surface only.

Pausing the screen during the beginning of the video the airspeed indicator on D-NMGL has a red arc between 70-80 km/h

I’m interested because to aero tow I have a Piper J-3 or PA-11 which can maintain between 50-60 mph 80-96 km/h but slower than than 88 km/h climb suffers. To try to Aerotow below 50mph I would have to find a dedicated ultralight to tow with. Checking manuals online an Evolution trike stall speed is 70 km/h which would not be compatible with the ULF. Of course this is at the trike gross weight but towing I’m not sure how it is affected. Some of the ultralights like a Quicksilver appear to have compatible stall speeds and may work but I’d rather not have a dedicated 2 stroke airplane to use for towing.

They are towing with a Diamond motor glider which should be similar climb speed to the J-3 and PA-11. Quick search shows the Diamond best angle of climb speed to be 97 km/h. I’m amazed it appears to work so well.

About 6 min into the video there is a quick peek of the airspeed needle and it shows about 70 km/h which would be fine but the limit increase Dieter mentioned a while ago would really help.

Is anyone here Aerotowing their ULF? What are you using for a tow aircraft?