[lostgriz]

I would be interested in hearing some feedback from anyone that has both pro towed and three point towed their U2. I have only three point towed my Freedom and now my U2. I would like to hear any insight you may be able to share on what the transition was like for you. I have heard that the pro tow will be less forgiving of any bad habits and can get out of control quicker.......but I would love to hear a little more detailed insight.

I know there was a recent article in the mag that I believe was pretty down on pro towing, from the folks that are high on fins.

[davisstraub]

U2 doesn't need a fin, although the UltraSport did.

You do need to learn to protow. I would start on the U2 with early morning or evening tows.

[lostgriz]

[davisstraub]

It's pretty simple really. You'll have to pull in a lot more and maybe even push the bar way back. This will most likely lead to PIO's. Which you then get a chance to learn how to deal with.

Have you tried protow on scooter tow? You might try that first.

[CHassan]

I towed my U2 in calm condition behind our trike the other day. With VG set at 1/2 I was amazed at how close to hands off it was. I only needed a little pull in to keep from climbing.

A week prior I towed in some of the roughest air I have ever been in. Forget all that about close to hands off. Recall what Davis said about PIOs!

I have only used the single point on my U2 though. I don't know how it tows with the 3 point bridal.

[lostgriz]

Thanks guys, I will report back on my transition to pro tow.

[flyin_canuck]

Davis what do you consider pro tow......release hooked only to your harness, and no part of your glider

Is it still pro tow hooked to leg loops, such as with truck towing

[jjcote]

[davisstraub]

[davisstraub]

You'll have to check out the UltraSport to see if the wing tips are enough.

[jcsaal]

[Hangskier]

I haven't towed with a U2 but I wanted to list a couple of my thoughts on single point (pro tow), and some are obvious but including anyway.

1. Pilot pulled over base bar more.
2. Feel like I'm in more control of the glider vs the glider being towed and me along for the ride.
3. Can PIO more if pulled at higher speed than used to.
4. My glider requires more VG (1/2) to keep from having to pull in so much
5. I can lock out at altitude easier if towed slower than normal and especially when the tug turns from down wind to cross wind. This may be what some are saying to you about things happen faster. I think its safer to fly a little faster than ones use to vs slower than ones use too. When this happened to me I was wondering WFT because never had been an issue before. This tug pilot mentioned "oh you are pro towing, I will slow down a little" and I did not correct him to fly normal tow. In other words, 3 point may have a wider speed range under tow.
6. Don't have to move hands very far to get to release, release is always in sight vs having a release on the down tube.
7. Don't have to stow line before landing due to less line, no tripping hazard.
8. I learned towing via surface tow with release through the hip loops to the carabiner and always thought I had more control than aero 3 point release.

[aeroexperiments]

From a visit to Wallaby many years ago, I happen to remember Malcolm commenting that winglets generally don't produce the same stabilizing effect on yaw-roll oscillations, as does a keel fin. I've never flown with winglets. Steve

[davisstraub]

Why is pro-tow sometimes thought of as single point towing, when it is clear to me that there are two points? Does this mean that towing from your keel or carabiner and your shoulders is a two point tow?

There seems to actually be only one point that you are towed from, the end of the tow line, then the tow forces are split up to two or three places.

If you towed from a single point on your harness (in the center, presumably), would that be a one point tow or half a point tow?

Is this just an example of our failure to communicate?

[hangster]

There's a reason it's called a pro tow , when you get down to it if you're not worried about winning comps it's best to use a gate release

[pud]

[Hangskier]

[davisstraub]

So this is book learnin'?

The bridle is connected to two shoulders, two points. The point of attachment to the tow line can move from side to side. There are obviously two physical points of attachment to the harness.

I use V-bridle and protow to differentiate.

Seems like it is a matter of personal choice and a source of linguistic confusion. I go with what is physically obvious.

[pud]

[davisstraub]