Robins as Tow Planes
Roy Edwards
We are going around the annual topic of towplane replacements
Currently operating two 180hp Piper Cubs we have just had to pay out
some $35,000 NZD for a refabricing job.
Currently we have some interest in pursuing Robin DR400's and would
appreciate ANY feedback regarding the use of a Robin as a towplane.
Also of interest would be the market prices of suitable Robins.
Your help appreciated.
Roy Edwards
President
Tauranga Gliding Club
Don't visit our site
http://www.netlink.co.nz/~gliding/other-gc/tauranga.html
(unless you are curious)
Raul Blacksten
When I was in England in '94, the London Gliding Club
(Dunstable) used a Robin. Seemed to work well but I do not
remember if I towed behind it or not.
They had it muffled and a 4 blade prop on it. It was so quiet
that it could almost come up and chop you up before you heard
it. I od not know what engine they had.
I think that the London Gliding Club has a web site but I do
not remember for sure. They can be written at:
London Gliding Club
Tring Road
Dunstable, Beds LU6 2JP
England, UK
--
***************************************************************
RAUL BLACKSTEN Wishing you green air!
Vintage Sailplane Association Archivist
ra...@earthlink.net
<http://www.earthlink.net/~raulb>
"It may not be smart or correct, but it's one of the things
which make us what we are" --Red Green, The New Red Green Show
Jean Richard
Roy Edwards wrote:
>
> We are going around the annual topic of towplane replacements
> Currently operating two 180hp Piper Cubs we have just had to pay out
> some $35,000 NZD for a refabricing job.
>
> Currently we have some interest in pursuing Robin DR400's and would
> appreciate ANY feedback regarding the use of a Robin as a towplane.
Try to get the Lasham Tug Pilots Manual at the following address :
http://acro.harvard.edu/SSA/BGA/tug/C.html
You will find interesting notes about PA-18-180, DR400-180R and
Rallye 180T. That club is using those three types of tug planes.
It seems that the DR-400 is the fastest tug (can be compared to a
Pawnee 235 with a lot less horsepowers), but as so long you don't
have old and slow sailplanes.
> Also of interest would be the market prices of suitable Robins.
Very nice planes... at very nice prices when in good shape...
Since it's a wooden airplane, it needs a hangar for rainy days and
night. With appropriate maintenance, they can last long. And unlike
Piper tubing, wood doesn't rust.
J. Richard
Ian Strachan
In article <54gu3m$g...@wheel.wave.co.nz>, Roy Edwards
<roy...@wave.co.nz> writes
>Currently we have some interest in pursuing Robin DR400's and would
>appreciate ANY feedback regarding the use of a Robin as a towplane.
Lasham Gliding Centre in the UK operate four Robin DR 400 tugs. We have
180 hp engines, four blade props, double mufflers. Quiet, and very good
tugs. Easy to handle (I tow, so it must be OK), nosewheel, good view,
few vices.
Slight wing drop at the stall, but stall warning vane fitted. The only
bad feature is poor (small) flaps, by which I mean little drag and
little stalling speed reduction at full flap. In zero wind on a hot
day, you tend to land long.
I understand that the DR 400 is now the most well-used tug in Europe.
The DR 400 with a suitably powered engine can therefore be recommended
as a glider tug.
For info on economics and second-hand prices, write to the Manager or
the Tugmaster at Lasham, at:
Lasham Gliding Centre, Alton, Hampshire GU34 5SS, UK
Tel: +44 1256 381 322 or 270
Fax: +44 1256 381 415
email: off...@lasham.org.uk
www: http://www.lasham.org.uk/index.html
--
Ian Strachan
i...@ukiws.demon.co.uk Bentworth Hall West
Tel: +44 1420 564 195 Bentworth, Alton
Fax: +44 1420 563 140 Hampshire GU34 5LA, ENGLAND
I Johnston
Raul Blacksten (ra...@earthlink.net) wrote:
: I think that the London Gliding Club has a web site but I do
: not remember for sure.
It's at http://www.powernet.co.uk/gliding
Ian
Colin Wray
Ian Strachan <I...@ukiws.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>In article <54gu3m$g...@wheel.wave.co.nz>, Roy Edwards
><roy...@wave.co.nz> writes
>>Currently we have some interest in pursuing Robin DR400's and would
>>appreciate ANY feedback regarding the use of a Robin as a towplane.
>Lasham Gliding Centre in the UK operate four Robin DR 400 tugs. We have
>180 hp engines, four blade props, double mufflers. Quiet, and very good
>tugs. Easy to handle (I tow, so it must be OK), nosewheel, good view,
>few vices.
>Slight wing drop at the stall, but stall warning vane fitted. The only
>bad feature is poor (small) flaps, by which I mean little drag and
>little stalling speed reduction at full flap. In zero wind on a hot
>day, you tend to land long.
>I understand that the DR 400 is now the most well-used tug in Europe.
>The DR 400 with a suitably powered engine can therefore be recommended
>as a glider tug.
The London Gliding Club at Dunstable (01582 663419) operate three
Robins and two PA18s. One of the Robins is for sale.
-- Colin