towplane
Sailplane launch vehicle
A towplane is an aircraft designed to tow gliders or sailplanes into the air, where they are released to fly on their own.
These powered aircraft have the necessary engine strength and aerodynamic characteristics to climb while pulling another aircraft behind them on a tow rope.
Once the glider reaches sufficient altitude, the pilot releases the tow line and the towplane returns to the airfield.
The towplane circled back after releasing the glider at three thousand feet.
Unpowered flying craft
- sailplaneEngineless soaring aircraft
- releaseTo let go
- climbAscend using effort
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
Cessna · Super Cub · winch · launch · soaring · airfield · pilot · cockpit
Least reliable component
- signalsConveyed indications
- radioElectromagnetic wave receiver
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- downwindIn airflow's direction
crosswind · positioning · staging · ground crew · marshalling · fuel · turnaround · sortie
Device that unlocks restraint
- cableHeavy-duty woven line
- polypropyleneVersatile thermoplastic resin
- weak linkLeast reliable component
- mirrorReflective viewing surface
tail wheel · tandem · throttle · mixture · flaps · trim · instrument panel · altimeter
glider
Unpowered flying craft
altitude · Cessna · Super Cub · winch · launch · soaring · airfield · pilot · cockpit · propeller
weak link
Least reliable component
- signalsConveyed indications
- radioElectromagnetic wave receiver
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
downwind · crosswind · positioning · staging · ground crew · marshalling · fuel · turnaround · sortie · circuit
release mechanism
Device that unlocks restraint
- cableHeavy-duty woven line
- polypropyleneVersatile thermoplastic resin
- weak linkLeast reliable component
mirror · tail wheel · tandem · throttle · mixture · flaps · trim · instrument panel · altimeter · tachometer
towplaneglider
Unpowered flying craft
sailplane · soarer · hang glider · paraglider · motorglider
tow, plane, towed, towing, tows, towline, towrope, planes, planed