Ernie asks:

Scooter tow is the hot topic right now. My club has many of the ingredients needed to build a scooter tow rig, but I have lots of questions.

Scooter size: would having a larger scooter (250cc+) be too difficult for towing new pilots, keeping them just a few feet off the ground?

Steve Wendt responds:

It is harder to use a more powerful scooter like a 250 to train total beginners with the 'low and slow' methods as low power and line speed are crucial. A slight mistake by you as the operator is a minor mistake with a 50, but could be unsafe with a 250. I won't tell you it can't be done, I'm just telling you that it is much easier and safer with less power. If you are a serious instructor, then get the best tools.

Ernie asks:

All I've read talks about the necessity of using a WW Condor 330 to keep new pilots low and slow. How about instead of buying a new Condor, we use an older Dream 225 or Falcon 225? Perhaps after converting the control bar to something narrower?

Steve Wendt responds:

Don't waste your time with older gliders. Many people use them because they are old, but that is exactly why we should get away from them. The Dream is too heavy to be a 'good' trainer. More than half of your students can't balance the glider well enough to learn good launch technique. The Falcon is much better, but still is designed for large pilots. The Condor is large, but designed for light to normal sized pilots in light to no wind, which is the conditions you should be teaching in anyway. The Condor has a stall speed of 13 mph with a heavy load, and of course less than 13 with a light load. None of the other gliders you mentioned even come close to this, which is why it is best to once again get the best tools available. We need to continue to teach with the best and safest tools made available to us if we wish to have success in getting new students into the sport.

Ernie asks:

Building a mechanism to monitor tow pressure is a project in itself. Is it really needed? How much of an advantage does it provide?

Steve Wendt responds:

A tension monitoring device is a waste of time unless you are going to pull pilots high quickly in other than comfortable conditions. When teaching, you aren't even coming close to using too much power when doing the low and slow idea. In fact, you looking at a mechanical gauge is less safe, as the gauge you need to be looking at is the student and the glider. That tells you everything. If your task goal is 3 feet off the ground at trim for 500 feet in distance, then if they are higher than that, reduce power, it's a very simple concept.

Ernie asks:

Is there a difference between having the turn-around pulley on the ground or 8 ft. Off the ground?

Steve Wendt responds:

A turn around pulley elevated to 8 feet means there is an obstacle 8 feet high that my student could possibly run into if some mistakes were made. I don't see any advantage to elevating it, just possible disadvantages.

Ernie asks:

What is needed to get a prospective pilot their introduction to the sport? What is needed to give a seasoned pilot enough altitude to do some turns and practice landing? I'm mainly thinking of field length vs. altitude here, but I'm also wondering about the need for a hill to do preliminary control training.

Steve Wendt responds:

I use a 50 for training and it's ideal. I also have a 125cc as a backup system, and it can easily pull my advancing students to enough altitude to complete safe downwind, base, final approaches once they've established the proper skills to do it safely.

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