Tow Planes

[DC-3TP]

What is the best tow plane and the most fun to fly?

 

[crash-proof]

I've been towed by Pawnee, 150hp Cub and Aero Boero (Argentine built Maule-wannabe). No comments on the tow, I've only flown behind the tow. I'd bet the pawnee's the best ride, I've seen pics with the pawnee towin 2 gliders at once.

I read the DC-3/C47 made for a nice tow.

http://www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org/CG4A_C47_color_photo.jpg

 

[SPilot]

+1 for the pawnee.

+2 for the pawnee if it is equipped with slightly stronger engine, four blade silenced propeller, and extra silent exhaust muffler.

Fun to fly, lots of power, and glider tows can be completed very effectivly with "extreme" climb rates. The climb rate of a pawnee with two ASK-21 behind is comparable to only one ASK-21 behind a cub or cherokee, and in my experience the pawnee gains twice the altitude before crossing the treshold at the end of the runway during takeoffs, which adds up to more safety.

And at typical 3000ft tows, the pawnee will be on the ground and about to line up for a new tow before a typical cherokee or cub have climbed to 2000ft, even if the pawnee took off last!

 

[olypilot]

What is the best tow plane and the most fun to fly?

I have towed in a Pawnee, Husky, and Citabria and the Pawnee is the best by far. In addition to the power, I like the visibility better. I just finished towing in the 15m Nationals here at Montague, CA and towing into the gaggle in the Husky was unnerving at times.

 

[graseby]

Pawnee!!

 

[WateryGrave]

The Pawnee is sweet, plenty of power if you have the bigger motor and good visibility. I've towed in a Callair also and its like slightly uglier Pawnee but still fun. And the 180hp super cubs are sweet, especially without a glider attached.

Anyone going to the Region 12's next month, be careful I might be towing you!!!

 

[av8rbama]

I've towed in a Pawnee, Maule, 172, and 150.

Pawnee, hands down! That's her in my avatar.

 

[MauleSkinner]

My first glider instructor used to tow in a 65-hp Champ...said they had to take turns going over the trees. I thought that was kinda funny til he told me how they actually did it

Fly safe!

David

 

[avbug]

Pawnee, Truck, Husky, Super Cub, Cessna 150-150, Cessna 172-180, Cessna 182.

The pawnee comes in a lot of flavors, every one of which is very anemic. It does okay towing a glider, and is marginal with a load on. They all tow to altitude, all do the same job.

Pawnee with the hutch conversion made a better airplane, but there aren't many around. As far as propellers and "silencers)...a pawnee is a pawnee is a pawnee. A weak supercub with the wing on the bottom.

 

[WateryGrave]

Pawnee, Truck, Husky, Super Cub, Cessna 150-150, Cessna 172-180, Cessna 182.

The pawnee comes in a lot of flavors, every one of which is very anemic. It does okay towing a glider, and is marginal with a load on. They all tow to altitude, all do the same job.

Pawnee with the hutch conversion made a better airplane, but there aren't many around. As far as propellers and "silencers)...a pawnee is a pawnee is a pawnee. A weak supercub with the wing on the bottom.

All those towplanes and you think the Pawnee is anemic. The three I've flown have been spectacular. Tons of power, stable as hell. Heck you could have just trimmed for pitch and pulled out a sandwich and the guy behind would never have known.

 

[Loco Gringo]

I've towed with agtruck, 180, 185, 206; a few compitations with the truck and the pawnee out towed everyone including the bird dog in towes per hour

 

[avbug]

I've towed gliders/banners with the pawnee, sprayed with the pawnee, and dropped with the pawnee. It's an anemic airplane. It's saving grace is that it's an economical ultralow volume airplane for applying chemicals. It does okay towing. It certainly doesn't outperform a husky.

That's an ag husky, of course. It really doesn't outperform an aviatt husky, either.

 

[WateryGrave]

Well I guess since we are discussing glider towing instead of crop dusting in this thread most of us think its more than adequate for that job. But since I've never dusted I'll take your word for it. As far as performance goes I've towed on a regular basis out of a 3000 ft elevation field and 115 degree temperatures and it doesn't miss a beat.

 

[avbug]

Most of my towing (and ag work, for that matter) is restricted to takeoffs and operations at 10,000' density altitude and above.

I believe I meant to say aviatt husky, rather than aviall...aviall would be a parts service.

 

[olypilot]

I own both an Aviat Husky and two Pawnees and for towing sailplanes, it does out perform it, by a wide margin. We just hosted the 15m Nationals here and were using both towplanes for the launch. It was easy to compare them side by side and the Pawnee did a better job. For an all around versitile airplane the Husky of course has it beat. BTW talking about a 235 Pawnee not the 150hp version.

I've towed gliders/banners with the pawnee, sprayed with the pawnee, and dropped with the pawnee. It's an anemic airplane. It's saving grace is that it's an economical ultralow volume airplane for applying chemicals. It does okay towing. It certainly doesn't outperform a husky.

That's an ag husky, of course. It really doesn't outperform an aviatt husky, either.

 

[tuna pimp]

Pawnee pretty much smokes anything else I've ever gotten towed behind.

 

[WateryGrave]

is there an echo in here???

 

[skid]

Out of the very limited types I have towed with an old 180 hp SKyhawk works good with a constant speed prop and Horton STOL. THe older airframes are a bit lighter than the newer 180 hp Hawks.

The Worst is a 150 hp Cessna 150. No wing to speak of and low RPM unless outfitted with a climb prop.

 

[TXDA2000]

We used to have a 260 horse pawnee, it was a brute.

My father used to tow with a 67 Turbo 210. He had more than one guy bail when the gear started heading into the wells.

We also used to tow our 1-26 with a 150 hp Stinson 108. Not a great towplane, but you can kill the engine and thermal with a 1-26 on a decent day.