Glider and Tow Plane Signal Demonstration

A demonstration of some common ground and airborn signals. Video created at St. Louis Soaring Association. Ground signals demonstrated; open towhook, close towhook, raise wingtip, take up slack, begin takeoff. Airborn signals demonstrated; Something wrong with glider, glider release immediately, towplane turn left, decrease tow speed, increase tow speed.
For more information about these signals:
soaringsafety.org
For more information about St. Louis Soaring Association:
www.stlsoar.org/

[@Zweefduiker]

No fancy hand signals or tail waggling needed on the ground…. Take off: In France glider pilot makes a short radio call to indicate they are ready. Then the tip is kept down until slack is taken up. Then the wing is brought to horizontal. In Germany and in New Zealand they use the radio. Commands are in the line of: take up slack, all out, or stop stop. .
After take off: If tow plane wants glider to release then it rocks the wings. If the glider behaves dangerously like kiting above the tow plane releases. If there is a problem with the glider on release, the glider does waggle the tail so it clearly yaws left and right. Depending on the situation the glider tries to release again. Then there is the option that both glider and tow return to the airfield and if needed glider and tow plane land together.

[@StickandGlider]

This is great! The slack line especially is good to see.

[@publicenemynumerouno]

Excellent video.

[@AakaashNarayanan]

What is that constant beeping noise inside the glider?

[@glider1157]

The vario

[@thepilot9796]

The rudder waggle in your film is in error. What the tow pilot did was a tail yaw which mans tow plane cannot release. Rudder waggle is a "flutter" not a yaw....please correct...Thanks for the effort.