In winch tow operations, the CG hook is preferred over the nose hook because it reduces the likelihood of what during towline break?

In winch tow operations, the CG hook is preferred over the nose hook because it reduces the likelihood of what during towline break?

• A. Pitching up of the glider
• B. Yawing of the glider
• C. Rolling of the glider
• D. Towline tangling with the glider

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how the towline load creates a pitching moment about the glider’s center of gravity. When the towline is attached ahead of the CG (such as at the nose), the pull during tow acts in front of the CG and generates a nose-up moment. If the towline breaks, that nose-up tendency can become a sudden, significant pitch change, risking an abrupt climb or stall. Placing the towline at the CG reduces that lever arm, so the pitching moment on towline break is much smaller. That’s why the center-of-gravity hook lowers the likelihood of the glider pitching up. Yawing, rolling, or towline tangling are not as directly tied to where the towline attaches; they’re more influenced by other factors like wind, rudder input, wing loading, or rope geometry.

The key idea is how the towline load creates a pitching moment about the glider’s center of gravity. When the towline is attached ahead of the CG (such as at the nose), the pull during tow acts in front of the CG and generates a nose-up moment. If the towline breaks, that nose-up tendency can become a sudden, significant pitch change, risking an abrupt climb or stall. Placing the towline at the CG reduces that lever arm, so the pitching moment on towline break is much smaller. That’s why the center-of-gravity hook lowers the likelihood of the glider pitching up.

Yawing, rolling, or towline tangling are not as directly tied to where the towline attaches; they’re more influenced by other factors like wind, rudder input, wing loading, or rope geometry.