Glider towing—what a thrill!

Those who regularly visit the Lodrino regional airfield year-round will have noticed some changes at the beginning of 2008. After initial attempts with small-scale models in the Locarno area, some members of the Locarno and Valle Maggia Model Aircraft Group (GALVM) moved on to larger-scale models and conducted their first tests at the Lodrino field.

Phil “Flying-wings” Hubert’s Rascal 110 was used as the tow plane, impressing everyone with its power and the steep climbs it achieved in just a few minutes. This model, with a wingspan of 280 cm and a weight of 6.7 kg, is equipped with an AXI 5345/14 electric motor powered by 12 LiPo cells and capable of delivering a maximum power output of 4.4 kW; in its current configuration, it delivers 4.1 kW

with an APC-E 20x11 propeller. The high-quality ARF kit, assembled from laser-cut parts, is manufactured by the American company SIG and is well-suited for this type of application, given the model’s excellent flight characteristics and stability. The 5000 mAh 12S Coldfusion battery packs allow for four tows at full power; the gliders currently available and

The gliders used during the event have a wingspan of 4 m and weigh up to 6.5 kg. At the controls of the Rascal Mrk “MH-Composites” was Mani, followed by glider pilots Claudio Lardi

and Damiano Mäder, flying replicas of a standard-class glider and the B4. The video shot by Mark with an onboard camera is thrilling (see link below).

But it all began with an idea that took shape in the fall of 2007, when Phil Hubert and Nicola Del Biaggio, as part of a joint venture “GALVM-GAMB,” decided to begin construction of a large tow plane in order to engage all potential enthusiasts of the sport, with the goal of organizing glider towing events throughout the year. Initially, the focus was on the PZL-104 Wilga, a well-known model in the community and available in various versions: from wooden kits to “all-fiber” constructions. After careful evaluation, the “Kruk” was chosen—a 1:5 scale model specifically designed for this purpose and based on the well-known Polish PZL-106A aircraft used for agricultural purposes. The

The German company “Andreas Haide Modelltechnik” has developed an all-wood kit, available on the market for 750 euros. This kit was custom-made for Edoardo Fregni, the official model builder for the Molinazzo-Bellinzona Model Aircraft Group (GAMB), who has been assembling the model in his home workshop since December 2007, with the help of Nicola. The engine was also recently selected: a 120 ccm 3W. The model’s total weight is estimated at around 14 kg, with a wingspan of 3 meters. One of the Kruk’s features is the presence of “slats”—high-lift devices mounted on the

leading edge, which allow the model to fly at low speeds. An extensive gallery of images documenting the individual steps of the model’s construction has been published on the GAMB website. Testing is scheduled for April 2008; the plan is to then organize towing sessions with large gliders—projects that some model aircraft enthusiasts have already begun working on.

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