From Piggyback to F-Tow

As early as the 1960s and 1970s, glider pilots felt the desire to have their models towed to altitude in a manner that mirrored that of their manned counterparts. At that time, however, there was a lack of powerful engines capable of generating the necessary force. There was a great deal of experimentation and trial and error, but this often led to damage and crashes.

The Biglift from Multiplex, with a wingspan of 220 ccm to 240 ccm, was one of the first models to achieve modest success. Thanks to its robustness and load-bearing capacity, it was able to meet the requirements of glider pilots and contributed significantly to the further development of glider towing.

The world of sailplane towing has undergone remarkable development in recent decades. Towing engines, in particular, have made significant advances, making it possible to lift our large and heavy acrobatic gliders to the desired altitudes.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the largest engine available at the time was the Webra, with a displacement of 15 ccm. This engine had only a fraction of the impressive power available today. A little later, model builders were able to purchase SuperTiger engines with displacements of 25 and 30 ccm. However, these engines were not always reliable.

Today, everything is much simpler. Towing models are available in various designs and sizes.

For our purposes, models with a wingspan of 3 meters or more are particularly well-suited, as they are clearly visible at high altitudes. These models are equipped with engines ranging from 150 ccm to 200 ccm that meet specific requirements for ease of maintenance and reliability. Nowadays, 2- or 4-cylinder engines are the most common. Four-stroke engines are less common, as they (still) have less pulling power, are somewhat slower, and have a more complex mechanical design. Despite these differences, all modern engines offer significantly higher performance and reliability compared to those of earlier years.

The development of tow motors has revolutionized our hobby. Thanks to modern technology, we can efficiently and reliably lift our acro gliders to the necessary altitudes. Advances in engine technology have made glider towing safer and more accessible, allowing us to enjoy our hobby to the fullest.