Towing

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Revision as of 13:08, 29 July 2020 by Johan G (talk | contribs) (fix: Broken category link; +- Minor copy editing; +related: Soaring, Category:Glider aircraft, Category:Glider tugs; +cat: FlightGear feature)
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Towing is one of the three ways that a glider aircraft can be launched, the other two being self-launch (with an onboard engine), or stating from a slope as typically practiced by hanggliders.

There are two main towing types:

  • Ground-based towing, this includes
    • The widely practiced winch launch
    • Auto-tow, being towed by a driving car
    • Bungee launch, where the aircraft is accelerated using a flexible rope
  • Aircraft-based towing, usually called aero-tow, getting towed by another, motorized aircraft

Organization

In FlightGear, towing functionality is implemented:

  • In Nasal/towing/towing.nas
  • In YASim's code

A few aircraft have their own system implemented. Where there is no reason for this, these should be ported to use the global functionality.

Keymap

Note  This is a proposed keymap under the effort to unify winch launch experience in FlightGear.

Premises:

  • Easy to remember keys are necessary in order to allow the pilot to quickly act during the fast and during the training phase maybe hectic experience that a winch launch can be
  • Key commands should be grouped into sensible "categories", by using different actions on the same key (using modifiers like Shift, Ctrl)
  • I know of no aircraft that has separated cable release levers for the different hook, normally all hooks are connected to one handle.

Traditionally, w is used for winch-related activity while o and related keys are used for aerotow (as a is reserved for time speed-up/slow-down).

Proposals:

  • Use Ctrl-action for initialization/start
  • Use upper key ( Shift) to reduce speed, lower key to increase speed (only for winch launch)
Key Action
Ctrl+w Place winch and begin winch launch
Ctrl+o Connect to aerotow aircraft within range (MP or AI Scenario / Robot )
w Ask winch driver to increase winch speed
Shift+w Ask winch driver to reduce winch speed
o Release all cables ("yellow lever" in most glider aircraft)

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