Tow Rig Moved to new parking spot

[snestle]

The tow rig has been moved to a new location closer to the gate - A34. Their rates went up $10 a month and when I called to find out if there were cheaper spaces, they gave us this one. Still covered, just a smaller space. It's also cheaper at $50 a month.

[Russell Croman]

Cool... thanks, Shane.

-Russ

[Nate]

Is the tow rig seeing any action?

The wx is starting to look more and more like towing....

[Mike Wykoff]

Only a little bit this Spring. I think it will get much more use in July after some of us return from an Oregon trip.

[Gary.Morris24]

Following up on Nate's question back in May... Is the AFFTIG rig seeing any action? Is it operational? If not, what does it need to get it up and going again?

Smiles,

Gary M

[Russell Croman]

I think the tow rig was last used in May or so. Last time I used it personally was earlier in the year, and it was working fine (such as it is). The report from May was that it was having some trouble... it was difficult to maintain pressure. One of these weekends I'll take it out and test it, but the main barrier has been getting a group together to go towing.

-Russ

[Gary.Morris24]

Hi Russs,

Thanks for the update, and it is encouraging to hear that the AFFTIG rig doesn't seem to have any major problems. On your mention that "the main barrier has been getting a group together to go towing", does this problem seem to stem from us not having enough available USHPA rated tow-techs. I don't recollect our AFFA rule specifics, but I dont think having a tow tech to operate the rig is a USHPA requirement for us hangies, and seems like there is becoming more and more surface tow hang gliding activity around the state lately. Let me know if you want to go out and test/work on the rig some afternoon after work, and if available, I will be glad to bring some tools and lend a hand.

Gary M
431-3158 cell

[Russell Croman]

Hi Gary,

I think there are plenty of tow techs, but the interest lately seems to be weighted heavily in favor of going to Pack for whatever reason. One factor may be that everyone gets to fly for sure at Pack. With towing, usually at least one person doesn't.

I was thinking of trying to take the rig out to Wells Lane this weekend... there will be some tandem ops going on there with another winch. We'll see, though... the forecast for Pack is looking fairly promising at this point.

-Russ