AUTO WHEEL LAUNCHES GLIDER (Feb, 1934)
AUTO WHEEL LAUNCHES GLIDER
Using the rear wheel of an automobile to launch a motorless plane is a stunt successfully developed by members of a Newark, N. J., glider club. One end of a 2,000-foot manila rope is attached to the glider and the other to the drum on the car’s wheel, which is jacked up for use.
When the car driver applies power to the wheel, the glider is whisked forward and so whirled aloft in a few seconds.
This is still done today, although the hardware has become a bit more sophisticated. It’s a particularly common way to launch gliders in Europe, where fuel is expensive, because it’s much more fuel efficient than towing them aloft behind an airplane.
Comment by Orv — March 18, 2008 @ 11:44 pm
At least he wasn’t using the car to tow logs:
http://www.darwinawards.com/da.....08-02.html
Comment by jayessell — March 19, 2008 @ 5:59 am
I recall reading or hearing about someone making a rope-tow for skiers this way.
Comment by Rick Auricchio — March 19, 2008 @ 7:19 pm