Wills Wing - Scooter Tow Resources

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WW Scooter Towing Resources

Background – What Is Scooter Towing – and Why?
Scooter Towing is the use of a motor scooter as a stationary winch to tow a hang glider or paraglider into the
air. Towing, as a launch method, has been around since the beginning of hang gliding. The idea of using a scooter as a powered stationary tow winch has also been around for a number of years. In the last few years, however, a number of developments in equipment and technique have brought scooter towing to a highly refined state of development and made it an exceptionally useful tool for training.

On this page we offer a link to a detailed manual on the Blue Sky Scooter Towing method, written by Steve Wendt and Mike Meier. We also present a comprehensive video, featuring Steve Wendt demonstrating the equipment and techniques described in the manual. Finally, there is a list of hardware resources to aid interested instructors in assembling their own Scooter Tow systems.

Scooter Tow Manual A written manual, with photographs, describing and illustrating the Blue Sky Scooter Towing Method. by Mike Meier and Steve Wendt (PDF 1.6M)		Scooter Tow Video A streaming video that complements and illustrates the written manual. Featuring Steve Wendt and Produced by Ryan Voight
Equipment List A list of required Scooter Tow equipment, with suggested sources. (PDF 7k)		Hollister Tow Pattern A diagram of a flight pattern layout for a scooter or winch tow instructional program, provided courtesy of Mission Soaring, Milpitas, CA. (PDF 328k)

Scooter Tow Video

Participant Comment:
Craig McMillan
3/14/2007
I took Steve Wendt's Scooter Tow clinic at Quest Air and I love the concept. Please put my email on any special list for mailings, training info and aids etc.

We invite comments from those who have participated in one of Steve Wendt's Blue Sky Scooter Towing clinics. Please email your impressions of your experience.

Scooter Tow Equipment List

Item	Buy or Build	Source
Scooter
New or used scooter - 5 hp/35 mph	Buy	Yamaha / Honda dealer
Convert rear wheel to drum for line	Build
Build Trailer or other mounting / transport system	Build
Build/mount line guides and fairleads onto trailer / mount	Build	Northern Tool Search: fairlead
Wheel chocks to secure trailer / mount	Buy	Wal-Mart

Tow line and line management
tow line - Amsteel 12 Spectron 7/64" hollow braided line	Buy	Samson Rope or Marcal Rope
Leader Line with drogue chute / drag device	Build	Blue Sky
Weak links	Build	Blue Sky
Line retrieval - ATV, Golf Cart or rewind system	Buy
Turn around pulley	Build	Blue Sky
Auger screw in anchors to secure turn around pulley	Buy	Home Depot
Hook knife or other emergency line cutting device	Buy	Wills Wing

Student equipment
Harnesses - training type with appropriate tow loops	Build	Blue Sky
V-Bridles	Build	Blue Sky
Barrel Releases - one for each harness	Build	Blue Sky
Helmets - selection of sizes	Buy	Wills Wing
Eye protection	Buy	Home Depot
Knee pads	Buy	Home Depot

Glider and glider equipment
Condor 330	Buy	Wills Wing
Large basetube wheels	Buy	Lookout Mountain
Primary release	Build	Quest Air Wallaby Ranch

Field Management
Orange marker cones	Buy	Northern Tool Search: cone
Wind streamers	Build

This list is also available in PDF format.