Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
#1910882
Ukraine gliding is different to how we do it in the UK!

What to do with an Antonov 2, six Blanik gliders and 1 tow rope (and a huge runway). Watch it all, as the last 20 seconds is very interesting.

In the first few seconds, I thought there was going to be a mass collision of the 6 gliders behind the Antonov tug, as it’s unclear how the rope on the rear glider does not tangle with the gliders in front.

It’s certainly not how I was taught to do duel tows.
Then I thought the display was going to end up badly, but it didn’t, all flown on a day with great looking cumulus, totally the wrong weather for what they are doing.
The landing had me cringing as to why they did not use the huge runway and what few options there were.

And then I thought, it’s was just an immense amount of practice and skill.

During the flight, you can also see Hostemel airport in its full pre invasion glory and the now destroyed 6 engine AN 225 with it’s huge hanger.

Hopefully soon they will be gliding again in peaceful times.
Aerials, Lockhaven, patowalker and 2 others liked this
#1910906
G MacDonald wrote:

> In the first few seconds, I thought there was going to be a mass collision
> of the 6 gliders behind the Antonov tug, as it’s unclear how the rope on
> the rear glider does not tangle with the gliders in front.
>
> It’s certainly not how I was taught to do duel tows.
> Then I thought the display was going to end up badly, but it didn’t, all
> flown on a day with great looking cumulus, totally the wrong weather for
> what they are doing.
> The landing had me cringing as to why they did not use the huge runway and
> what few options there were.

They are a display team that have rehearsed it hundreds of times.

If they had used the main runway it would have been blocked until all the gliders were removed, plus there was aircraft already lined up and holding on the runway for departure.
#1910926
Lockhaven wrote:
> G MacDonald wrote:
>
> > In the first few seconds, I thought there was going to be a mass collision
> > of the 6 gliders behind the Antonov tug, as it’s unclear how the rope on
> > the rear glider does not tangle with the gliders in front.
> >
> > It’s certainly not how I was taught to do duel tows.
> > Then I thought the display was going to end up badly, but it didn’t, all
> > flown on a day with great looking cumulus, totally the wrong weather for
> > what they are doing.
> > The landing had me cringing as to why they did not use the huge runway and
> > what few options there were.
>
> They are a display team that have rehearsed it hundreds of times.
>
> If they had used the main runway it would have been blocked until all the gliders
> were removed, plus there was aircraft already lined up and holding on the runway for
> departure.

If I recall the weedy wheel brake on a Blanik the rough grass probably helped them slow up after landing too!

Expertly done, but imagine filling in the BGA incident report if it went wrong :lol:
#1910927
Find it hard to believe each glider is individually attached to the AN2, surely they've rigged a hook to the back of each?

However its done, I hope perhaps when things return to normal they can be invited to a few UK displays. Anyone remember the formation duo from Germany with two Lo-100s - appeared at Biggin a few times in the 1980s I think, finished with a formation inverted beat up of the runway - very low!
#1910936
Hooligan wrote:
>. Anyone remember the formation duo from
> Germany with two Lo-100s -

Definitely!
Remember them at the World Championships at Paderborn, Germany in 1981.

We watched them aero- tow to about 4000 ft and thought what a yawn. How wrong we were!

After release we couldn’t believe our eyes. The display consisted of close mirror formation loops, rolls, opposition stall turns and lots more.

The inverted beat up before landing was the be all and end all of beat ups.

Directly in front of the crowd, they passed each other inverted at less than 50 feet and then pushed up to reverse and land towards each other stopping nose to nose less than 1 metre apart.

Absolutely awesome!
Last edited by UV on Tue May 10, 2022 7:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Hooligan, Aerials liked this
#1911024
Charliesixtysix wrote:
> Pah. I see your six, and raise you nine. …:wink:
> ..

.. and the converse: 3 Bf110s towing one Gigant:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messersch ... 321_Gigant
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