SLED - WORKS Aero Tow, Owatonna, Minnesota

[Sled-Works 1]

Looking forward to our 6th Sled-Works Aerotow this summer!

[lenb]

Hi Greg.

Thanks for sharing all the photos, looks like a nice turn out.

One question, was the Aerotow being held at the same time as an Imac event? With all the big aerobatic 3d planes, there must have been a HUCKFEST going on too?

[Cheyenne]

[Cheyenne]

Just got back from Oshkosh and realized I hadn't downloaded the photos from Sled 2017.
Thought I would post a few to stir some interest for next. The weather was great and the lift abundant.
See you in 2018
Greg

[ARUP]

Len, all of your sailplanes performed well considering the pilot's skills!

[lenb]

Thanks for posting Michael, glad my Eaglet is ok

Len

[ARUP]

Sled Works Aerotow was great! I got there Thurs evening. Friday was the best as far as thermal activity. Temps were mild, very little breeze and the thermals went straight up because of it. Heck... even I was able to stay up! Saturday and Sunday were pretty warm and more breezy but the conditions were still very favorable. This was the third aerotow in a row that the Eaglet got blown over onto its back! No damage, though. It sure was fun flying with old friends and meeting new ones! Thanks to the Sled Works Team for another great event! Lastly, thanks very much again to Wenger for providing the nice trailer for storage. Wenger... you folks are the best!







Sorry to not have more pictures but I was flying a lot and just didn't get 'em!

[French1]

That was FAR!

you are very lucky to had it back!!!

[kjkavaney]

https://youtu.be/e7Jds1Bwz08

Is the drone video of Rusty's quad leading us to my tow plane in a sea of corn. This is a one minute video. at the end, the camera pans out and you can see how much corn and how far
I had gotten from the field in just seconds. I wish to thank Rusty and Greg Klein and his grandson Spencer for helping me dragging my plane a quarter mile through all that corn to safety that nite.
kevin

[Xroadie]

Looks like some cool stuff!!!

[jfrickie]

A few pics.....

[Mosquito]

Here the Bidule takes a break under the protection of a nice sunshade cover, while other tow pilots have some fun. Saturday was 95 degrees and humid. In contrast, Thursday was maybe 70 degrees at the highest with my people grabbing sweaters, jackets and blankets in the early evening. Friday was low 80's as was Sunday. The heat did keep some from assembling and flying Saturday but those that dared fly got great flights. We could not have asked for better weather this weekend!

Tim

[Mosquito]

We can never have enough pilots involved in Aerotow. This is my friend Mike Frieborg that recently retired from a career at Medtronic. He is an avid RC pilot and came down to watch the event. I brought along my Cularis and we did a simple tow line hook up using velcro which he didn't believe would work. He was towed up by a smaller electric cub and he flew it perfectly. A slight turn left and the velcro releases! He towed to about 400 feet and worked thermals for almost a half hour, on his very first flight.

One of the things we pushed for at our 2nd annual Sled Works event (now 3 years ago already!) was smaller electric aerotowing. We now have about a half dozen or better electric tugs at each event. The electric tows of small foam gliders was phenomenal this year and many great flights were had with foam gliders. At times, they were towing at a faster rate than the big ships! This allows those that choose to not buy bigger glass ships to enjoy aerotowing side by side with the bigger ships!

Mike had a great time and had never seen anything like an aerotow event and I do believe we have a new customer in aerotowing with him. As Len once said, we need to be the ones that get others involved in this wonderful hobby!

Tim

[Mosquito]

What a great weekend! As Kevin stated above, we had awesome weather with the most perfect days being Friday and Sunday. A little heat on Saturday but many long flights were made. I really got a chance to put my 170 Bidule to work and she performed flawlessly. The DLE 170 is starting to gain more power as I run it fuel through it. The brakes were a show stopper. The only time I had to turn the plane around on the runway was when I didn't realize that I had not put my flaps down on landing. Otherwise, I could stick it right at the spot I needed to and pull the next plane up. Kevin's "Pumpkin" which tips the scales at around 50 pounds, was my biggest challenge and it towed up behind the Bidule like it wasn't there.

Kevin was so lucky to have little damage to his Pegasus after he lassoed the power line and put it down nose first in a field. A night of work and she will be flying again. We all thought his Extra tow plane with DLE 120 was a goner when it went into a corn field about a half mile from the field. It was found with the help of a Quad and only had a broken prop. He was towing with it the next morning.

What a great event!

Tim

[Mosquito]

Sorry, I did not bring any type of computer or tablet to post images this weekend! We were busy from sun up til sun down!