Aerotow

/ˈɛəroʊtoʊ/ noun

Definition

A method of towing a glider plane into the air using a powered airplane, connecting them with a rope or cable.

Etymology

From aero- (air) + tow (to pull). This term emerged in 20th-century aviation as glider pilots developed practical methods to gain altitude without engines.

Kelly Says

Aerotowing revolutionized glider sports by replacing tow trucks and hill launches—a small motorized plane pulls the silent glider to 2,000+ feet, then releases it, allowing skilled pilots to soar for hours using only thermal air currents, like invisible mountains of warm air.

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