In the Wake of the Albatross and the Seagull - Tracing Aerotowing History to 1922

Abstract

In today’s world, towing behind an airplane is possibly the most widely used method of launching a sailplane into the air, so that the pilot can search for the right atmospheric conditions to gain altitude and achieve soaring flight. But who thought of this type of launching first? And who was first to succeed? The answer lies in the early 20th century’s aviation advancements, prominently led by Glenn H. Curtiss, a pioneer in American aviation. Being interested in hydroplanes, he and his team designed a hydro glider, that could take off and land on water like the albatross and the seagull. This innovative step achieved in 1922 marked the genesis of aerotowing techniques in gliding. Curtiss’ experiments demonstrated the feasibility of aerotowing but it took a few more years to be adopted and accepted by the gliding community world-wide.