Tow Planes
TopModel (France), under the banner of their ECOTOP brand, offers the Bidule in small, medium, and large sizes. We have seen the Bidule 111 and the Bidule 170 in action and they work absolutely great as tow planes, so we expect the Bidule 55 to also be excellent...
TopModel (France), under the banner of their ECOTOP brand, now offers the 3.0M Bidule 111 which is about the same size plane as the much beloved 3.2M Pilatus Porter. The Bidule 111 is designed around the DLE 111 twin cylinder gas engine. The DA-100 and DA-120 engines share the exact same size mounting bolt pattern and similar size and weight to the DLE 111...read more.
Without question, the Bidule 170 is the new "Big Dog" of tow planes. With a design long popular in France, there are numerous Bidules in use in the USA and the number is growing almost daily! Check out these build threads and commentary:
TopModel Bidule 170 ~ build thread by JimD
Giant scale sailplanes keep getting larger and what once seemed to be a powerful tug now seems only and intermediate size tug. Still, this Decathlon equipped with a DA-85 can tow a wide range of sailplanes without a problem. Its fiberglass moulded fuselage is rather unique among tugs this size and offers a strong and rugged airframe to withstand the rigors of aerotowing...
This giant scale model can easily be converted to a tow plane and works extremely well for a wide range of sailplanes. We have seen it tow everything from Easy Gliders up through 8.0 meters! If you are looking for a tug that can also be fun to just fly as a sport plane, put this one on your list...
Equipped with a DA-120, the Balsa USA Super Cub is a very capable tug and it just looks sooooooo good!
The Hangar 9® Carbon Cub 15cc brings the heritage and versatility of the full scale airplane to life with a 90-inch span, all-wood model with easy engine or electric power installation that features shock-absorbing landing gear and should fill the bill for anyone looking for a small scale tow plane.
So, are you looking for a "monster" size towplane...maybe one with a turbine engine...then this maybe just the one you have been searching for! TopModel now offers it in two liveries designed for turbine engine installations...
In the late 1990s the PZL-104MA Wilga 2000 family was developed with Lycoming flat 6 cylinders engines and with improved aerodynamics. It was decided to make a scale reproduction at 1:3.5, a size that had two advantages. First the ability to use an efficient power system that has a great weight to power ratio, and ideal for aerotowing. Second, keep the size reasonable so it is still fairly transportable in a standard van. After a year of designing and building, this exquisite kit was ready...
Trainer 50's were very popular towplanes in the USA around 2010, but as the sailplanes got larger its big brother, the Payloadmaster 100, took over. Still, the Trainer 50 powered with an 85cc engine is quite capable, plus it is easy to fly and land...
The Payloadmaster 100 is an excellent large tow plane. It can be fitted with a range of engines and can handle towing large scale sailplanes with ease. Flight characteristics are docile and predictable and it handles windy conditions and crosswind landings well...
Equipped with an 85cc engine, this intermediate size tug is very capable of aerotowing a wide range of sailplanes. It is easy to fly and land and generally does what it needs to do as a tug well...
It seems that the Valiant has found a sweet spot among those looking to get started in aerotowing. Various engines have been tried and the best setup continues to evolve. Although the Valiant is not a scale airplane, its good looks and style fit right in among its scale peers...
Just because it is a small foamy does not mean that the Fun Cub should not be considered a serious tow plane for the small sailplane class. We have watched numerous Fun Cubs tow their little hearts out at events with a constant line of Easy Glider pilots waiting their turn...
"The "forty-size" trainer is still one of the most popular types of model aircraft. The MENTOR fits neatly into this class but because it is built with our revolutionary ELAPOR® foam it is much more durable than any balsa and film product on the market. When built with recommended clean and quite brushless motor power pack, the MENTOR is sure to give the beginner or advanced pilot hours of enjoyment without the fear of ending the day with a pile of sticks."
The Mentor can handle larger sailplanes than the Fun Cub because of its larger wing span and greater mass. Again, do not underestimate its capablilities just because it is a foamy...