An indication that the glider has begun a turn too soon on aerotow is that the towplane's nose is pulled which way?

• A. To the outside of the turn.
• B. Toward the inside of the turn.
• C. Level with horizon.
• D. Nose drops straight down.

Answer: (A)

In aerotow, the towline must stay aligned with the glider’s path as both aircraft share a turn. If the glider starts the turn too soon, the glider will begin to follow its own arc while the towplane is still on a shallower path. To keep the towline taut and properly aligned, the towplane’s nose is steered toward the outside of the turn. This outward pull helps maintain tension and prevents the line from pulling the towplane into the glider’s arc. If the nose were pulled toward the inside, the line could bind or the towplane would be forced into the glider’s turn, which isn’t desirable. A level attitude or a nose drop indicates other issues, not the early-turn signal.