The eternal discussion.

Agreed

Back to the topic: We pay about $4.40 per tow minute on a 180 hp Husky
(airborne time of the tow plane counts). With this rate, after deducting
all costs, we make a little profit for the club.
Stefan

4.40 per minute = $264 per hour
on an average of 4-5 tows per hour on a busy day,
that's 264/5 = 52 per average tow...

no wonder you're making money.

On the other hand, most of OUR tows are about 500fpm, so a 2K tow would take
4 minutes or about $17.60.. of course that does not count for time spent in
sink or rotor on a strong day.. with zero rate of climb on tow (tow pilot
turning back to the thermal or ridge lift). And then the airplane has to
return, we can get our tow on the ground from a 2K tow in 1:30 to 2 min,
providing now one else is in the traffic pattern.

Your 180HP Husky burns just a tad less fuel than a 235HP IO540.

So we are about the same..

BT