"Blueskies" wrote in message
et...

"Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote in message
. ..

5 hour glider flight off a $5 winch launch? Where are you and how long
is the winch line?


A winch will launch a glider to about half the length of the winch line.
The winch launch gets you high enough to catch thermals. Then, in the
western US, you soar to 18,000. 5 hours can be conservative. Some
flights last over 10 hours.

In Germany, they are winch launching gliders almost a mile straight up so
they can practice aerobatics.
Beside being cheap, winch launches are a hoot. Think zero to sixty in
less than 3 seconds and then a 45 degree climb at 3000 - 5000 FPM.

If you want video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbRBiPuTjYQ (Somewhat
nervious passerger.)
Girlfriend gets a ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wttC39IZ9P4
and: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wttC39IZ9P4

I'm not German nor do I speak it - they just make the best videos.

Bill Daniels


I know Torry Pines will (or used to) launch you right over the cliffs so
you could ridge soar, but I am now in MI, and it would take a pretty long
winch to get high enough to fly around for 5 hours...


Torrey Pines still operates a few weekends in the Spring.

Michigan would be tough. However, I'm told there are thermals there -
sometimes good ones. Today, most winch operations soar with thermals and
not ridge lift although nobody would turn down ridge lift. Once you contact
thermal lift, you can usually count on several hours of flight.

From looking at several aero tow operations, most tows are to less then 2500
feet AGL. Winches can easilly match that at much lower cost.

Bill Daniels