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  #30  
Old October 21st 07, 12:53 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
John Smith
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Posts: 256
Default To Pawnee or not to Pawnee...that is the question...

Bill Daniels schrieb:

"Not exactly cheap" tows leads to an activity called "assembly practice".


I've never seen this. The glider pilots I know want to fly, that's why
they are glider pilots, after all.

When you see "assembly practice" or pilots driving to the gliderport without
flying, it's a sign your aero tow operation is verging on an economic death
spiral.


If you operate tow planes that don't pay for themselves, then your aero
tow operation is certainly verging on an economic death spiral.

At $5 - $10 for a winch launch, you'll never see "assembly practice".


Unfortunately, there are airfields from wich you can't reach thermals
from the winch. Or, if you reach them, you do so only three ours later
than with aerotow, which makes big flights impossible. I *know* there
are pilots lucky enough to operate from airfileds where you reach your
first thermal reliably from the winch at 10 a.m. I just don't happen to
operate from such a field.