Bill

Unfortunately I can't. As my Deutsch skills only allow me to order a
bier, find the restroom, and get authorization to transit airspace I
have a hard time with researching the stats. I will ask and see if I
can get them.

Frank

2800 feet is still enough for a 1000 foot launch in a plane with a cCG
hook. Good for pattern work and landing practice. And as landing
practice is the most expensive cost of learning to soar {all those
pesky areotows just to get lannding practice :´)} a winch launch is a
good way to get landing practice. On a good day, i.e. no thermals...I
could get 6-10 landings during my training at a cost of 35€ (before
our clud had it's ab initio deal). And, let's face it, to be a safe
soaring pilot landing skills are paramount!

Surfer

Don't know as I have never ridge soared off a winch launch but it
would be great! I think that most pilots would be safer if they
learned to fly at lower heights(AGL). If you learn to fly correctly at
1000-900-800-700 feet, the procedures for flying at these AGL heights
should be the same as those for higher flights, the views are
different. At some point early in your soaring career you will be at
these heights, and of course you will be within reach of a landable
field, so you may as well have a lot of practice. I certainly still
have a habit of getting low once per long flight. Pick a field, circle
in 0 lift, circle, circle, .5, circle... .8....1.0 and away I go after
30 minutes or so.

These issues are CFIG issues. If your instructors were comfortable
with winch launches then everyone would be comfortable. I don't know
how you get a core of instructors winch "savvy" unless you all get
together and send a bunch our way :-}

Bob