On Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:33:33 -0800 (PST), toad
wrote:

Probably because in most US clubs, that $800 a year can only support
the airport, towplanes, a couple of two seat trainers, a couple of low
performance single seaters and maybe a ASK-21 or G-103.

I know.
We have ASK-21, DG-505, SF-34, Ka-8b, 2*DG-300, ASW-24, ASW-27, Dimona
motorglider, DR-300 tow plane.


To allow everybody to fly a LS-4 on the weekends would require maybe 1
LS-4 to 4 or 5 club members, if half of them showed up on the same day
and all got to fly for 2-3 hours.

Typical flying times in the club's gliders are shorter on a crowded
day since there are about 3 to 4 pilots per glider per day. Average
time per flight for ASK-21 basic training is about 15 minutes.


So buying a $40,000 glider for 5 people would require a loan payment
of $6000/year plus insurance/maint of $1000/year. Ignoring other
expenses that still adds up to $1400/year/person.


I assumed 10% interest for 10 years.

So how does the math work out at your club ?

It works. The key is winch launching.

Income:
85 members, 370 Euro per year: 31.450 Euro

Costs:
Winch launch: 2.40 Euro
Typical number of winch launches: 1.700
Total costs of winch launches: 4080 Euro
Insurance for all gliders per year and other expenses: : 15.000 Euro.

Profit per year: about 12.500 Euro.

The tow plane just covers its costs.
A little additional profit is generated by the club house, too (less
than 2.000 Euro typically).






Bye
Andreas