On Sunday, November 25, 2012 9:31:15 PM UTC+1, Bill D wrote:

"If you enjoy flying the Pawnee so much, you should volunteer to split the tow cost with the glider pilot you're towing."

Since I'm a club member, and pay club dues, that's essentially what we do. And the time I spend towing is time I can't spend flying my own glider, or giving rides in club gliders, etc. So it all works out.

It's a bit more complicated when non-glider pilots are used for club tow pilots. Basically they are getting paid in flying time in interesting airplanes. Seems to work, but as our clubs chief tow pilot, I prefer using glider pilots as towpilots.

Back to winches, I've read that British clubs have had good luck with professional winch drivers, getting more consistent launches and less issues with scheduling winch drivers on good soaring days.

Kirk
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