On Tuesday, November 20, 2012 11:30:04 AM UTC-7, soarin wrote:
I recently read a a blurb on the SSA home page that claims the following.



High AVGAS prices ($6-$13/gal currently) are hurting aero tow operations.

Ultimately, US soaring will have to adopt fuel efficient winch launch to

keep the sport affordable



Locally here in Ca we currently pay $5.60 per gal 100LL and there is an

airport 20 miles away charging $5.21 per gal. An online search of current

fuel prices shows that throughout the six continental U.S. regions the

average price per gal 100LL is between $5.43 and $5.76. Is anyone aware of

any U.S. fixed glider operations paying $13 per gallon, or for that matter

any fixed operations that are paying in excess of $7?



The Germans did not have tow planes when they were allowed to fly again after WWII. They needed to use winches to fly. So they found the infrastructures for them. The Doernberg in Germany works great with winches but the terrain is not good for tow planes. I operated a Com operation for decades with 2 Tugs, have thousands of hours in them, always preferred to fly the glider. Not much is mentioned about maintenance,insurance, not so good tow pilots?

THE FUTURE IS SELF LAUNCH AND WINCHING IMHO AND THERE MAY HAVE TO BE IDEAL VENUES found FOR THEM!

For training, winching is best and one may have to go out to the prairie. Self launching can be done at busy airports. Sometimes I am cleared for take off behind two jets. The Germans are/were using their teenagers for Winch and retrieve work. They especially love to drive the retrieve car, since they are not allowed to drive yet on the road etc etc. But those customs may end?
Diesel winches...Boutique gas? Self Launch gliders? A lot of changes are comming! Most of us in the US do not even know what a good winch looks like.
There are so many contrasts. Europeans now fly in Namibia with Dozens of Self launchers, and some of their buddies are waiting for spring up north so they
can make their 10 flights a year off winches that may not last more than 15 minutes each!

Dieter
Gliders Of Aspen Inc.