At 06:29 24 April 2018, Surge wrote:
If it were up to me I'd consider winch launching seeing as those
mountains
=
are very conveniently located.

Some advantages of a winch operation:
1. I would think that a second hand winch would be much cheaper
to
purchase=
than a type certified, tug aircraft. You don't need the latest
SkyLaunch
s=
ystem to get gliders airborne.
2. Operational expenses of a winch are typically a fraction of those
of a
t=
ype certified aircraft. No annual inspections, no mandatory
expensive
overh=
aul schedules, much lower fuel consumption per launch, etc. A tug
costs
mon=
ey to maintain even if it sits in a hangar doing nothing over winter.
3. You don't require a pilot with a tug rating. Sourcing and
retaining tug
=
rated pilots appears to be a problem for a number of soaring
operations
aro=
und the world.

I'm sure Bruno from Utah Soaring Association (Nephi) would be
able to
point=
you in the right direction if you are interested in setting up a
winch
lau=
nching operation.
https://sites.google.com/site/nephisoaring/about-us

or maybe reverse pulley autotow - would be cheapest system to set
up if ground launching is allowed.