The first $100 tow...

Stewart Kissel wrote:

I don't see to many tow operations
getting rich, and they will get squeezed. I suppose
those with deep pockets can go to self-launching, but
not sure if that is really saving money in the long
run.

It does take deep pockets to afford an 18 meter self-launcher, but most
of the cost is the very fine glider you are buying. There are 13 meter
and 15 meter self-launchers that cost less than that 50:1 18 meter
glider(even if the 18 m glider doesn't have engine). So, cost is not
necessarily an obstacle.

The long drives many of us do to get to our soaring
spots are going to take a bigger bite as well.

A self-launcher may let you avoid that drive entirely, if you can soar
from your local airport. I do that, and it saves a 220 mile round trip
to the gliderport. Alternatively, you may be able to motor to the good
soaring, even if the local airport is a sink hole. "Traveling" in a
motorglider is relatively cheap, even in my ASH 26 E. I've made several
150+ mile retrieves (no soaring), using about 2 gallons in the process.
This is a lot less fuel than my mini-van would use for the ~400 mile
round-trip retrieve.

Of course, there are other good reasons to own a self-launcher,
regardless which way the finances figure out.

--
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA