At 17:06 29 December 2007, Bill Daniels wrote:
So, what are the options? Continue the death spiral
we're in or work
toward
a solution?

Modern glider trainers are hideously expensive compared
to anything
that
preceeded them but not so much so when compared to
the airplane
trainers on
the other side of the airport. A big difference is
the training airplanes
get in more revenue hours per day so their capital
costs can be spread
across more hours reducing the rental rate.

The solution for gliders is the same. Increase revenue
hours by using
winches. This re-jiggers the finances so some of the
cash flow that
went
to the tug goes to support expensive trainers. This
opens the door to
digging out of the hole we're in with decades old,
worn out, ugly
trainers.

Winches increase flying by reducing student costs yet
provides cash for
new
trainers.
New trainers and winches attract instructors and new
students.
Increased activity pays for the new gliders and the
winch.
The beauty is that if done right, there is no net increase
in costs.

As many will hasten to point out, this is not a instant
'magic' solution
but
is is a path that leads to one. It requires re-thinking
of how we do
things. It requires a lot of work. It requires some
faith that it will
work out for the better.

This can't be implemented instantly. It's a journey
more than a
destination. But the first step is to begin the process
by shifting some
training to winch launch. Even this is a process.
We have to train
instructors in winch launch. We have to find airfields,
we have to buy
or
build winches...

If we are going to save this sport, we have a lot of
work to do. We're
going to have to re-invent ourselves.

Bill Daniels

The 2-33 doesn't have to die. In a well marketed winch
launch
operation a 2-33 could be used as a single seat fun
ride for
experienced pilots, especially if you have a winch
launch
operation that can do very high launches. A new pilot
with low
flight time could take a friend for a thrill ride and
let them use
the back seat. Just do introductory rides and flight
training
in a nice glass ship.