At 20:16 on 13 Jul '08, jpq wrote :-

I'm getting confused about the Bills and Teds, but I am
anticipating an excellent adventure! (Nice wisecrack jpq!)


Yes jpq! I opologise for getting my 'Teds' and 'Bills' mixed up! Ted
was of course the 'Original Post' and 'Bill' was the contributor that
I was seeking futher explanation from!

I have never met Derek Copland (previous 14th July post) but he is someone
I know of that has vast experience and is a 'legend in his own lunchtime'
in British gliding circles! I would put much faith in his observations,
which also appear to back-up my own!

Regarding the capital cost and running costs of a professionally built
winch :-

a) Skylaunch estimate that running on LPG the cost/launch using the 8.2
litre engine option is £0.10 maximum.

b) During the 6 months summer period my club operates the 'Skylaunch
8200' 7 days/week plus some evenings, and during the winter 3 days/week.
With allowances for weather I would make a rough estimate at up to 5,000
winch launches/year!

If we write off the capital cost over a period of say 10 years this works
worked out to very roughly a cost of £1.10/launch (including LPG fuel!)
and the 'Skylaunch' still has many good years remaining on a "marginal
costing costing basis" of £0.10/launch + some 'Maintenance Costs'!

Hey! I've just realised! Why has the 'Club Treasurer' been charging me
£6.00/launch! I shall ask him!

Raising the 'Capital Cost' apart! (I leave that up to the Treasurer!)
Would I really want the 'aggro' of self-building our own winch at these
cost/launch figures? That is of course a subjective decision that can only
be made by a specific individual or club! However, I know what my decision
would be!


Tony Clark (aka 'pilot extraordinaire')


PS. I still await detailed clarification regarding the Skylaunch
"shortcomings" with much anticipation!