On Sat, 01 Dec 2012 08:37:20 -0800, GM wrote:

Hmmm.... that may be a question of re-structuring the training syllabus.
I trained off the winch in Germany all the way to first solo ('A'-badge)
and didn't get into aero-towing until the end of my second year of
training. A club rule stipulated that a minimum of 70 winch launches had
to be made before the first solo (#71-73 were my 'A' flights), so my
log-book shows a good number of 4-5 minute long training flights. Our
typical release heights were 300m - 350m in our K-13.

Same here. I took 79 winch launches and one aero tow to solo (UK), all
completed within one excellent soaring season. I started in late March,
and went solo toward the end of August. The one aero tow was for
instructor demonstrated spinning. The remainder of my spin training was
off the winch with the aid of thermal climbs. That was happenstance: my
spin training happened to be on days with good thermals.

I didn't get my solo aero-tow signoff until a year after I went solo. I
used my first aero-tow in a Junior to get Silver C duration off a 2000 ft
tow. This was a week before I flew the distance leg off a winch launch in
the same Junior.

It isn't likely a training operation will want their students to get
certificates with only a winch launch endorsements anyway.
Agree 100% - I tell our members that the winch is by no means meant to
replace the tow plane but rather than enhance and round out the club's
offering.

I prefer to go xc off the winch on the grounds that, if I can get away
from 1200 ft I've shown that its likely I can scratch away from a similar
height if I should get low away from home.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
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