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Old February 25th 20, 04:19 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
AS
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Default Ground Launch Training - Winch and Auto

On Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 1:29:35 AM UTC-5, John Foster wrote:
On Monday, February 24, 2020 at 10:54:56 PM UTC-7, Jim S wrote:
Thanks much!


Why don't we do more winch launching here in the US?


John,

this is an often debated question. I think it is mostly based on history. In the US, the availability of cheap tail-dragger tow planes, tail-dragger trained pilots and cheap AVGAS steered the soaring community towards aero-towing. In Europe, the situation was the opposite, so folks over there perfected building winches instead.
Even today, some US-clubs who want to get into winching since it makes economic sense for them experience internal resistance and opposition from vocal opponents, who - in most cases - have no clue what they are talking about nor have ever taken a single winch launch.

Uli
'AS'