Actually, Craig is being too modest. In a few months of spare time work this
spring, he single-handedly engineered and built a double drum machine that is
the smoothest, sweetest running winch I've ever driven. It's orders of
magnitude better than the barnyard bailing wire wonders that we sometimes have
to work with. And with 5000 ft of Plasma plastic rope spooled on, not only are
our winch worries at an end, we have also eliminated any remaining headaches
from the tow line part of the launch method.

Sure, he's still got a few bugs to be worked out over the winter, like will
the electrical system pull the air conditioner all day long, but I'm sure that
Craig will quickly solve this problem also.

No kidding, next spring there will be doors and an air conditioner on there.
Right, Craig?

Here's where you can gaze upon this wondrous machine:

Click "photos" (duh)

http://www.permiansoaring.us/

BJ

Craig Freeman wrote:

It's intriguing how much attention any post about winch launching seems to
generate here on RAS. I must admit I, like most here in the USA, cried
"foul" or was it"fool" any time one would suggest that winching could be
a viable alternative to the much perferred aero tow. Shame on me. Perhaps
it's time to lift our head out of the herd and get a new view. The recent
thread on which type of launch is safest seemed to conclude that each
launch is equally dangerous if done improperly and each launch is safe
when done properly. Problem is we in the USA don't know what we are
doing and learning can be a painful experience. Painful perhaps, but
worth it.
Here is my story. Soaring in West Texas had been on the decline for
the past fifteen years. Only a handful of sailplanes left,(four to be
exact), and no tow plane in sight. Sounding familiar? Well that was two
years ago. We simply did not have the money to purchase a tow plane or
the activity to attract a commercial operation. Our salvation was a
GOOD WINCH. The story of building a good winch and learning to operate
it could take up most the rest of the winter. However the proof is in
pudding, or in this case the bank account. Our club has more than tripled
in membership and is growing. We are able to support our activities and
flying is on the rebound in West Texas. Aero tow will always have a
place but do not discount what a GOOD WINCH can do for soaring in your
club. The economics simply cannot be overlooked. Winches generate real
revenue and provide for more flights for the buck than any other method
of launch, and can do it just as safely as aero tow.

Cheers,

Craig