![]() |
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Bill Daniels" wrote in message ... "Scott" wrote in message ... Because he's a troll. Yes, complaining about the airport would be good. They would just shut down another general aviation airport. Remember, if the airport goes away, so does another landing spot for gliders. I fly both powered and gliders. I'll bet the airport was there when numbnuts bought his house (and he probably doesn't even live near an airport) and he didn't have brain one to be able to think that maybe someday, someone would actually fly a powered plane out of that airport. Scott Littfin That logic may win a battle but it will eventually lose the war to keep small airports open. Once Chicago closed Miegs Field and got away with it, the precedent is set for other airport closure battles. The only long term solution is that airplanes have to get much quieter - fortunately, there are engineering ways to do that. Retrofitting older aircraft is possible but big gains have to be designed in. Meanwhile, as our European friends have pointed out, winches rarely annoy airport neighbors. Modern winches can now provide as much release height as 99% of air tows. The reality is that fuel costs will drive us to winches which will have many former general aviation airfields to operate from since the Cezzna drivers won't be able to afford fuel prices. Bill Daniels A recent survey apparently indicates the $3/gal is the break point for large SUV owners. Adjusted for 1980 dollars, oil would be $90/barrel for gas prices to match those historic levels. $5/gal 100LL certainly won't inspire growth in the number of soaring pilots, but the $25/2000ft tow becomes the $32.50/2000ft tow, not quite a show stopper in the near term. Still, it makes the $5-$10/winch launch a potential winner. Frank Whiteley |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
UK prices equate to around $9 a gallon for 100 LL,
propotional to population we have a larger soaring community than the US. At 16:30 26 March 2005, F.L. Whiteley wrote: 'Bill Daniels' wrote in message ... 'Scott' wrote in message ... Because he's a troll. Yes, complaining about the airport would be good. They would just shut down another general aviation airport. Remember, if the airport goes away, so does another landing spot for gliders. I fly both powered and gliders. I'll bet the airport was there when numbnuts bought his house (and he probably doesn't even live near an airport) and he didn't have brain one to be able to think that maybe someday, someone would actually fly a powered plane out of that airport. Scott Littfin That logic may win a battle but it will eventually lose the war to keep small airports open. Once Chicago closed Miegs Field and got away with it, the precedent is set for other airport closure battles. The only long term solution is that airplanes have to get much quieter - fortunately, there are engineering ways to do that. Retrofitting older aircraft is possible but big gains have to be designed in. Meanwhile, as our European friends have pointed out, winches rarely annoy airport neighbors. Modern winches can now provide as much release height as 99% of air tows. The reality is that fuel costs will drive us to winches which will have many former general aviation airfields to operate from since the Cezzna drivers won't be able to afford fuel prices. Bill Daniels A recent survey apparently indicates the $3/gal is the break point for large SUV owners. Adjusted for 1980 dollars, oil would be $90/barrel for gas prices to match those historic levels. $5/gal 100LL certainly won't inspire growth in the number of soaring pilots, but the $25/2000ft tow becomes the $32.50/2000ft tow, not quite a show stopper in the near term. Still, it makes the $5-$10/winch launch a potential winner. Frank Whiteley |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Including a very much larger winch launching community also. Cost of
average club membership participation may be less than here all told. My club dues and launch fees at my last UK clubs were less than here unless I flew club gliders at the hourly rate. Cost to the private owner were quite reasonable. Taxes are the difference in fuel cost of course. However, none of your airtow operations are operating above 5500MSL. AFAIK, all of our operations are at or above this in Colorado, so 180hp is the bare minimum HP requirement with 235HP and above preferred. GPH rates are 14+ for the 235HP at this altitude. Climb rates on hot days are not so great with heavy gliders either. My UK club operated quite well years ago with 100HP and 130HP Rollson Condors with acceptable climb rates and economy, though we wouldn't launch two-seaters two up with the 100HP. FWIW, we've winch launched the past two Saturdays. On the 19th we were getting 10kts to 14,000msl. Yesterday, 7kts to 10,200msl. Our tow plane is in the process of getting a 250HP engine replacement/upgrade and new prop and there should be funds remaining in the engine fund when done, so I think tow operations are priced about right. I expect fuel consumption to go to 15GPH+, but also expect to see an additional tow per tach hour also. I hear the new towing operation here in Colorado is shaking out around $50/3000agl. "Chris Rollings" wrote in message ... UK prices equate to around $9 a gallon for 100 LL, propotional to population we have a larger soaring community than the US. At 16:30 26 March 2005, F.L. Whiteley wrote: 'Bill Daniels' wrote in message ... 'Scott' wrote in message ... Because he's a troll. Yes, complaining about the airport would be good. They would just shut down another general aviation airport. Remember, if the airport goes away, so does another landing spot for gliders. I fly both powered and gliders. I'll bet the airport was there when numbnuts bought his house (and he probably doesn't even live near an airport) and he didn't have brain one to be able to think that maybe someday, someone would actually fly a powered plane out of that airport. Scott Littfin That logic may win a battle but it will eventually lose the war to keep small airports open. Once Chicago closed Miegs Field and got away with it, the precedent is set for other airport closure battles. The only long term solution is that airplanes have to get much quieter - fortunately, there are engineering ways to do that. Retrofitting older aircraft is possible but big gains have to be designed in. Meanwhile, as our European friends have pointed out, winches rarely annoy airport neighbors. Modern winches can now provide as much release height as 99% of air tows. The reality is that fuel costs will drive us to winches which will have many former general aviation airfields to operate from since the Cezzna drivers won't be able to afford fuel prices. Bill Daniels A recent survey apparently indicates the $3/gal is the break point for large SUV owners. Adjusted for 1980 dollars, oil would be $90/barrel for gas prices to match those historic levels. $5/gal 100LL certainly won't inspire growth in the number of soaring pilots, but the $25/2000ft tow becomes the $32.50/2000ft tow, not quite a show stopper in the near term. Still, it makes the $5-$10/winch launch a potential winner. Frank Whiteley |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
![]() |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
![]() A recent survey apparently indicates the $3/gal is the break point for large SUV owners. Now what kind of survey was that????? All you have to do is look at Europe to see that those figures are nonsense. Fuel prices in some countries are approaching double that price but people are still buying SUV's like crazy. |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Marcel Duenner" wrote in message om... A recent survey apparently indicates the $3/gal is the break point for large SUV owners. Now what kind of survey was that????? All you have to do is look at Europe to see that those figures are nonsense. Fuel prices in some countries are approaching double that price but people are still buying SUV's like crazy. Large SUVs and large distances here. There are many people driving large SUVs in the US who can ill afford to. Watching the car lots, some of these lose about 1/3 of their value in 1-2 years and 2/3rds in five. See a lot of Excursions, Expeditions, Navigators, Escalades, and Hummers in Europe these days? There are many compact SUVs that are quite economical to drive and are not the suburban soccer-mom assault vehicles. I think we may be discussing two different types of SUV. I just visited a couple of Euro automotive sites and find no similar offerings. Even what's called a van is a small cousin to what is produced in the US. Seems the RAV-4 type is popular according to a marketing survey source. It also appears moves are afoot to close tax loopholes on SUVs in Germany. The mileage loophole that made them cheaper to produce is being closed in the US. Frank |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
noise pollution from private planes | [email protected] | Home Built | 19 | March 31st 05 02:20 PM |
Small plane noise is destroying my life | Robert Morien | General Aviation | 5 | December 1st 04 05:01 PM |
Can a Private Pilot tow gliders and get paid? | BTIZ | Soaring | 1 | October 17th 04 01:35 AM |
private plane noise | beaudoin | General Aviation | 23 | March 19th 04 02:07 PM |
"I Want To FLY!"-(Youth) My store to raise funds for flying lessons | Curtl33 | General Aviation | 7 | January 9th 04 11:35 PM |