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Electric Winch Launch for FES

The Problem

I believe in 10-20 years soaring is going to look very different than it does today...  Why?  Ops, Oil and popularity.

Here's how gliding works today in the United States... You find a club, maybe they have a "demonstration flight", but probably they don't and you have immediately fork upwards of $200 "membership fee", then you sit around the field every weekend for two months (just the nice days) and "hope" you get a ride (after all the regulars get launched for the day) if your extra lucky you get two.  To make a day happen you have to have a tow pilot, an instructor and at least a couple extra guys mulling around to crew.


In percentages...

Flying = Weather * Tow Pilot * Instructor * Tow Plane * Glider / StudentCount

That's CRAZY!

Here's a typical example;  

Flying = 60% * 80% * 80% * 0.92 * 0.98 % / 3  = 11.52%

From my experience at some clubs... that's pretty accurate.  I'm fortunate the club I'm in now is more like this...

Flying = 80% * 95% * 95% * 0.96 * 0.99 %  / 2  = 34.29%

That seems about right for any given weekend.

So no wonder it takes a year to get your private pilot glider.  That's crazy!

We can eliminate some factors in this equation...

Flying = Weather * Instructor * Glider / StudentCount

The IDEA

Front-Electric/Launch-Assist-Front  (FE/LA)

I have to admit this isn't my idea, but it makes a ton of sense.  A short 300-500' launch using a pickup truck, mini-winch or short aero-tow, then engage the FE at low-power settings to find a thermal and stay up for as long as you can.

The on-board FE system can be minimal (15-30kw), simple and reliable and you get the added benefit of being able to self-save.

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