The promo is a great idea, nice graphics and all. Love the ASH-25 pic.........just one question. Why did you use a picture from Australia? Not a slam on Australian soaring, but isn't the intent to promote U.S. Soaring and get people's butts in gliders here? No suitable American scenes, pictures of planes with a "N" number?

Gary Adams - GB

On May 3, 8:17*pm, Gary Adams > wrote:
> The promo is a great idea, nice graphics and all. Love the ASH-25 pic.........just one question. Why did you use a picture from Australia? Not a slam on Australian soaring, but isn't the intent to promote U.S. Soaring and get people's butts in gliders here? No suitable American scenes, pictures of planes with a "N" number?
>
> Gary Adams - GB

Bob DeLeon will have to answer that - he chose the graphics. However,
I think he made a great choice. The non-pilot viewer wouldn't
understand what an "N" number is anyway.

Some have mentioned the graphics are "too loud" but I think it has to
be to work. Soaring is fighting for its life and this campaign must
work - we may not get another chance. Put a bumper sticker on your
car and the graphic on your trailer. No matter how old it is, it'll
look better with the graphic.

Bill Daniels

On Thursday, May 3, 2012 8:17:40 PM UTC-6, Gary Adams wrote:
> The promo is a great idea, nice graphics and all. Love the ASH-25 pic.........just one question. Why did you use a picture from Australia? Not a slam on Australian soaring, but isn't the intent to promote U.S. Soaring and get people's butts in gliders here? No suitable American scenes, pictures of planes with a "N" number?
>
> Gary Adams - GB

Put your LGG bumper sticker on the daily driver yet? Your chapter should have received a bunch by now. More available upon request.

Frank Whiteley

On Thursday, May 3, 2012 10:17:40 PM UTC-4, Gary Adams wrote:
> The promo is a great idea, nice graphics and all. Love the ASH-25 pic.........just one question. Why did you use a picture from Australia? Not a slam on Australian soaring, but isn't the intent to promote U.S. Soaring and get people's butts in gliders here? No suitable American scenes, pictures of planes with a "N" number?
>
> Gary Adams - GB

I guess I was trying to be a little subtle or tactful.......re-read it minus the first 2 sentences. So what if the "Joe Public" doesn't know a bout N numbers.....that wasn't my point. Commercial operators and clubs do know. Just saying we've got some recognizable, spectacular views in this country that might work as well as say................a book cover.

Gary Adams GB

On May 4, 3:57*am, gotovkotzepkoi <gotovkotzepkoi.
> wrote:
> Get real. Other than the feel good factor of the people wearing the
> stickers this campaign is a waste of time. The sport needs to appeal to
> more primal instincts. Remember the scene in Cool Hand Luke where the
> women is washing the car? Well, how about the glider version: she's
> washing the canopy....The young men will be knocking the doors of your
> club down. Sorry to any ladies out there who might be offended by this
> brazen idea.
>
> --
> gotovkotzepkoi

I hate to admit it but he's right. Sexiness sells. That's why all the
ads these days feature female youth.
These (expensive) TV ads are fine tuned by focus groups to provide
maximum interest in minimum time.
This is probably one of your wive's top complaints (ads, movies,
etc.). I know it is for mine.
You might also notice the increased use of coffee cups in all
commercials. They're there just to catch
your brain via your coffee "additiction".
Old guys in funny hats just don't get much interest in this world no
matter what they are doing.
It's quite an unfortunate situation.
My feeling is that it takes a special kind of interest to want to fly
gliders. Those that have this innate desire will seek
us out. The rest of the world is clueless. Let them be.

On May 4, 10:41*am, soartech > wrote:
> On May 4, 3:57*am, gotovkotzepkoi <gotovkotzepkoi.
>
> > wrote:
> > Get real. Other than the feel good factor of the people wearing the
> > stickers this campaign is a waste of time. The sport needs to appeal to
> > more primal instincts. Remember the scene in Cool Hand Luke where the
> > women is washing the car? Well, how about the glider version: she's
> > washing the canopy....The young men will be knocking the doors of your
> > club down. Sorry to any ladies out there who might be offended by this
> > brazen idea.
>
> > --
> > gotovkotzepkoi
>
> I hate to admit it but he's right. Sexiness sells. That's why all the
> ads these days feature female youth.
> These (expensive) TV ads are fine tuned by focus groups to provide
> maximum interest in minimum time.
> This is probably one of your wive's top complaints (ads, movies,
> etc.). I know it is for mine.
> You might also notice the increased use of coffee cups in all
> commercials. They're there just to catch
> your brain via your coffee "additiction".
> Old guys in funny hats just don't get much interest in this world no
> matter what they are doing.
> It's quite an unfortunate situation.
> My feeling is that it takes a special kind of interest to want to fly
> gliders. Those that have this innate desire will seek
> us out. The rest of the world is clueless. Let them be.

My theory is that roughly .1% of the population has the "Glider
Gene". If simply exposed to what soaring is about, they will
obsessively pursue the sport. Spending serious money on mass
advertizing to reach that tiny demographic isn't reasonable or
affordable. We have to be smart in how we spend scarce resources on
promotion.

Bumper stickers and trailer graphics as well as Facebook and Twitter
campaigns are affordable and, hopefully, will reach enough of the
genetically afflicted population to get the sport growing again. .1%
= 300,000 potential glider pilots in the US which is a bit more than
our 200 training gliders and 400 working instructors can handle.

Hi, Bob DeLeon here…creator of Let's Go Gliding. There is but one
objective to the campaign: AWARENESS.

Our sport has resided way off the radar in comparison to the other
recreational choices. So LGG is designed to elevate the awareness of
this choice. This objective needs to look: exciting, adventurous,
challenging, and the opportunity to be involved with a great group of
people who love the sport. That's why I made the choices in how it's
designed and what it says. That was the creative brief driving the
imagery and words.

Yea, it would have been fun to have imagery like the Cool Hand Luke
scene previously described. But that would have been dis-ingeniune to
what soaring really is. It would be a "hook" that once swallowed would
have cut off a lot of support (female) and been regarded as fake to
those who are the target audience.

AWARENESS of this sport--and what it offers-- is the key. The more
people see the campaign, the more they'll sense that the guy sporting
the bumper sticker or showing the brochure will be a source to get
their questions answered. And if not a person, then the web address
(LetsGoGliding.com) will be the other source to influence their
thinking and impressions.

It's not likely that in the next two years we'll see a growth in the
sport that will be ascending, but if worked enthusiastically by those
who fly gliders, with the SSA's backing, we can arrest the descent of
declining numbers and hold the line on those flying. Adding in numbers
right now is that objective. Otherwise, the sport will slide into a
category that will effect manufacturers of gliders and glider
equipment, the ability of some clubs to remain active, and the value
of your used glider. Trust me: no business or entity wants decline.
You want some kind of growth. And getting active with a supported
marketing campaign that puts a "cool" and inviting spotlight on the
sport is the answer.

And as previously stated, this campaign is going to need unbridled
support from the soaring community. With this year's World Gliding
Championship being held in the U.S. we have a superb chance to arrest
the descent of glider pilot numbers in the U.S.

Awareness is good. So I suppose trailer stickers are ok. But I
have the sinking feeling, that like most things the SSA does, they
won't do any good, and are more designed to justify the SSA staff
and fill up some space in soaring magazine. If I saw a big trailer
with a sticker "lets go cave diving" it would not cause me to
contact my local cave diving club. I already know that cave diving
exists, and I don't care. I don't have the passion for it, like most
people feel about flying. The passion has to be there, and it won't
be magically created by trailer stickers or coffee mugs or
whatever. Those unfortunate people who do have the passion for
gliding.....they are destined to spend a lot of time and money, and
will already be bugging their parents, visiting airports, and on the
internet looking for local gliding clubs. We could tear off all the
trailer stickers, paint them in camouflage and string barbed wire
around the airport, and they'd still sneak in. All we can really do,
is make sure those new people can easily find us, and welcome
them when they come.


At 15:42 06 May 2012, Bob D wrote:
>Hi, Bob DeLeon here=85creator of Let's Go Gliding. There is but
one
>objective to the campaign: AWARENESS.
>
>Our sport has resided way off the radar in comparison to the
other
>recreational choices. So LGG is designed to elevate the
awareness of
>this choice. This objective needs to look: exciting, adventurous,
>challenging, and the opportunity to be involved with a great
group of
>people who love the sport. That's why I made the choices in how
it's
>designed and what it says. That was the creative brief driving
the
>imagery and words.
>
>Yea, it would have been fun to have imagery like the Cool Hand
Luke
>scene previously described. But that would have been dis-
ingeniune to
>what soaring really is. It would be a "hook" that once swallowed
would
>have cut off a lot of support (female) and been regarded as fake
to
>those who are the target audience.
>
>AWARENESS of this sport--and what it offers-- is the key. The
more
>people see the campaign, the more they'll sense that the guy
sporting
>the bumper sticker or showing the brochure will be a source to
get
>their questions answered. And if not a person, then the web
address
>(LetsGoGliding.com) will be the other source to influence their
>thinking and impressions.
>
>It's not likely that in the next two years we'll see a growth in the
>sport that will be ascending, but if worked enthusiastically by
those
>who fly gliders, with the SSA's backing, we can arrest the
descent of
>declining numbers and hold the line on those flying. Adding in
numbers
>right now is that objective. Otherwise, the sport will slide into a
>category that will effect manufacturers of gliders and glider
>equipment, the ability of some clubs to remain active, and the
value
>of your used glider. Trust me: no business or entity wants
decline.
>You want some kind of growth. And getting active with a
supported
>marketing campaign that puts a "cool" and inviting spotlight on
the
>sport is the answer.
>
>And as previously stated, this campaign is going to need
unbridled
>support from the soaring community. With this year's World
Gliding
>Championship being held in the U.S. we have a superb chance to
arrest
>the descent of glider pilot numbers in the U.S.
>
>
>
>
>

I took my trailer to the gliderport this weekend and it was the first chance I had to look at the Let's Go Gliding! stickers from a distance. From over 100 feet away the lettering is still clear and the colors are eye catching. Of course I have young eyes.

Making sure people can find us is the whole point of Let's Go Gliding. The website www.letsgogliding.com funnels people directly to the SSA's "Where to Fly" applet.

I'm pretty sure I have the "glider gene" that Bill talks about but I was completely oblivious to it until I actually got a flight in a glider and was able to climb. I had read about the exploits of a glider pilot in the newspaper and thought he was a crazed lunatic for flying cross country with no engine and landing out. I had just started airplane training at the time because I thought I wanted to be a professional pilot (talk about crazy!). From there it was an intersting sequence of events that led to that lunatic taking me for my first ride after I helped pull his glider out of a field. We gained a few hundred feet and the rest is history.

Sexy?

What could possibly be more sexy than flying around in a machine
that, from the side, looks like a giant sperm?

Sexy?

What could possibly be more sexy than flying around in a machine
that, from the side, looks like a giant sperm?

On Sun, 06 May 2012 22:21:06 -0500, Andrew Wood > wrote:

Hi, Andrew,

Just one comment on your post. I know Bob DeLeon personally (he's in our
club here in Houston and is a very active member and supporter of all
things soaring).

Your assertion that this campaign exists to keep SSA staff occupied does
not ring true to me. From talking with Bob it seems pretty clear that
this is his baby. The SSA supports it, I'm sure, but from what I
understand they didn't exactly contact Bob trolling for things to do to
keep the staff busy. Bob came up with this idea (along with a few others
whose names I do not know or I would acknowledge them here, too), did most
or all of the work on the graphics and website, and the SSA's only real
involvement is in coordinating the (optional) printing of the trailer
stickers and handling the order processing. From what I understand if you
want for some reason to cut the SSA out altogether, Bob will send you the
graphics file and you get it printed yourself wherever you wish.

Your comments about whether or not this campaign will be effective are
another matter. I disagree with them personally, but obviously only time
will tell whether this campaign will work. What I can say is that if most
of us don't get behind it and get the stickers on our trailers/bumpers,
etc., then it definitely will NOT work.

As far as whether there is some built-in "soaring gene" or something. I
have heard this argument before. What I don't understand is if it is true
that people have some innate desire to fly and nothing can stop them, then
why are the number of pilots declining even as the overall population is
rising? It seems that if there is some (small) percentage of people who
are just "wired" to eventually get into our sport, this percentage ought
to be more-or-less constant over time. Genetics don't change so quickly.
If this were the case, then our numbers would rise with the overall
population.

My personal explanation for the decline is several-fold, but to make this
post short(ish), I think one factor is simply that there are SO MANY
things competing for our limited attention, time, and money, that it is
easy for niche activities (like soaring) to get lost among all the options.

Yes, I am sure that many people are aware that this activity exists, but
if they don't get a reminder, they may just continue along in their boring
lives...golfing or watching TV or whatever, because they just hadn't yet
experienced the "spark" that ignites whatever it is that causes them to
come out to a glider club and start learning.

Given the small number of glider pilots and glider trailers, it's unlikely
that "Let's Go Gliding" is going to instantly arrest the decline in pilot
numbers, but if we can start to add even a percent or two a year to our
numbers, I think it is well worth the $115 and 1 hour of our time to put
the stickers on our trailers.

--Stefan





> Awareness is good. So I suppose trailer stickers are ok. But I
> have the sinking feeling, that like most things the SSA does, they
> won't do any good, and are more designed to justify the SSA staff
> and fill up some space in soaring magazine. If I saw a big trailer
> with a sticker "lets go cave diving" it would not cause me to
> contact my local cave diving club. I already know that cave diving
> exists, and I don't care. I don't have the passion for it, like most
> people feel about flying. The passion has to be there, and it won't
> be magically created by trailer stickers or coffee mugs or
> whatever. Those unfortunate people who do have the passion for
> gliding.....they are destined to spend a lot of time and money, and
> will already be bugging their parents, visiting airports, and on the
> internet looking for local gliding clubs. We could tear off all the
> trailer stickers, paint them in camouflage and string barbed wire
> around the airport, and they'd still sneak in. All we can really do,
> is make sure those new people can easily find us, and welcome
> them when they come.
>
>
> At 15:42 06 May 2012, Bob D wrote:
>> Hi, Bob DeLeon here=85creator of Let's Go Gliding. There is but
> one
>> objective to the campaign: AWARENESS.
>>
>> Our sport has resided way off the radar in comparison to the
> other
>> recreational choices. So LGG is designed to elevate the
> awareness of
>> this choice. This objective needs to look: exciting, adventurous,
>> challenging, and the opportunity to be involved with a great
> group of
>> people who love the sport. That's why I made the choices in how
> it's
>> designed and what it says. That was the creative brief driving
> the
>> imagery and words.
>>
>> Yea, it would have been fun to have imagery like the Cool Hand
> Luke
>> scene previously described. But that would have been dis-
> ingeniune to
>> what soaring really is. It would be a "hook" that once swallowed
> would
>> have cut off a lot of support (female) and been regarded as fake
> to
>> those who are the target audience.
>>
>> AWARENESS of this sport--and what it offers-- is the key. The
> more
>> people see the campaign, the more they'll sense that the guy
> sporting
>> the bumper sticker or showing the brochure will be a source to
> get
>> their questions answered. And if not a person, then the web
> address
>> (LetsGoGliding.com) will be the other source to influence their
>> thinking and impressions.
>>
>> It's not likely that in the next two years we'll see a growth in the
>> sport that will be ascending, but if worked enthusiastically by
> those
>> who fly gliders, with the SSA's backing, we can arrest the
> descent of
>> declining numbers and hold the line on those flying. Adding in
> numbers
>> right now is that objective. Otherwise, the sport will slide into a
>> category that will effect manufacturers of gliders and glider
>> equipment, the ability of some clubs to remain active, and the
> value
>> of your used glider. Trust me: no business or entity wants
> decline.
>> You want some kind of growth. And getting active with a
> supported
>> marketing campaign that puts a "cool" and inviting spotlight on
> the
>> sport is the answer.
>>
>> And as previously stated, this campaign is going to need
> unbridled
>> support from the soaring community. With this year's World
> Gliding
>> Championship being held in the U.S. we have a superb chance to
> arrest
>> the descent of glider pilot numbers in the U.S.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>


--
Stefan Murry

On May 7, 8:27*am, "S. Murry" > wrote:

> As far as whether there is some built-in "soaring gene" or something. *I
> have heard this argument before. *What I don't understand is if it is true
> that people have some innate desire to fly and nothing can stop them, then
> why are the number of pilots declining even as the overall population is
> rising? *It seems that if there is some (small) percentage of people who
> are just "wired" to eventually get into our sport, this percentage ought
> to be more-or-less constant over time. *Genetics don't change so quickly.
> If this were the case, then our numbers would rise with the overall
> population.

The thing with the 'glider gene' is people don't know they have it
until they are made aware of soaring. (It doesn't take much -
sometimes just a picture or short video will do.) As for why people
aren't finding the sport on their own, I think it comes down to one
word - ignorance.

They don't know about us.
They don't know what we do.
They don't know how spectacular this sport is.
They don't know they can become glider pilots too.

Unlike "Cave Diving" which gets a fair amount of press, we've
inadvertently done a great job of hiding. Very few people even know
we exist much less what we do.

I constantly talk to airplane pilot groups and I'm amazed at how
little they know. Almost to a person, they think gliding is exactly
that - tow up and glide down. Or maybe, on extremely rare occasions,
someone finds a mysterious force called a "thermal" and stays up a few
minutes longer.

When shown what modern sailplanes can really do, and are doing on a
regular basis, they're flabbergasted. Explaining the OLC is an
effective way of convincing skeptics. It proves cross country flying
in gliders is not a "fish story".

Make them aware of us, tell them what we do and those afflicted with
the "glider gene" will come roaring out of the woodwork.

Bill Daniels

On Monday, May 7, 2012 10:21:55 AM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
>
> The thing with the 'glider gene' is people don't know they have it
> until they are made aware of soaring. (It doesn't take much -
> sometimes just a picture or short video will do.) As for why people
> aren't finding the sport on their own, I think it comes down to one
> word - ignorance.
>
> They don't know about us.
> They don't know what we do.
> They don't know how spectacular this sport is.
> They don't know they can become glider pilots too.
>
> Unlike "Cave Diving" which gets a fair amount of press, we've
> inadvertently done a great job of hiding. Very few people even know
> we exist much less what we do.
>
> I constantly talk to airplane pilot groups and I'm amazed at how
> little they know. Almost to a person, they think gliding is exactly
> that - tow up and glide down. Or maybe, on extremely rare occasions,
> someone finds a mysterious force called a "thermal" and stays up a few
> minutes longer.
>
> When shown what modern sailplanes can really do, and are doing on a
> regular basis, they're flabbergasted. Explaining the OLC is an
> effective way of convincing skeptics. It proves cross country flying
> in gliders is not a "fish story".
>
> Make them aware of us, tell them what we do and those afflicted with
> the "glider gene" will come roaring out of the woodwork.
>
> Bill Daniels

Have to agree with Bill on this one as my personal story matches this scenario.

I took a demo glider flight 25 years ago in Durango CO and loved it but didn't have the time or resources to pursue gliding and so quickly forgot about it. A year ago, while searching YouTube for Radio Control slope soaring videos up pops one of Bruno Vassell's excellent videos. Over the next few days I watched every one of Bruno's YT videos and decided that I needed to give it a shot. The rest is history - I joined a club, started taking lessons in Feb, and completed my first solo flilght on Saturday. None of that would have happend without the "jog of awareness" provided by that YT video.. I'll bet I'm not the only one with this sort of story and I suspect the LetsGoGliding program will produce similar inspiration in others.

Robert

Andrew,

I hope you don't take this wrong, but your post below motivated my 'response
gene(!)'...

On 5/6/2012 9:21 PM, Andrew Wood wrote:
> Awareness is good. So I suppose trailer stickers are ok. But I
> have the sinking feeling, that like most things the SSA does, they
> won't do any good, and are more designed to justify the SSA staff
> and fill up some space in soaring magazine.

If that's the way you feel, that's the way you feel. So be it. However,
reading this sort of comment immediately raises in my mind a 'targeting' question.

Those who know me know I cut useless bureaucrats little (zero, some might say,
dry chuckle) slack when it comes to justifying their existence. That noted,
IMHO 'targeting' SSA's office staff vis-a-vis this particular promotion is
woefully misguided. Serious Question: What else would you have paid staff DO
to justify their existence when it comes to U.S. soaring's membership woes?
("Hey, staff!!! a newbie just showed up at our club 2,000 miles away from the
office this weekend...c'mon out here and DO something!")

'Fixing' our low membership is NOT anything 'staff' can - or is a position to
- do. (N.B. The preceding statement would be true regardless of the physical
location of the SSA office, for those inclined to bash the Hobbs location.) Au
contraire, Hobbs staff has made it easy for YOU (and ME) to obtain some large
graphic 'grabbers', at cost, arguably potentially a useful thing. Serious
Question: What else would YOU do if YOU were paid SSA staff?

I'll argue any 'cure' will have to come from within SSA's membership, insofar
as hands-on, nitty-gritty, 'license-obtaining' newbie interaction is concerned.

If I saw a big trailer
> with a sticker "lets go cave diving" it would not cause me to
> contact my local cave diving club. I already know that cave diving
> exists, and I don't care. I don't have the passion for it, like most
> people feel about flying. The passion has to be there, and it won't
> be magically created by trailer stickers or coffee mugs or
> whatever.

As at two respondents have previously noted, it's entirely possible to have
the 'glider gene' without knowing it. I'm #3. Not until I exited college and
bumbled into my very first officemate/gliderpilot did it dawn on me the silly
sport was even an *option*! Prior to then all I knew was that every spare cent
and minute of my time once I got a real job was gonna go to obtaining a
pilot's license. That after a misspent youth of making and hand launching
hundreds of paper/balsa gliders (too poor for Cox engines), and obtaining a
degree in aerospace engineering. If a compulsive aviation reader (did I
mention that before?) as myself was in complete ignorance of 'the real glider
option' is it unreasonable to presume lots of others in the populace might be
similarly ignorant? (Of course, I could be unusually stupid, but the degree
tends to put a minor kibosh in that theory. Maybe!)

Further, it took more than my first flight for 'the soaring hook' to be set.
Somewhere along the months-long line of obtaining my glider license - which
instruction I began solely because it was more convenient and less expensive
than power at that time/location - it dawned on me soaring was sufficiently
fun/of compelling interest (and future breadth) that I actively decided to put
the obtaining of a power license on hold, because soaring was sufficiently
scratching my itch. Never did obtain one, though about 8 years later, for a
while I co-owned a C-150 purchased explicitly for that purpose. Took power
'things' all the way to being signed off for the practical flight test,
too...then walked away from it with nary a pang. Soaring ultimately 'won.'

Those unfortunate people who do have the passion for
> gliding.....they are destined to spend a lot of time and money, and
> will already be bugging their parents, visiting airports, and on the
> internet looking for local gliding clubs. We could tear off all the
> trailer stickers, paint them in camouflage and string barbed wire
> around the airport, and they'd still sneak in. All we can really do,
> is make sure those new people can easily find us, and welcome
> them when they come.

A plausible hypothesis, but see above tale...

In fact, I'll argue this is more likely a self-fulfilling prophecy than a
meaningful hypothesis.
- - - - - -

Considering the question of why the U.S. pilot population is shrinking,
history may be a useful guide. Remember WW-II? Hundreds of thousands of
'ad-hoc, instantly minted' pilots returned from it, and that AFTER the pilot
population had already 'bubble-expanded' subsequent to Lindbergh's
earth-compelling flight. In other words, for the USA, WW-II was an artificial
pilot boosting/increasing event...and its effects likely linger today.

To begin with, any student of U.S. light plane manufacturing history likely
knows how thoroughly lousily light plane manufacturers misread future airplane
demand from this 'war bubble.' (Kids, can you spell 'excess inventory'?)

However, only a person utterly lacking in knowledge of human nature would
seriously argue that some percentage of this 'war bubble' DID NOT 'have the
flying gene' and DID do their best to convey it to their progeny, and that we
may still be benefiting from their 'fortuitous' (can a war be fortuitous?)
discovery in generational terms. All this took place withOUT a post-WW-II
'Lindberghian event' to help boost awareness. (Yes, I remember the - very
short lived in general-public terms - excitement associated with Dick Rutan
and Jeanna Yeager's round-the-world, unrefueled, non-stop flight. I *don't*
recall their tickertape parade in NYC, and I dare say neither of them would be
- as Lindbergh was until the day he died - 'instantly recognized' today by the
vast majority of the general public. So no 'bubble event' here!)

My point here is WW-II skewed the U.S. 'natural pilot base' for a L-O-N-G time.

Meanwhile, who knows what percentage of population at any given point in time
might have 'the pilot gene'? Not me! But I'd bet Real Money fewer of that
group also contain 'the glider gene', simply because gliding/soaring lacks any
obvious utility (unlike power flight), and, individual ignorance (my case). I
knew I had 'the pilot gene' but did NOT know I had 'the glider pilot
gene'...and it took me a long time to leearn I did. So far as I can tell the
ONLY reason I discovered gliding was being cubicled with an already hooked
nutcase.

Exposure is good.

Follow-up by 'local feet on the ground' WILL be necessary (arguably, crucial).

Regards,

Bob - genetically odd - W.



>
>
> At 15:42 06 May 2012, Bob D wrote:
>> Hi, Bob DeLeon here=85creator of Let's Go Gliding. There is but
> one
>> objective to the campaign: AWARENESS.

<Remainder of Bob DeL.'s sensible post snipped...>

I've edited Bill's comments below because in many ways I'm the poster-
child for his comments. I started in power-flying. Got my license
and was starting to get bored after only 70 hours of flying in
straight lines. I had a dream of someday building my own airplane and
joined the EAA. I wanted to visit some build projects and
fortuitously Brad Hill invited me up to his shop to look at his
"Glidair" and HP-24 projects. I was curious about the long wings and
the things he was saying, so I went out to the gliderport on his
suggestion and took a ride - and was instantly hooked.

(SIDE NOTE: Luckily my ride was in a DG-1000 not a nasty-ass ratted-
out 2-33. I appreciate the economics of a 2-33 but giving people rides
in 2-33's or worn-out Blaniks is a sure way to turn them off to the
sport. They're 50-year-old technology and it shows. They are OK for
training - the Blaniks more than the 2-33's - but these aircraft have
NOTHING to do with modern soaring and do not give people any sense of
what's possible)

The point is, I was a motivated inquisitive pilot. I've been obsessed
with flying since I was a kid (I grew up just a couple of hours from
Mojave and followed Rutan's projects from afar with young eager
eyes). Yet with all my curiosity and motivation, I didn't have a CLUE
about soaring or what was possible.

Many of the soaring pilots out there just don't have a clue how
extremely far Soaring is from the public consciousness. Its just not
even on the radar. IMHO, in decreasing order of public awareness you
have: Airline crashes, flying in Airliners, Small airplane crashes,
Skydiving (partly because so many TV ads use skydiving), Flying
computer games, Flying R/C airplanes, Hang-gliding & Paragliding,
Small piston airplanes, and then wayyyy down at the bottom you have
Sailplanes & Ultralights in some kind of jumble.

Again, as Bill pointed out, even power pilots just don't know or
understand. I gave a talk last fall to the Washington State Pilots
Association and out of 100+ people in the audience maybe 10 knew that
we could stay aloft for more than an hour and go "cross-country". And
it makes sense - all they ever see is the local training Op with
takeoffs and landings happening repeatedly throughout the day, and
students circling and circling (and circling and circling and
circling) right close to the airport.

The ugly truth is that the people involved in the sport let things
stagnate over the last 25 years. Things got really comfortable and
the sport failed to adapt or refresh itself (in terms of new blood
into the organization). As a result, we're now way "behind the curve"
and have to put in EXTRA effort, just to halt the decline. Its an
especially deep hole that we have to dig out of, because a lot of the
experts are old and burned out - making things that much harder. But
despite these challenges (or perhaps because of them) - the effort HAS
to be made.

Frankly, I'm tired and fed up with all of the naysayers who claim that
this effort (or others) will never work. Your negative attitude is
PRECISELY WHY the soaring pilot population is declining. You don't
have to love the SSA or everything it does to see the value in
promoting the sport and trying to get the word out.

If you're rooting against the "Let's Go Gliding" campaign then you're
nothing more than a selfish *******, and you are a detriment to the
sport.

Each pilot is a "lone wolf" in the cockpit of a sailplane; but the
sport only works if there's a critical mass of people involved. Even
a selfish pilot has a vested interest in maintaining that critical
mass - if nothing else than for your own ability to continue flying
(and secondarily, so there's a market of people to buy your sailplane
when you finally sell it).

--Noel


On May 7, 8:21*am, Bill D > wrote:
> The thing with the 'glider gene' is people don't know they have it
> until they are made aware of soaring. *(It doesn't take much -
>
> They don't know about us.
>
> They don't know how spectacular this sport is.
>
> inadvertently done a great job of hiding. *Very few people even know
> we exist much less what we do.
>
> I constantly talk to airplane pilot groups and I'm amazed at how
> little they know. *Almost to a person, they think gliding is exactly
>
> When shown what modern sailplanes can really do, and are doing on a
> regular basis, they're flabbergasted. *Explaining the OLC is an

On May 7, 1:04*pm, BobW > wrote:

In response to Bob W excellent post.

I have no fear the 'SSA staff' will do their jobs as will a host of
unpaid SSA volunteers.

Actually, what I fear most is the possibility the 'glider gene' comes
with other, less desirable traits such as a Social Phobia.

Scenario: Person stops at glider operation and leans on fence
watching the activity. Someone suggests to a glider pilot they should
walk over and talk.

The reaction: The suddenly ashen faced, wide eyed pilot says, "Who,
who, me?" "Nooooo".

Get over it. Walk over and talk. There's a reason the visitor is
there. It just could be someone looking for a reason to take up
soaring. If you ignore them, we all lose.

I've bought a set of stickers for my trailer. I think the promotion needs some tuning, like more depth on the Let's Go Gliding website, since it goes from a lively site directly to deep links in the SSA site, but it's a start and we can work on it.

I've put a lot of effort into promoting soaring over the last few years and with some success bringing many new members into our club. One of the challenges is that people expect instant gratification. Take a glider to an Airshow and get 5 new members. It doesn't really seem to work that way. The conversion rate is really, really low. You've got to set the expectation that you'll talk to 100 or 200 or 300 people to get maybe one person to come out and try it. And of those people, only a small percentage will stick with it.

It makes it seem like an impossible task, but the reality is that you can have an impact if you get out and talk soaring.

I've found that having some good bragging rights about yourself or just other club members is a great eye opener.

Points that really light up the eyes of Power Pilots:
* I flew to 17,999 in wave last month
* I fly 120hrs a year on about 25 gallons of AvGas
* I flew over 5000 miles of XC last year
* I average 100mph over the ground for an hour and a half last week.

Sharing stats in power pilot terms is a real way to grab attention. It's a way to say, we aren't an alternative to power flying, we're better. You can fly more for less.

Power pilots already know aviation costs money, but give someone the option to fly for a much lower rate than they are currently paying and you can attract new pilots. It's still tough and a small number that you'll convert, but it is possible.

Morgan

On May 7, 1:37*pm, Morgan > wrote:
> I've bought a set of stickers for my trailer. *I think the promotion needs some tuning, like more depth on the Let's Go Gliding website, since it goes from a lively site directly to deep links in the SSA site, but it's a start and we can work on it.
>
> I've put a lot of effort into promoting soaring over the last few years and with some success bringing many new members into our club. *One of the challenges is that people expect instant gratification. *Take a glider to an Airshow and get 5 new members. *It doesn't really seem to work that way. *The conversion rate is really, really low. *You've got to set the expectation that you'll talk to 100 or 200 or 300 people to get maybe one person to come out and try it. *And of those people, only a small percentage will stick with it.
>
> It makes it seem like an impossible task, but the reality is that you can have an impact if you get out and talk soaring.
>
> I've found that having some good bragging rights about yourself or just other club members is a great eye opener.
>
> Points that really light up the eyes of Power Pilots:
> * I flew to 17,999 in wave last month
> * I fly 120hrs a year on about 25 gallons of AvGas
> * I flew over 5000 miles of XC last year
> * I average 100mph over the ground for an hour and a half last week.
>
> Sharing stats in power pilot terms is a real way to grab attention. *It's a way to say, we aren't an alternative to power flying, we're better. You can fly more for less.
>
> Power pilots already know aviation costs money, but give someone the option to fly for a much lower rate than they are currently paying and you can attract new pilots. *It's still tough and a small number that you'll convert, but it is possible.
>
> Morgan

It may also help to stop calling them "power pilots". I think they
would prefer to be called "Airplane Pilots". The term "power pilots"
either has no meaning to them or seems strange and redundant.
"Airplane" implies an engine is installed.

Hi Stefan and Bob
thanks for your messages.
My post was rather abrasive, so its especially good of you to reply so
politely.
I do not wish to criticize any volunteers, only to express my opinions. I
hope the trailer stickers will help the
movement, but as I tried to explain, I don't think so. And I think a 30ft
long trailer might excite more curiosity if
its blank and mysterious. And my trailer never leaves the hangar anyway (I
have a motor glider and the engine
never fails).
About the SSA: it can't be a secret, that a lot of dissatisfaction exists.

andrew


At 14:27 07 May 2012, S. Murry wrote:
>On Sun, 06 May 2012 22:21:06 -0500, Andrew Wood wrote:
>
>Hi, Andrew,
>
>Just one comment on your post. I know Bob DeLeon personally (he's in our

>club here in Houston and is a very active member and supporter of all
>things soaring).
>
>Your assertion that this campaign exists to keep SSA staff occupied does

>not ring true to me. From talking with Bob it seems pretty clear that
>this is his baby. The SSA supports it, I'm sure, but from what I
>understand they didn't exactly contact Bob trolling for things to do to
>keep the staff busy. Bob came up with this idea (along with a few others

>whose names I do not know or I would acknowledge them here, too), did most

>
>or all of the work on the graphics and website, and the SSA's only real
>involvement is in coordinating the (optional) printing of the trailer
>stickers and handling the order processing. From what I understand if you

>
>want for some reason to cut the SSA out altogether, Bob will send you the

>graphics file and you get it printed yourself wherever you wish.
>
>Your comments about whether or not this campaign will be effective are
>another matter. I disagree with them personally, but obviously only time

>will tell whether this campaign will work. What I can say is that if most

>
>of us don't get behind it and get the stickers on our trailers/bumpers,
>etc., then it definitely will NOT work.
>
>As far as whether there is some built-in "soaring gene" or something. I

>have heard this argument before. What I don't understand is if it is true

>
>that people have some innate desire to fly and nothing can stop them, then

>
>why are the number of pilots declining even as the overall population is

>rising? It seems that if there is some (small) percentage of people who

>are just "wired" to eventually get into our sport, this percentage ought

>to be more-or-less constant over time. Genetics don't change so quickly.

>
>If this were the case, then our numbers would rise with the overall
>population.
>
>My personal explanation for the decline is several-fold, but to make this

>post short(ish), I think one factor is simply that there are SO MANY
>things competing for our limited attention, time, and money, that it is
>easy for niche activities (like soaring) to get lost among all the
options.
>
>Yes, I am sure that many people are aware that this activity exists, but

>if they don't get a reminder, they may just continue along in their boring

>
>lives...golfing or watching TV or whatever, because they just hadn't yet

>experienced the "spark" that ignites whatever it is that causes them to
>come out to a glider club and start learning.
>
>Given the small number of glider pilots and glider trailers, it's unlikely

>
>that "Let's Go Gliding" is going to instantly arrest the decline in pilot

>numbers, but if we can start to add even a percent or two a year to our
>numbers, I think it is well worth the $115 and 1 hour of our time to put

>the stickers on our trailers.
>
>--Stefan
>
>
>
>
>
>> Awareness is good. So I suppose trailer stickers are ok. But I
>> have the sinking feeling, that like most things the SSA does, they
>> won't do any good, and are more designed to justify the SSA staff
>> and fill up some space in soaring magazine. If I saw a big trailer
>> with a sticker "lets go cave diving" it would not cause me to
>> contact my local cave diving club. I already know that cave diving
>> exists, and I don't care. I don't have the passion for it, like most
>> people feel about flying. The passion has to be there, and it won't
>> be magically created by trailer stickers or coffee mugs or
>> whatever. Those unfortunate people who do have the passion for
>> gliding.....they are destined to spend a lot of time and money, and
>> will already be bugging their parents, visiting airports, and on the
>> internet looking for local gliding clubs. We could tear off all the
>> trailer stickers, paint them in camouflage and string barbed wire
>> around the airport, and they'd still sneak in. All we can really do,
>> is make sure those new people can easily find us, and welcome
>> them when they come.
>>
>>
>> At 15:42 06 May 2012, Bob D wrote:
>>> Hi, Bob DeLeon here=85creator of Let's Go Gliding. There is but
>> one
>>> objective to the campaign: AWARENESS.
>>>
>>> Our sport has resided way off the radar in comparison to the
>> other
>>> recreational choices. So LGG is designed to elevate the
>> awareness of
>>> this choice. This objective needs to look: exciting, adventurous,
>>> challenging, and the opportunity to be involved with a great
>> group of
>>> people who love the sport. That's why I made the choices in how
>> it's
>>> designed and what it says. That was the creative brief driving
>> the
>>> imagery and words.
>>>
>>> Yea, it would have been fun to have imagery like the Cool Hand
>> Luke
>>> scene previously described. But that would have been dis-
>> ingeniune to
>>> what soaring really is. It would be a "hook" that once swallowed
>> would
>>> have cut off a lot of support (female) and been regarded as fake
>> to
>>> those who are the target audience.
>>>
>>> AWARENESS of this sport--and what it offers-- is the key. The
>> more
>>> people see the campaign, the more they'll sense that the guy
>> sporting
>>> the bumper sticker or showing the brochure will be a source to
>> get
>>> their questions answered. And if not a person, then the web
>> address
>>> (LetsGoGliding.com) will be the other source to influence their
>>> thinking and impressions.
>>>
>>> It's not likely that in the next two years we'll see a growth in the
>>> sport that will be ascending, but if worked enthusiastically by
>> those
>>> who fly gliders, with the SSA's backing, we can arrest the
>> descent of
>>> declining numbers and hold the line on those flying. Adding in
>> numbers
>>> right now is that objective. Otherwise, the sport will slide into a
>>> category that will effect manufacturers of gliders and glider
>>> equipment, the ability of some clubs to remain active, and the
>> value
>>> of your used glider. Trust me: no business or entity wants
>> decline.
>>> You want some kind of growth. And getting active with a
>> supported
>>> marketing campaign that puts a "cool" and inviting spotlight on
>> the
>>> sport is the answer.
>>>
>>> And as previously stated, this campaign is going to need
>> unbridled
>>> support from the soaring community. With this year's World
>> Gliding
>>> Championship being held in the U.S. we have a superb chance to
>> arrest
>>> the descent of glider pilot numbers in the U.S.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>--
>Stefan Murry
>

Hi Stefan and Bob
thanks for your messages.
My post was rather abrasive, so its especially good of you to reply so
politely.
I do not wish to criticize any volunteers, only to express my opinions. I
hope the trailer stickers will help the
movement, but as I tried to explain, I don't think so. And I think a 30ft
long trailer might excite more curiosity if
its blank and mysterious. And my trailer never leaves the hangar anyway (I
have a motor glider and the engine
never fails).
About the SSA: it can't be a secret, that a lot of dissatisfaction exists.

andrew


At 14:27 07 May 2012, S. Murry wrote:
>On Sun, 06 May 2012 22:21:06 -0500, Andrew Wood wrote:
>
>Hi, Andrew,
>
>Just one comment on your post. I know Bob DeLeon personally (he's in our

>club here in Houston and is a very active member and supporter of all
>things soaring).
>
>Your assertion that this campaign exists to keep SSA staff occupied does

>not ring true to me. From talking with Bob it seems pretty clear that
>this is his baby. The SSA supports it, I'm sure, but from what I
>understand they didn't exactly contact Bob trolling for things to do to
>keep the staff busy. Bob came up with this idea (along with a few others

>whose names I do not know or I would acknowledge them here, too), did most

>
>or all of the work on the graphics and website, and the SSA's only real
>involvement is in coordinating the (optional) printing of the trailer
>stickers and handling the order processing. From what I understand if you

>
>want for some reason to cut the SSA out altogether, Bob will send you the

>graphics file and you get it printed yourself wherever you wish.
>
>Your comments about whether or not this campaign will be effective are
>another matter. I disagree with them personally, but obviously only time

>will tell whether this campaign will work. What I can say is that if most

>
>of us don't get behind it and get the stickers on our trailers/bumpers,
>etc., then it definitely will NOT work.
>
>As far as whether there is some built-in "soaring gene" or something. I

>have heard this argument before. What I don't understand is if it is true

>
>that people have some innate desire to fly and nothing can stop them, then

>
>why are the number of pilots declining even as the overall population is

>rising? It seems that if there is some (small) percentage of people who

>are just "wired" to eventually get into our sport, this percentage ought

>to be more-or-less constant over time. Genetics don't change so quickly.

>
>If this were the case, then our numbers would rise with the overall
>population.
>
>My personal explanation for the decline is several-fold, but to make this

>post short(ish), I think one factor is simply that there are SO MANY
>things competing for our limited attention, time, and money, that it is
>easy for niche activities (like soaring) to get lost among all the
options.
>
>Yes, I am sure that many people are aware that this activity exists, but

>if they don't get a reminder, they may just continue along in their boring

>
>lives...golfing or watching TV or whatever, because they just hadn't yet

>experienced the "spark" that ignites whatever it is that causes them to
>come out to a glider club and start learning.
>
>Given the small number of glider pilots and glider trailers, it's unlikely

>
>that "Let's Go Gliding" is going to instantly arrest the decline in pilot

>numbers, but if we can start to add even a percent or two a year to our
>numbers, I think it is well worth the $115 and 1 hour of our time to put

>the stickers on our trailers.
>
>--Stefan
>
>
>
>
>
>> Awareness is good. So I suppose trailer stickers are ok. But I
>> have the sinking feeling, that like most things the SSA does, they
>> won't do any good, and are more designed to justify the SSA staff
>> and fill up some space in soaring magazine. If I saw a big trailer
>> with a sticker "lets go cave diving" it would not cause me to
>> contact my local cave diving club. I already know that cave diving
>> exists, and I don't care. I don't have the passion for it, like most
>> people feel about flying. The passion has to be there, and it won't
>> be magically created by trailer stickers or coffee mugs or
>> whatever. Those unfortunate people who do have the passion for
>> gliding.....they are destined to spend a lot of time and money, and
>> will already be bugging their parents, visiting airports, and on the
>> internet looking for local gliding clubs. We could tear off all the
>> trailer stickers, paint them in camouflage and string barbed wire
>> around the airport, and they'd still sneak in. All we can really do,
>> is make sure those new people can easily find us, and welcome
>> them when they come.
>>
>>
>> At 15:42 06 May 2012, Bob D wrote:
>>> Hi, Bob DeLeon here=85creator of Let's Go Gliding. There is but
>> one
>>> objective to the campaign: AWARENESS.
>>>
>>> Our sport has resided way off the radar in comparison to the
>> other
>>> recreational choices. So LGG is designed to elevate the
>> awareness of
>>> this choice. This objective needs to look: exciting, adventurous,
>>> challenging, and the opportunity to be involved with a great
>> group of
>>> people who love the sport. That's why I made the choices in how
>> it's
>>> designed and what it says. That was the creative brief driving
>> the
>>> imagery and words.
>>>
>>> Yea, it would have been fun to have imagery like the Cool Hand
>> Luke
>>> scene previously described. But that would have been dis-
>> ingeniune to
>>> what soaring really is. It would be a "hook" that once swallowed
>> would
>>> have cut off a lot of support (female) and been regarded as fake
>> to
>>> those who are the target audience.
>>>
>>> AWARENESS of this sport--and what it offers-- is the key. The
>> more
>>> people see the campaign, the more they'll sense that the guy
>> sporting
>>> the bumper sticker or showing the brochure will be a source to
>> get
>>> their questions answered. And if not a person, then the web
>> address
>>> (LetsGoGliding.com) will be the other source to influence their
>>> thinking and impressions.
>>>
>>> It's not likely that in the next two years we'll see a growth in the
>>> sport that will be ascending, but if worked enthusiastically by
>> those
>>> who fly gliders, with the SSA's backing, we can arrest the
>> descent of
>>> declining numbers and hold the line on those flying. Adding in
>> numbers
>>> right now is that objective. Otherwise, the sport will slide into a
>>> category that will effect manufacturers of gliders and glider
>>> equipment, the ability of some clubs to remain active, and the
>> value
>>> of your used glider. Trust me: no business or entity wants
>> decline.
>>> You want some kind of growth. And getting active with a
>> supported
>>> marketing campaign that puts a "cool" and inviting spotlight on
>> the
>>> sport is the answer.
>>>
>>> And as previously stated, this campaign is going to need
>> unbridled
>>> support from the soaring community. With this year's World
>> Gliding
>>> Championship being held in the U.S. we have a superb chance to
>> arrest
>>> the descent of glider pilot numbers in the U.S.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>--
>Stefan Murry
>