Links for new people interested in gliding

[Lucky812[_2_]]

I have people ask me about gliding all the time. I always send them to the http://www.letsgogliding.com/ site and forward them links for Bruno Vassel or Balleka videos on YouTube.

Does anyone else have any favorite sites that they send people to in order for them to get interested in gliding?

[Bill D]

On Thursday, February 7, 2013 11:56:41 AM UTC-7, Lucky812 wrote:
> I have people ask me about gliding all the time. I always send them to the http://www.letsgogliding.com/ site and forward them links for Bruno Vassel or Balleka videos on YouTube.
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> Does anyone else have any favorite sites that they send people to in order for them to get interested in gliding?

Not a direct answer, but the LGG site could be much better than it is. Anyone with web development skills want to volunteer to make it better?

[Frank Whiteley]

On Thursday, February 7, 2013 12:34:09 PM UTC-7, Bill D wrote:
> On Thursday, February 7, 2013 11:56:41 AM UTC-7, Lucky812 wrote:
>
> > I have people ask me about gliding all the time. I always send them to the http://www.letsgogliding.com/ site and forward them links for Bruno Vassel or Balleka videos on YouTube.
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> > Does anyone else have any favorite sites that they send people to in order for them to get interested in gliding?
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> Not a direct answer, but the LGG site could be much better than it is. Anyone with web development skills want to volunteer to make it better?

What would you add? It's simply a promo/intro site. A content management system elsewhere to capture the inquiring mind might be useful. But for the first time viewer, the LGG site remains appropriate for its intended audience.

The cardinal rule of web development is to answer the question 'who's your audience?'

Getting people to the web site is more important. Could we redress the images and verbage? Sure. Could we test a different video? Yes. Who's your audience?

Frank Whiteley

[Bill D]

I think what could be useful is limited only by ones imagination.

I would particularly like to see the best previous day OLC flight in the US and live-tracking information so newcomers could see what gliders are really doing in the hands of real glider pilots.

That would counter a widely held opinion, particularly among airplane pilots, that gliders just get towed up only to glide back down. Many consider the assertion gliders can go XC to be untrue or at least an extremely rare occurrence.

Bill D




On Thursday, February 7, 2013 7:32:57 PM UTC-7, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> On Thursday, February 7, 2013 12:34:09 PM UTC-7, Bill D wrote:
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> > On Thursday, February 7, 2013 11:56:41 AM UTC-7, Lucky812 wrote:
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> > > I have people ask me about gliding all the time. I always send them to the http://www.letsgogliding.com/ site and forward them links for Bruno Vassel or Balleka videos on YouTube.
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> > > Does anyone else have any favorite sites that they send people to in order for them to get interested in gliding?
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> > Not a direct answer, but the LGG site could be much better than it is. Anyone with web development skills want to volunteer to make it better?
>
>
>
> What would you add? It's simply a promo/intro site. A content management system elsewhere to capture the inquiring mind might be useful. But for the first time viewer, the LGG site remains appropriate for its intended audience.
>
>
>
> The cardinal rule of web development is to answer the question 'who's your audience?'
>
>
>
> Getting people to the web site is more important. Could we redress the images and verbage? Sure. Could we test a different video? Yes. Who's your audience?
>
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> Frank Whiteley

[Frank Whiteley]

All in good time.

On Thursday, February 7, 2013 9:10:15 PM UTC-7, Bill D wrote:
> I think what could be useful is limited only by ones imagination.
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>
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> I would particularly like to see the best previous day OLC flight in the US and live-tracking information so newcomers could see what gliders are really doing in the hands of real glider pilots.
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>
> That would counter a widely held opinion, particularly among airplane pilots, that gliders just get towed up only to glide back down. Many consider the assertion gliders can go XC to be untrue or at least an extremely rare occurrence.
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> Bill D
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> On Thursday, February 7, 2013 7:32:57 PM UTC-7, Frank Whiteley wrote:
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> > On Thursday, February 7, 2013 12:34:09 PM UTC-7, Bill D wrote:
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> > > On Thursday, February 7, 2013 11:56:41 AM UTC-7, Lucky812 wrote:
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> > > > I have people ask me about gliding all the time. I always send them to the http://www.letsgogliding.com/ site and forward them links for Bruno Vassel or Balleka videos on YouTube.
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> > > > Does anyone else have any favorite sites that they send people to in order for them to get interested in gliding?
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> > > Not a direct answer, but the LGG site could be much better than it is. Anyone with web development skills want to volunteer to make it better?
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> > What would you add? It's simply a promo/intro site. A content management system elsewhere to capture the inquiring mind might be useful. But for the first time viewer, the LGG site remains appropriate for its intended audience.
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> > The cardinal rule of web development is to answer the question 'who's your audience?'
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> > Getting people to the web site is more important. Could we redress the images and verbage? Sure. Could we test a different video? Yes. Who's your audience?
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> > Frank Whiteley

[GM]

>>> That would counter a widely held opinion, particularly among airplane pilots, that gliders just get towed up only to glide back down. Many consider the assertion gliders can go XC to be untrue or at least an extremely rare occurrence. Bill D <<<

That pretty much sums it up! We (four members of our club) just gave a presentation of 'What is Soaring' to the local EAA chapter located at the neigboring field. Part of the presentation was a map with concentric circles showing how far away from that airport you could be if you would encounter an engine failure and wanted to arrive at pattern altitude for some of the more popular power planes. They did not believe that we could glide in from more that 15 miles out and still fly a normal pattern. The presentation showed panel shots I took at Parowan with the altimeter at close to 16k ft, the vario at climb while cruising at 70kts. Most of those present had no idea that a glider could fly that high. After the presentation we rigged a SZD55 inside their hangar and again, most could not believe that all controls would couple up automatically. We showed videos of our field activities including aero-tows (ahhh - a Pawnee!!)and winch launches (is that legal??). That winch thing blew them away and several of them still didn't it get even after watching the video as evidenced by the questions like 'how fast does the glider have to be before releasing and then pulling up to 2,000ft?'! The presentation included OLC traces to show how far we can go from SPA - total silence! Most of them don't fly half that distance in their home-builds due to $$$ of AVGAS.
Now - this presentation was given to folks who are somewhat familiar with aviation and I was blown away by how little they knew about our niche of flying. We didn't intend to convert or recruit any of them. Imagine how far one has to scale it back for someone who is completly unfamiliar and new to soaring. As Frank said it: who's your audience.
Could the LGG site be better? I think the contents is good but I would cut out all video scenes showing the pilot with a cannular stuck under his nose! We know that he is not some geriatric dude tethered to an O2 tank while riding an electric scooter through the local supermarket but it may send the wrong message if we are trying to attract the somewhat younger, thrill-seeking crowd. Maybe a few more scenes showing contest grids to indicate that there are more than two or three gliders around and maybe fewer scenes of flying in close proximity to the tarrain which tends to scare the pants off moms and dads who have to decide if they should let their kid(s) enter into that activity.

Uli

[Lucky812]

I think the letsgogliding.com site does a good job of providing information. I just like to get people excited with cool videos. If we could only get Kate Upton in a glider....

BTW, the Lets Go Gliding youtube channel only has 3 videos, 2500 views, 6 subscribers.

[soartech[_2_]]

Yes, we need to to think advertising. Get the tube out of the nose for
a promotional video for God's sake! Also, we need to take a hint from
the advertising biz (who make a rigorous study of what works) and put
good looking, young pilots in the driver's seat.
And as far as your local EAA chapter presentations please don't tell
the geezers that hang gliders are flying 400+ miles and even
paragliders XC 300 miles occasionally!
They won't believe you.



On Feb 8, 2:04*am, GM > wrote:
> >>> That would counter a widely held opinion, particularly among airplane pilots, that gliders just get towed up only to glide back down. Many consider the assertion gliders can go XC to be untrue or at least an extremely rare occurrence. Bill D <<<
>
> That pretty much sums it up! We (four members of our club) just gave a presentation of 'What is Soaring' to the local EAA chapter located at the neigboring field. Part of the presentation was a map with concentric circles showing how far away from that airport you could be if you would encounter an engine failure and wanted to arrive at pattern altitude for some of the more popular power planes. They did not believe that we could glide in from more that 15 miles out and still fly a normal pattern. The presentation showed panel shots I took at Parowan with the altimeter at close to 16k ft, the vario at climb while cruising at 70kts. Most of those present had no idea that a glider could fly that high. After the presentation we rigged a SZD55 inside their hangar and again, most could not believe that all controls would couple up automatically. We showed videos of our field activities including aero-tows (ahhh - a Pawnee!!)and winch launches (is that legal??). That winch thing blew them away and several of them still didn't it get even after watching the video as evidenced by the questions like 'how fast does the glider have to be before releasing and then pulling up to 2,000ft?'! The presentation included OLC traces to show how far we can go from SPA - total silence! Most of them don't fly half that distance in their home-builds due to $$$ of AVGAS.
> Now - this presentation was given to folks who are somewhat familiar with aviation and I was blown away by how little they knew about our niche of flying. We didn't intend to convert or recruit any of them. Imagine how far one has to scale it back for someone who is completly unfamiliar and new to soaring. As Frank said it: who's your audience.
> Could the LGG site be better? I think the contents is good but I would cut out all video scenes showing the pilot with a cannular stuck under his nose! We know that he is not some geriatric dude tethered to an O2 tank while riding an electric scooter through the local supermarket but it may send the wrong message if we are trying to attract the somewhat younger, thrill-seeking crowd. Maybe a few more scenes showing contest grids to indicate that there are more than two or three gliders around and maybe fewer scenes of flying in close proximity to the tarrain which tends to scare the pants off moms and dads who have to decide if they should let their kid(s) enter into that activity.
>
> Uli

[son_of_flubber]

On Friday, February 8, 2013 9:39:34 AM UTC-5, Lucky812 wrote:
> If we could only get Kate Upton in a glider....

That sort of deceptive advertising might backfire.

Sam Deeks' podcast "The Glider Show" is the most honest portrayal of the student gliding experience that I've seen (heard actually). It 'hobby quality' and it does not seem like he is collaborating on the podcast with any 'old hands'. In short, it could be a lot better.

But it is honest and captivating. A newbie can imagine himself in Sam's shoes. It's good to show what an expert pilot with many years experience does in a $60,000 glider in Utah. But there is value in portraying a realistic student experience. I mean 'learning to fly a glider' is an incredibly fun and exciting time in a pilot's career. (Is it the most fun stage? Time will tell.) The student experience is invisible aside from the blurbs in the back of Soaring magazine. That seems like a missed marketing opportunity.

I'd say... portray the learning-to-fly experience honestly. Anyone with a glimmer of initial interest in the sport would say "I can see myself doing that, I'll give it a try." Are there any documentary film makers out there?

[Bill D]

On Sunday, February 10, 2013 12:01:57 PM UTC-7, son_of_flubber wrote:
> On Friday, February 8, 2013 9:39:34 AM UTC-5, Lucky812 wrote:
>
> > If we could only get Kate Upton in a glider....
>
> That sort of deceptive advertising might backfire.

Deceptive maybe but it would work - always does.

[Squeaky]

[/QUOTE] Exactly! Soartech has hit the nail right on the head. As much as I like Bruno's videos, the shots of him with the intravenous tube up his nose are guaranteed to put off potential young pilots. Makes it look like he's on parole from intensive care for a last couple of hours outside before he has to "get his affairs in order". Get rid of it. "Leave it to Beaver" days are over. Look at the trailer from "Cloudstreet" being done in New Mexico. In general it will be a beautiful film...but in one scene they make the same mistake: some guy who looks 80 yrs old with the nose tube....The message? - this sport is for geezers in plaid shorts who drive to the glider field in gold carts..... You have to get good looking, young people in these promo videos and jazz them up. Study the sophisticated advertising business. The Let's Go Gliding stuff is staid, boring. Even using the word "gliding" is a mistake - reinforces the get dragged up, waft back down impression. So much to do...[/QUOTE]

You mean something more cool like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQc40Uut10M

[Squeaky]

[QUOTE='soartech[_2_];833103']Exactly! Soartech has hit the nail right on the head. As much as I like Bruno's videos, the shots of him with the intravenous tube up his nose are guaranteed to put off potential young pilots. Makes it look like he's on parole from intensive care for a last couple of hours outside before he has to "get his affairs in order". Get rid of it. "Leave it to Beaver" days are over. Look at the trailer from "Cloudstreet" being done in New Mexico. In general it will be a beautiful film...but in one scene they make the same mistake: some guy who looks 80 yrs old with the nose tube....The message? - this sport is for geezers in plaid shorts who drive to the glider field in gold carts..... You have to get good looking, young people in these promo videos and jazz them up. Study the sophisticated advertising business. The Let's Go Gliding stuff is staid, boring. Even using the word "gliding" is a mistake - reinforces the get dragged up, waft back down impression. So much to do...

You mean something more like this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQc40Uut10M

[V1[_3_]]

On Thursday, February 7, 2013 12:56:41 PM UTC-6, Lucky812 wrote:
>
> Does anyone else have any favorite sites that they send people to in order for them to get interested in gliding?

The question of "where to send someone to get them interested in soaring" is something that our club (Soaring Club of Houston) gave considerable thought to a year or so ago when we redesigned our club web site. We wanted to avoid snowing potential new members with all the detail that existing club members (or SSA members, etc.) wanted and needed. We ultimately choose to create a separate public web site just for the potential new member.

On our public site, we tried to find a balance of what might attract a new, often younger, member. But also a bit of substance for the more serious potential student, and links to other sites for those who wanted more. We made a conscious effort to try to sell soaring first, then provide simple information about what a potential member could expect from our club.

I'm attaching a link for anyone who'd like to consider something similar for their club. At a minimum, it includes a number of links to videos which we thought were effective, and which you might also want to reference. For the key videos, see the "Have Fun" and "About Soaring - Videos" pages.

www.scoh.org

- Frank Allen, SCOH

[Dave Nadler]

On Tuesday, February 12, 2013 4:07:15 PM UTC-5, V1 wrote:
> The question of "where to send someone to get them interested in soaring" is something that our club (Soaring Club of Houston) gave considerable thought to a year or so ago when we redesigned our club web site. We wanted to avoid snowing potential new members with all the detail that existing club members (or SSA members, etc.) wanted and needed. We ultimately choose to create a separate public web site just for the potential new member.
>
> On our public site, we tried to find a balance of what might attract a new, often younger, member. But also a bit of substance for the more serious potential student, and links to other sites for those who wanted more. We made a conscious effort to try to sell soaring first, then provide simple information about what a potential member could expect from our club.
>
> I'm attaching a link for anyone who'd like to consider something similar for their club. At a minimum, it includes a number of links to videos which we thought were effective, and which you might also want to reference. For the key videos, see the "Have Fun" and "About Soaring - Videos" pages.
>
> www.scoh.org
>
> - Frank Allen, SCOH

That's REALLY nicely done !
Thanks,
Best Regards, Dave

PS: But, where are the Schweizersauruses ?

[V1[_3_]]

On Tuesday, February 12, 2013 4:57:59 PM UTC-6, Dave Nadler wrote:

>
> PS: But, where are the Schweizersauruses ?

Dave,
They’re rumored to be hiding out. Most likely spooked by recent news reports of asteroid 2012 DA14 which is hurtling toward Earth with a (supposedly) near miss date of this Friday 15. If you look closely though, you can see a newly painted red & yellow one at the bottom of the "About SCOH - Club Aircraft" page. Another CAP 2-33 was camera shy, but hides in a private hangar at our field. Good memories - that's how I learned to fly back in prehistoric times …

[JS]

A very nice presentation of the sport from SCOH!
Meanwhile in a lounge at Denver International, I just threw a Soaring magazine in the bin, lest someone read the letters to the editor (or RAS, about the same)
Jim

[son_of_flubber]

GA pilots aside, everyone else that I have ever talked to about soaring already thinks that it is an incredibly exciting and beautiful sport. If I can connect with them in a friendly way and communicate my enthusiasm about the sport, there is a possibility that they will show up at the airport for a flight.

On Wednesday, February 13, 2013 12:26:44 PM UTC-5, JS wrote:
> A very nice presentation of the sport from SCOH!

SCOH has one of the best soaring club websites that I've seen. But for the most part, the sport LOOKS incredibly boring. Some websites make it look more boring that others. Some websites create a negative impression. Pilots see something in these videos that non-pilots do not see. (The Grand Prix race video and a few others are exciting, but that experience is obviously out-of-reach for a newbie.)

Of course you need websites to communicate basic information, but you need to get people to the airport and hopefully up in a glider. Talking to people one on one is the best way to do that. Set up a glider in a public place. Talk to people.