What should a soaring club do at an airshow

[DNewill]

OK Gang - the airshow season is about to start - so what are the "ten things
to do / not to do" if our club gets involved in a summer airshow?
What is the best thing your club or commercial operation did? Worst?

Thanks
dave newill

[F.L. Whiteley]

"DNewill" > wrote in message
m...
> OK Gang - the airshow season is about to start - so what are the "ten
things
> to do / not to do" if our club gets involved in a summer airshow?
> What is the best thing your club or commercial operation did? Worst?
>
> Thanks
> dave newill
>
>
Do
winch launch
Don't
display near helicopter rides

[David R.]

If it is a static display:

1) set up a nice looking glider

2) Rope around the whole glider.

3) Support both wings off the ground so the people who ignore the ropes
don't walk on a wingtip

4) Allow kids to sit in the glider only under direct supervision of a club
member

5) Remove anything that is loose or can easily be removed from the glider

6) Put the glider back in the trailer at night

7) Have small glossy cards with your clubs information available to give to
kids and to potential members

8) Have at least two club members near the glider at all times.

9) Make it look fun and interesting.

Speaking from the experience of displaying my libelle at a local show two
years ago.

Regards,

Dave r.

"DNewill" > wrote in message
m...
> OK Gang - the airshow season is about to start - so what are the "ten
> things
> to do / not to do" if our club gets involved in a summer airshow?
> What is the best thing your club or commercial operation did? Worst?
>
> Thanks
> dave newill
>
>

[[email protected]]

Do: hire nubile females to pretend to be glider groupies or pilots.

Don't: display anything manufactured by Schweizer or PZL-Swidnick

Do: Give out free beer.
Don't: demonstrate the use of the glider's relief tube.

[F.L. Whiteley]

Since I've also done this many times, I suggest elevating the tail, though I
don't mind putting one wing down. This gives a better view into the cockpit
from a bit more distance and a nicer view of the glider's shape. With a
T-tail it puts the horizontal out of reach for most, which I find they are
more prone to bother than the wings. For stanchions, I use round garden
steps, maybe 15inches in diameter. I've drilled 1" holes in the center, then
used 4ft lengths of 1inch PVC pipe with a T at the top. Yellow poly rope
goes through each T and can strung around the glider to keep folks at bay.
7 posts minimum, more for larger gliders. You can post signs on the rope
also. We put a table at the open end with the appropriate media. In a busy
location, three people minimum. Gluing indoor/outdoor carpet on one side of
the garden steps makes them appropriate for school gyms or mall floors also.

Some venues make it appropriate to restrict seating in the glider. One time
I allowed 105 Girl Scouts a turn.

Frank Whiteley

"David R." > wrote in message
...
> If it is a static display:
>
> 1) set up a nice looking glider
>
> 2) Rope around the whole glider.
>
> 3) Support both wings off the ground so the people who ignore the ropes
> don't walk on a wingtip
>
> 4) Allow kids to sit in the glider only under direct supervision of a club
> member
>
> 5) Remove anything that is loose or can easily be removed from the glider
>
> 6) Put the glider back in the trailer at night
>
> 7) Have small glossy cards with your clubs information available to give
to
> kids and to potential members
>
> 8) Have at least two club members near the glider at all times.
>
> 9) Make it look fun and interesting.
>
> Speaking from the experience of displaying my libelle at a local show two
> years ago.
>
> Regards,
>
> Dave r.
>
> "DNewill" > wrote in message
> m...
> > OK Gang - the airshow season is about to start - so what are the "ten
> > things
> > to do / not to do" if our club gets involved in a summer airshow?
> > What is the best thing your club or commercial operation did? Worst?
> >
> > Thanks
> > dave newill
> >
> >
>
>

[[email protected]]

David R. has almost the same advice I would have given based on our
experience. The only other things I have to offer are:
Besides the static display, either encourage the organizers of the
airshow to include a flight demonstration using a volunteer and his
glider and the club's towplane, or if that doesn't work out (there are
some fairly onerous liability and certification requirements), ask that
a professional glider demonstration act be included. This way the
audience gets the advantage of seeing a glider up close on the ground,
and also in the air.
Secondly, if you contact the SSA they can provide you with some Soaring
literature to pass out. People like to be given something "free" and
it gives more exposure to our sport.
Lastly, it helps to have very enthusiastic and personable people
standing by at the static display to answer questions and help so
people can take pictures. Use lots of hand movements and whooshing
noises too. Open the spoilers every now and then so people can see
something moving on the glider.
Clay

David R. wrote:
> If it is a static display:
>
> 1) set up a nice looking glider
>
> 2) Rope around the whole glider.
>
> 3) Support both wings off the ground so the people who ignore the
ropes
> don't walk on a wingtip
>
> 4) Allow kids to sit in the glider only under direct supervision of a
club
> member
>
> 5) Remove anything that is loose or can easily be removed from the
glider
>
> 6) Put the glider back in the trailer at night
>
> 7) Have small glossy cards with your clubs information available to
give to
> kids and to potential members
>
> 8) Have at least two club members near the glider at all times.
>
> 9) Make it look fun and interesting.
>
> Speaking from the experience of displaying my libelle at a local show
two
> years ago.
>
> Regards,
>
> Dave r.
>
> "DNewill" > wrote in message
> m...
> > OK Gang - the airshow season is about to start - so what are the
"ten
> > things
> > to do / not to do" if our club gets involved in a summer airshow?
> > What is the best thing your club or commercial operation did?
Worst?
> >
> > Thanks
> > dave newill
> >
> >

[Ray Lovinggood]

The one time we did it, nothing came of it.

Back in the early 90's, the Raleigh-Durham Intl. Airport
(RDU) held a 'static display' airshow. It included
military, air carrier, and GA aircraft. Plus one LS-4,
'J7.'

We roped it off and manned it with, I think, four people,
including one young, pretty, blonde lady.

I had a poster made with all the specifications for
the glider and supported it on an easle.

We had informational packages to hand out to tell about
learning to fly and where they could learn to fly.

I think we would let small groups of people into the
roped off area for a closer look. We might have let
some sit in it, but I don't remember.

We also gave them a chance to enter their name into
a drawing that would give the winner a free flight
in a glider (a 2-33, because that was the only two-seater
the commercial operation had. The 2-33 was not at
the show nor were photos of it.)

While hundreds came by, the commercial gliding business
who set this up realized no new customers.

I still wonder what we did wrong.

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA




At 06:30 13 January 2005, Dnewill wrote:
>OK Gang - the airshow season is about to start - so
>what are the 'ten things
>to do / not to do' if our club gets involved in a summer
>airshow?
>What is the best thing your club or commercial operation
>did? Worst?
>
>Thanks
>dave newill
>
>
>

[Dave Martin]

Our club tried this several times at local events.

It required high time investment and a glider out of
use for several days loss of flying time/income. Lots
of poeple sat in gliders, loss of photocalls and brochures
handed out

The returns were very small if anything and for a small
club I would suggest the input return/comparison made
it impracticable.

Dave Martin


At 12:00 13 January 2005, Ray Lovinggood wrote:
>The one time we did it, nothing came of it.
>
>Back in the early 90's, the Raleigh-Durham Intl. Airport
>(RDU) held a 'static display' airshow. It included
>military, air carrier, and GA aircraft. Plus one LS-4,
>'J7.'
>
>We roped it off and manned it with, I think, four people,
>including one young, pretty, blonde lady.
>
>I had a poster made with all the specifications for
>the glider and supported it on an easle.
>
>We had informational packages to hand out to tell about
>learning to fly and where they could learn to fly.
>
>I think we would let small groups of people into the
>roped off area for a closer look. We might have let
>some sit in it, but I don't remember.
>
>We also gave them a chance to enter their name into
>a drawing that would give the winner a free flight
>in a glider (a 2-33, because that was the only two-seater
>the commercial operation had. The 2-33 was not at
>the show nor were photos of it.)
>
>While hundreds came by, the commercial gliding business
>who set this up realized no new customers.
>
>I still wonder what we did wrong.
>
>Ray Lovinggood
>Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
>
>
>
>
>At 06:30 13 January 2005, Dnewill wrote:
>>OK Gang - the airshow season is about to start - so
>>what are the 'ten things
>>to do / not to do' if our club gets involved in a summer
>>airshow?
>>What is the best thing your club or commercial operation
>>did? Worst?
>>
>>Thanks
>>dave newill
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>

[F.L. Whiteley]

I've also used a hand model to demonstrate thermaling and flight manuevars.

Frank

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> David R. has almost the same advice I would have given based on our
> experience. The only other things I have to offer are:
> Besides the static display, either encourage the organizers of the
> airshow to include a flight demonstration using a volunteer and his
> glider and the club's towplane, or if that doesn't work out (there are
> some fairly onerous liability and certification requirements), ask that
> a professional glider demonstration act be included. This way the
> audience gets the advantage of seeing a glider up close on the ground,
> and also in the air.
> Secondly, if you contact the SSA they can provide you with some Soaring
> literature to pass out. People like to be given something "free" and
> it gives more exposure to our sport.
> Lastly, it helps to have very enthusiastic and personable people
> standing by at the static display to answer questions and help so
> people can take pictures. Use lots of hand movements and whooshing
> noises too. Open the spoilers every now and then so people can see
> something moving on the glider.
> Clay
>
> David R. wrote:
> > If it is a static display:
> >
> > 1) set up a nice looking glider
> >
> > 2) Rope around the whole glider.
> >
> > 3) Support both wings off the ground so the people who ignore the
> ropes
> > don't walk on a wingtip
> >
> > 4) Allow kids to sit in the glider only under direct supervision of a
> club
> > member
> >
> > 5) Remove anything that is loose or can easily be removed from the
> glider
> >
> > 6) Put the glider back in the trailer at night
> >
> > 7) Have small glossy cards with your clubs information available to
> give to
> > kids and to potential members
> >
> > 8) Have at least two club members near the glider at all times.
> >
> > 9) Make it look fun and interesting.
> >
> > Speaking from the experience of displaying my libelle at a local show
> two
> > years ago.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Dave r.
> >
> > "DNewill" > wrote in message
> > m...
> > > OK Gang - the airshow season is about to start - so what are the
> "ten
> > > things
> > > to do / not to do" if our club gets involved in a summer airshow?
> > > What is the best thing your club or commercial operation did?
> Worst?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > dave newill
> > >
> > >
>

[F.L. Whiteley]

You did nothing wrong. Although I enjoy these venues personally, the
immediate results are very dismal. In five years of mall shows, school
venues, airport open houses, and EAA regional fly ins, my club gained
exactly two members, a father and son that were power pilots that lasted
about six months. Soaring belongs to the seeker. However, planting the
idea in the minds of the young people that pass by may yield long term
dividends. I aim for the 12 and 13 year olds. Most of our newer members
have come from the ranks of rated pilots who've decided to learn to soar
however.

If you have the time and an inside contact, colleges and universities seem
to be the most fruitful recruiting grounds. Students are looking for new
experiences, but often have little money.

Frank Whiteley

"Ray Lovinggood" > wrote in message
...
> The one time we did it, nothing came of it.
>
> Back in the early 90's, the Raleigh-Durham Intl. Airport
> (RDU) held a 'static display' airshow. It included
> military, air carrier, and GA aircraft. Plus one LS-4,
> 'J7.'
>
> We roped it off and manned it with, I think, four people,
> including one young, pretty, blonde lady.
>
> I had a poster made with all the specifications for
> the glider and supported it on an easle.
>
> We had informational packages to hand out to tell about
> learning to fly and where they could learn to fly.
>
> I think we would let small groups of people into the
> roped off area for a closer look. We might have let
> some sit in it, but I don't remember.
>
> We also gave them a chance to enter their name into
> a drawing that would give the winner a free flight
> in a glider (a 2-33, because that was the only two-seater
> the commercial operation had. The 2-33 was not at
> the show nor were photos of it.)
>
> While hundreds came by, the commercial gliding business
> who set this up realized no new customers.
>
> I still wonder what we did wrong.
>
> Ray Lovinggood
> Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
>
>
>
>
> At 06:30 13 January 2005, Dnewill wrote:
> >OK Gang - the airshow season is about to start - so
> >what are the 'ten things
> >to do / not to do' if our club gets involved in a summer
> >airshow?
> >What is the best thing your club or commercial operation
> >did? Worst?
> >
> >Thanks
> >dave newill
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[Bob C]

Here are some thoughts from the performer side:

Absolutely have a glider on display with brochures
about your club. Make sure to include the relatively
low price and social aspect of club flying. Be sure
to mention that your club offers instruction and that
kids can solo at 14.

Don't bring your rusty old 2-33, 1-26 or Blanik. Bring
any modern class glider (the average person doesn't
recognize the difference between a Libelle and a supership,
but they do recognize a junker).

Mna your booth with enthusiastic pilots, and rotate
duty throughout the day.

Let people touch the aircraft, and sit in it under
supervision. Yes, some people's children are idiots,
but I've never experienced any damage. Just keep an
eye out and polish off the grubby fingerprints when
you get home.

Don't offer a free demonstration. A glider flyby without
smoke is nearly invisible from the distances required
for crowd clearance during an airshow waiver, and you
can't do aerobatics without a waiver card. Without
an experienced crew, gliders require a lot of time
to setup for launch and retrieve, often upsetting the
airboss. Airshow schedules are TIGHT! Please don't
take offense at these statements, but airshows are
not the same as the local club environment. The airboss
invariably schedules the glider right after a bunch
of warbirds, then wants you launched in 1 minute.
The free demo also really hurts my chances of ever
performing at that show. I hear a lot of 'We had a
glider at our show once, and nobody liked it' comments
from show producers.

(OK, here comes the blatant sales pitch.) Try to convince
the show to hire a professional sailplane act, and
work with him to help promote your club. I often fly
the whole weekend and never realize the local club
had a sailplane on static display. Any of us (Manfred,
Brett, Steve or I) would be happy to help out.

Don't expect people to line up at your club the following
weekend. Keep your club visible as often as possible.
(You don't see Coca Cola advertising only once a year,
then sitting back and expecting huge sales.)

And most importantly, don't underestimate the effect
you have on the kids! These are the people who will
keep us flying 20 years from now. Convince them they
can fly before the naysayers brainwash them into thinking
flying is too dangerous. I often do school presentations.
They are fun and I really believe some of these kids
will become pilots one day partly as a result of this
influence.

Just my $.02 worth.

Bob Carlton
Silent Wings Airshows
Albuquerque, NM USA
www.silentwingsairshows.com



At 12:30 13 January 2005, Dave Martin wrote:
>Our club tried this several times at local events.
>
>It required high time investment and a glider out of
>use for several days loss of flying time/income. Lots
>of poeple sat in gliders, loss of photocalls and brochures
>handed out
>
>The returns were very small if anything and for a small
>club I would suggest the input return/comparison made
>it impracticable.
>
>Dave Martin
>
>
>At 12:00 13 January 2005, Ray Lovinggood wrote:
>>The one time we did it, nothing came of it.
>>
>>Back in the early 90's, the Raleigh-Durham Intl. Airport
>>(RDU) held a 'static display' airshow. It included
>>military, air carrier, and GA aircraft. Plus one LS-4,
>>'J7.'
>>
>>We roped it off and manned it with, I think, four people,
>>including one young, pretty, blonde lady.
>>
>>I had a poster made with all the specifications for
>>the glider and supported it on an easle.
>>
>>We had informational packages to hand out to tell about
>>learning to fly and where they could learn to fly.
>>
>>I think we would let small groups of people into the
>>roped off area for a closer look. We might have let
>>some sit in it, but I don't remember.
>>
>>We also gave them a chance to enter their name into
>>a drawing that would give the winner a free flight
>>in a glider (a 2-33, because that was the only two-seater
>>the commercial operation had. The 2-33 was not at
>>the show nor were photos of it.)
>>
>>While hundreds came by, the commercial gliding business
>>who set this up realized no new customers.
>>
>>I still wonder what we did wrong.
>>
>>Ray Lovinggood
>>Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>At 06:30 13 January 2005, Dnewill wrote:
>>>OK Gang - the airshow season is about to start - so
>>>what are the 'ten things
>>>to do / not to do' if our club gets involved in a summer
>>>airshow?
>>>What is the best thing your club or commercial operation
>>>did? Worst?
>>>
>>>Thanks
>>>dave newill
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>

[Shawn]

F.L. Whiteley wrote:
> You did nothing wrong. Although I enjoy these venues personally, the
> immediate results are very dismal. In five years of mall shows, school
> venues, airport open houses, and EAA regional fly ins, my club gained
> exactly two members, a father and son that were power pilots that lasted
> about six months. Soaring belongs to the seeker. However, planting the
> idea in the minds of the young people that pass by may yield long term
> dividends. I aim for the 12 and 13 year olds. Most of our newer members
> have come from the ranks of rated pilots who've decided to learn to soar
> however.
>
> If you have the time and an inside contact, colleges and universities seem
> to be the most fruitful recruiting grounds. Students are looking for new
> experiences, but often have little money.
>
> Frank Whiteley

I remember a few Mall displays from when I was a kid (at least 12) in
Colorado Springs. I was all wide eyed. I also remember the guys there
were fairly unenthusiastic about talking to me, and I was the kid that
would ride my bike a dozen miles each way just to watch the gliders at
Black Forest GP. Lost chances. Mixed result for me though. I didn't
start flying until I was 28, but it got me started in cycling at age 14.
:-)

Shawn

[Kristoffer Raun]

When I read all your postings, it strikes me that you've
forgot one thing.
Nowadays everything are about interactivity. We don't
always want to listen and watch - we want to try it
for ourself.

I started building a hardware Simulator 6 years ago,
and i'm still working on it.
In this way we can let people try soaring interactive.

There are a 2 'games' which is perfect for the job.
SilentWings and Sailors of the Sky.

take a look what i've made together with some other
guys and be inspired. We really got focus on our club,
and I believe that we've got some good results from
our hard effort.

https://www.pfg.dk/pub/index.php/user/content/view/full/138

And yes - we are about to make a 6 DOF full motion
simulator.
In this way we can promote the sport in a safe and
fun way and let people get a glimpse of the great sport
we all like.

Best regards
Kristoffer Raun
www.pfg.dk

[Kristoffer Raun]

When I read all your postings, it strikes me that you've
forgot one thing.
Nowadays everything are about interactivity. We don't
always want to listen and watch - we want to try it
for ourself.

I started building a hardware Simulator 6 years ago,
and i'm still working on it.
In this way we can let people try soaring interactive.

There are a 2 'games' which is perfect for the job.
SilentWings and Sailors of the Sky.

take a look what i've made together with some other
guys and be inspired. We really got focus on our club,
and I believe that we've got some good results from
our hard effort.

https://www.pfg.dk/pub/index.php/user/content/view/full/138

And yes - we are about to make a 6 DOF full motion
simulator.
In this way we can promote the sport in a safe and
fun way and let people get a glimpse of the great sport
we all like.

Best regards
Kristoffer Raun
www.pfg.dk

[Greg Arnold]

Bob C wrote:

> And most importantly, don't underestimate the effect
> you have on the kids! These are the people who will
> keep us flying 20 years from now. Convince them they
> can fly before the naysayers brainwash them into thinking
> flying is too dangerous. I often do school presentations.
> They are fun and I really believe some of these kids
> will become pilots one day partly as a result of this
> influence.

I think the posts in this thread may be unduely pessimistic about the
effect of airshow displays. Sure, people don't show up the next weekend
for rides, but it may have an effect over a longer time period (though
too small to notice).

But I think Bob Carlton really makes the important point, which is that
airshows are a way to educate people (especially kids) about soaring. I
have displayed a glider at maybe a show a year over the last 6 years.
I presume the people who attend airshows are somewhat more savvy about
aviation in general, and soaring in particular, than your average person
on the street. Yet many airshow attendees apparently never have never
heard of gliding. They are amazed that there is such a thing as a plane
without an engine, and have no idea how such a contraption might be
launched into the air.

With such a lack of knowledge, it isn't surprsing that soaring isn't
very popular. If soaring were as well known to the general population
as say, scuba diving, I bet we would have a lot more soaring pilots.
Currently, there could be many potential pilots who go through life
without ever knowing about soaring.

I do disagree with Bob Carlton about one thing. At an airshow, you have
the noisy planes with smoke coming from their wingtips, and then the
quiet glider with smoke coming form the wingtips. For my money, if you
are going to be watching a plane do aerobatic maneuvers, you want it to
be as noisy as possible. I find glider aerobatics pretty boring from
the ground. Also, I think airshow attendees who are not familiar with
gliding may get the impression that it consists of crazy people who get
towed into the air and then fly upside down, which may actually hurt our
recruitment rather than help it.

[Wayne Paul]

I may be getting away from the point; however, is growing the sport the only
reason we should attempt to keep soaring in the "public eye?"

The local EAA Chapter have been very interested and supportive in my HP-14
restoration. Isn't there value in publicly showing that we are part of the
greater aviation community?

Wayne
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder

[Shawn]

Wayne Paul wrote:
> I may be getting away from the point; however, is growing the sport the only
> reason we should attempt to keep soaring in the "public eye?"
>
> The local EAA Chapter have been very interested and supportive in my HP-14
> restoration. Isn't there value in publicly showing that we are part of the
> greater aviation community?

A positive perception of GA and soaring in particular is a great reason
to keep us in the public eye. If the only time the public perceives us
is when we crash or generate noise complaints, there will be little
support when airspace or airports are threatened.

Shawn

[[email protected]]

Greg Arnold > wrote:
> Also, I think airshow attendees who are not familiar with
> gliding may get the impression that it consists of crazy
> people who get towed into the air and then fly upside
> down, which may actually hurt our recruitment rather
> than help it.

I agree. To those who are not familiar with flying *and* even to some
who are familiar with powered flight but NOT with gliders, flying
something without an engine seems crazy enough, let alone doing
*aerobatics* in such a thing!

I think there should be glider representation at airshows ... just one
or two aerotows so that people can see that an aircraft without an
engine doesn't just fall to the ground the minute you release from the
tow, and that it can make a normal, controlled pattern and landing on a
designated runway. I work at a flight school (powered), and it's amazing
that even some CFIs think a glider pilot has little or no choice about
where to land, and they can't imagine making every approach without the
option to do a go-round! JMO, but I think there is substantial potential
for soaring by just educating power airplane people, especially those
who are instructing.

I have been especially frustrated the last couple of years at an annual
local airshow that focuses on aircraft that played a part in the wars,
without *a single mention* of or even a display of *pictures* of
gliders. I have cordially brought this to their attention, and they
wholeheartedly agree that gliders played a vital part in the war and
deserve a rightful place alongside the powered classics. But despite
their lip service and more than one offer on my part to do the research
and legwork so that appropriate glider representation could be included,
I have never been given the green light to even just bring them
something to consider.

Bottom line, many really don't take it seriously if there isn't a fan on
the nose.

[Ray Lovinggood]

While not anything like an airshow, one of our club
members is letting his 301 Libelle be used at the Gubernatorial
Inauguration Ball. (North Carolina, USA, Governor
re-elect: Mike Easley)

Folks from the Governor's office (I guess) visited
our airfield looking for the 'glider guys.' They wanted
a glider to suspend from the ceiling of the Raleigh
Convention Center. They ran into the owner of the
301 and he has agreed to let them display it above
the heads of the dancing democrats.

The Ball is Saturday evening, 15 JAN 05. I wonder
if anyone will start thinking about how lovely the
Libelle is and thinking about learning to fly?

I hope the owner gets good photos!

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

[For Example John Smith]

I understand that was a joke but....
....we did a static display at an airshow with both a PW5 and an ASW 27.
In several cases we told folks about routinely making flights of 120-150
miles or so in the PW and they were extremely impressed. We then said "go
ask him (the ASW 27 driver) how far he goes and what his average speeds
are".
The range of capabilities (and associated costs) was interesting to them.

We had a member who used to regularly do glider acro demos at airshows--that
really got their attention.

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Do: hire nubile females to pretend to be glider groupies or pilots.
>
> Don't: display anything manufactured by Schweizer or PZL-Swidnick
>
> Do: Give out free beer.
> Don't: demonstrate the use of the glider's relief tube.
>

[For Example John Smith]

Can you tell us more?
Do you know why folks from the Governor's office wanted a glider hanging
over the ballroom? Maybe there's something repeatable or leveragable....


"Ray Lovinggood" > wrote in message
...
> While not anything like an airshow, one of our club
> members is letting his 301 Libelle be used at the Gubernatorial
> Inauguration Ball. (North Carolina, USA, Governor
> re-elect: Mike Easley)
>
> Folks from the Governor's office (I guess) visited
> our airfield looking for the 'glider guys.' They wanted
> a glider to suspend from the ceiling of the Raleigh
> Convention Center. They ran into the owner of the
> 301 and he has agreed to let them display it above
> the heads of the dancing democrats.
>
> The Ball is Saturday evening, 15 JAN 05. I wonder
> if anyone will start thinking about how lovely the
> Libelle is and thinking about learning to fly?
>
> I hope the owner gets good photos!
>
> Ray Lovinggood
> Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
>
>
>
>
>

[Ray Lovinggood]

I think the Ballroom was being decorated in three 'themes':
Land
Air
Sea
to represent the different areas of North Carolina.
The 'air' portion could play on the history of the
Outer Banks and the Wright Brothers. I don't know
why they chose a sailplane rather than an airplane.

I don't know what they have to represent the Land and
Sea portions.

If I can ever find out why they sought out a glider,
I'll report back.

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

At 17:00 14 January 2005, For Example John Smith wrote:
>Can you tell us more?
>Do you know why folks from the Governor's office wanted
>a glider hanging
>over the ballroom? Maybe there's something repeatable
>or leveragable....
>
>
>'Ray Lovinggood' wrote in message
...
>> While not anything like an airshow, one of our club
>> members is letting his 301 Libelle be used at the
>>Gubernatorial
>> Inauguration Ball. (North Carolina, USA, Governor
>> re-elect: Mike Easley)
>>
>> Folks from the Governor's office (I guess) visited
>> our airfield looking for the 'glider guys.' They
>>wanted
>> a glider to suspend from the ceiling of the Raleigh
>> Convention Center. They ran into the owner of the
>> 301 and he has agreed to let them display it above
>> the heads of the dancing democrats.
>>
>> The Ball is Saturday evening, 15 JAN 05. I wonder
>> if anyone will start thinking about how lovely the
>> Libelle is and thinking about learning to fly?
>>
>> I hope the owner gets good photos!
>>
>> Ray Lovinggood
>> Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

[F.L. Whiteley]

I've cut the pictures from old soaring calendars and used spray adhesive to
mount two per poster board. These can then be displayed gallery style by
taping them to the trailer side or placed on the grass, tarmac, or floor
just inside the rope barrier (this also helps keep people at bay) so they
can see gliders in all sorts of flight situations.

Which university?

Frank
Colorado

"C Koenig" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Dave - You have received a lot of good suggestions, I would like to
> offer a few as well - all static display comments. Depending on the
> circumstances of course, plan to assemble or disassemble with an
> audience. This is a big hit at fly-ins, and camps (space, boy
> scouts...) Keep the trailer somewhere where you can at least point it
> out. Better yet is to have it open with your gear set for display. I
> carry a shortened tow rope, and hook it to the glider for a prop. -
> easier to explain when it is there. I also have four pictures - aero -
> winch - auto - and bunjee. The bunjee is in B&W which seems to
> reassure some people. If the glider does not have cushions in the
> seatpan - put some in - or place the parachute in if you don't plan on
> allowing people to sit in the plane. People commented a lot about how
> uncomfortable it looked until I did this. If you do allow people to
> sit in the plane, perform a mini ground course/cockpit check. (oh and
> put the canopy in the trailer!) Buckle them in emphasizing low and
> across the hips, then shoulder belts. Let them move the stick and
> rudder - show how you have to move the controls in symetry to fly the
> plane. Ask them to speed up, slow down, perform a turn to the right I
> use my hand to show the roll, pitch and yaw as they move the controlls
> so they have some feedback. The biggest thrill seems to be pulling the
> dive brakes - as somebody already mentioned something can actally be
> seen then. I also carry a picture of a thermal and wave - wave is
> difficult to explain but most people have seen a thermal and the
> beautiful cu at the top. Having kids around helping is a good draw -
> my kids love telling people about how their mom flys gliders and the
> places they have been - not to mention when they tell these people they
> have flown in one. (my kids are 6 and 8) Hand out flyers, and put
> YOUR name and phone number (or email address). People don't want
> another cold start in soaring with more strangers - they want to start
> with the person they met and liked at the show. Even if you are there
> just to pass them to the next person for a demo ride - they will feel
> good that your interest was not just at the event.
>
> Showing gliders at events is rewarding. I love showing people about
> this sport - over the past two years have had over 120 kids/teens sit
> in the cockpit of my Cirrus. One teen sent me an email - he is going
> to college in Colorado because there is a glider club close by. I have
> also had teens stop to talk to me in the mall because they remembered
> me - and to hear them telling their friends about the glider and soring
> is just... well.. worth every minute I have spent doing this.
> Hope this helps and good luck!
> Colleen Koenig
>

[Jim Vincent]

One of the big issues in soaring is retention of people. It is quite an
investment in training people to fly, hoping they will solo, get licensed, and
perhaps more importantly, stay in soaring.

If a person does not have the aviation interest to even know that gliders
exist, do we even want them in our sport? I think the pilots we want are those
that have the curiousity of aviation to know the range of options available in
aviation. If a person at an airshow is surprised that gliders even exist, it
seems to me that they lack the curiosity and drive to pursue this rather
challenging sport. IMO, the best indicator of a high potential candidate are
interests such as building model aircraft, flying kites, sailing etc. I
question whether even the typical power pilot would be a good glider guider.
I've met enough of them who have never even heard of gliding; their scope of
knowledge of aircraft is so limited that I wonder why they even got a power
ticket in the first place.

Rather than letting anyone join a club and take advantage of a flight training
program, how about giving an aptitude test to see if the canditate has the
basic intelligence and knowledge to better assure they might make it through
the flight training program? I would rather train one student to solo than
three students who quit half way through or take twice as many flights as most.
It would be a better utilization of club resouces, make everyone safer, and
increase the morale of the sport since the retention would be higher.

Jim Vincent
N483SZ

[Tony Verhulst]

> Yes, some people's children are idiots,
> but I've never experienced any damage.

Me neither. But, I did see a kid step onto the lowered wingtip of a
DG300 at a static display, and proceed to walk it up to the fuselage.
Dang near made it too.

Tony V.

[Stewart Kissel]

At a local airshow...a kindly sort had brought his
Stemme, and had the canopy up so visitors could look
inside. Suddenly a parent thought it was a great idea
to plop his infant and others into the ship's seats...with
their ice-cream and cotton-candy greased little hands.
I winced, but the owner was unbelieivably courteous
as he explained to pop why that was not such a hot
idea.



At 17:31 15 January 2005, Tony Verhulst wrote:
>
>> Yes, some people's children are idiots,
>> but I've never experienced any damage.
>
>Me neither. But, I did see a kid step onto the lowered
>wingtip of a
>DG300 at a static display, and proceed to walk it up
>to the fuselage.
>Dang near made it too.
>
>Tony V.
>

[tango4]

If you are letting people into the cockpit get some sort of lock fitted to
the U/C handle to prevent a sickening crunch.

Ian