declining membership

[Peter Gadd]

I think part of the reason for the decline in soaring
is the rapid expansion of urban areas, I used to fly
back in teh 70s, and there were 3 gliderports within
an hours drive. They have all closed due to the expansion
of suburbia. The closest field with decent soaring
is now over 2 hours away each way. That takes 4 hours
out of a weekend day just to drive! After a grueling
week at work, spending a half day in a car driving
to & from a gliderport is more than I can take. I
will be retiring soon, and intend to jump back in,
but I'm already spending at least 2 hrs a day commuting,
and I can't stand the thought of doubling that on weekends!

[BTIZ]

I live on the wrong side of town... it is 25 miles across town and then
another 20 miles to the glider club... luckily on most days it is less than
an hour 1 way. The next closest club is on the right side of town... but at
least a 90 minute drive one way.

And that's when I started soaring.

BT

"Peter Gadd" > wrote in message
...
>I think part of the reason for the decline in soaring
> is the rapid expansion of urban areas, I used to fly
> back in teh 70s, and there were 3 gliderports within
> an hours drive. They have all closed due to the expansion
> of suburbia. The closest field with decent soaring
> is now over 2 hours away each way. That takes 4 hours
> out of a weekend day just to drive! After a grueling
> week at work, spending a half day in a car driving
> to & from a gliderport is more than I can take. I
> will be retiring soon, and intend to jump back in,
> but I'm already spending at least 2 hrs a day commuting,
> and I can't stand the thought of doubling that on weekends!
>
>

[Ted Wagner]

Peter - that may explain why there are fewer gliderports, but not fewer
pilots.

I live in Phoenix, which has for 30ish years now has enjoyed the presence of
Turf Soaring on the northwest side and Estrella on the south. If anything
they should be enjoying more business, not less, especially considering the
order of magnitude growth in the area since those operations began. I've
previously stated on this newsgroup my opinions on why participation in the
sport is declining and won't repeat them here, but I believe it has little
to do with urban expansion. Much more to do with numbers of military trained
pilots since WWII and competition from other sports. It ain't as easy to
become a pilot as it used to be, either.

Anecdote: when I started gliding lessons in Fall 2003, I did so at Estrella,
which was closest to my home in Tempe. I've been an active skydiver in
southern AZ since 1988 and in all that time I had never heard of Arizona
Soaring or Estrella Sailport. No print or radio advertisement, not even any
tourist-visit-us brochures in the rack of them you see in hotel lobbies. I
was greatly surprised that in 15 years I had never heard of Estrella, and it
was in my own backyard. In fact, the only reason I knew about it was that my
boss had started flying there earlier in the year!

Anecdote 2: In my hotel room here at the Marriott TownePlace Suites in
Hawthorne, CA, there is a rack of sight-seers brochures in the lobby. There
is a brochure for Skydive Elsinore, energetically touting the reader to make
a parachute jump. There is gliderport at the same field, and another one at
Warner Springs less than an hour away. But no brochures from either
gliderport in the rack. Why not?

-Ted in Tempe

"Peter Gadd" > wrote in message
...
>I think part of the reason for the decline in soaring
> is the rapid expansion of urban areas, I used to fly
> back in teh 70s, and there were 3 gliderports within
> an hours drive. They have all closed due to the expansion
> of suburbia. The closest field with decent soaring
> is now over 2 hours away each way. That takes 4 hours
> out of a weekend day just to drive! After a grueling
> week at work, spending a half day in a car driving
> to & from a gliderport is more than I can take. I
> will be retiring soon, and intend to jump back in,
> but I'm already spending at least 2 hrs a day commuting,
> and I can't stand the thought of doubling that on weekends!
>
>

[[email protected]]

Tell me about it.

Driving is hard work.

[Jim Phoenix]

Back in the last millenium when I learned to soar at Estrella (1974 or 5?
without looking at my log) they had a very large billboard on I-10 at the
turn-off to Maricopa that had a giant 2-32 on it and I'm sure that's what
caught my eye (and everyone else's) on trips to Tuscon or other points
south. I would bet that billboard provided them a lot of ride business, as
well as the occasional student through private certificate. I think it was
an hour's drive from Mesa, maybe more.

Today I drive almost 3 hours one way each weekend over a mountain range to
Ephrata, but the soaring is well worth it. I used to drive over an hour from
home in CT to Wurtsboro for some pretty good soaring in the early season,
but not nearly as good and consistent as the conditions at Ephrata
year-round. In Belgium, it was at least 2 hours from Tervuren to the
Kortrijk Glider Club.

Like many hobbies and sports, it's impossible to rationally justify the time
and cost of soaring, you just have to like doing it. I mean - one could be
into Formula car or J-boat racing or camp-cruising in Wayfarers - the time
commitment and cost may be similar depending on the toy.

Jim


"Ted Wagner" > wrote in message
news:1106885548.221f54f69f4f905d8b35a85cbdd020a2@t eranews...
> Peter - that may explain why there are fewer gliderports, but not fewer
> pilots.
>
> I live in Phoenix, which has for 30ish years now has enjoyed the presence
> of Turf Soaring on the northwest side and Estrella on the south. If
> anything they should be enjoying more business, not less, especially
> considering the order of magnitude growth in the area since those
> operations began. I've previously stated on this newsgroup my opinions on
> why participation in the sport is declining and won't repeat them here,
> but I believe it has little to do with urban expansion. Much more to do
> with numbers of military trained pilots since WWII and competition from
> other sports. It ain't as easy to become a pilot as it used to be, either.
>
> Anecdote: when I started gliding lessons in Fall 2003, I did so at
> Estrella, which was closest to my home in Tempe. I've been an active
> skydiver in southern AZ since 1988 and in all that time I had never heard
> of Arizona Soaring or Estrella Sailport. No print or radio advertisement,
> not even any tourist-visit-us brochures in the rack of them you see in
> hotel lobbies. I was greatly surprised that in 15 years I had never heard
> of Estrella, and it was in my own backyard. In fact, the only reason I
> knew about it was that my boss had started flying there earlier in the
> year!
>
> Anecdote 2: In my hotel room here at the Marriott TownePlace Suites in
> Hawthorne, CA, there is a rack of sight-seers brochures in the lobby.
> There is a brochure for Skydive Elsinore, energetically touting the reader
> to make a parachute jump. There is gliderport at the same field, and
> another one at Warner Springs less than an hour away. But no brochures
> from either gliderport in the rack. Why not?
>
> -Ted in Tempe
>
> "Peter Gadd" > wrote in message
> ...
>>I think part of the reason for the decline in soaring
>> is the rapid expansion of urban areas, I used to fly
>> back in teh 70s, and there were 3 gliderports within
>> an hours drive. They have all closed due to the expansion
>> of suburbia. The closest field with decent soaring
>> is now over 2 hours away each way. That takes 4 hours
>> out of a weekend day just to drive! After a grueling
>> week at work, spending a half day in a car driving
>> to & from a gliderport is more than I can take. I
>> will be retiring soon, and intend to jump back in,
>> but I'm already spending at least 2 hrs a day commuting,
>> and I can't stand the thought of doubling that on weekends!
>>
>>
>
>

[Brad]

Heavy, well said and right on dude........you rock!

Brad

[BTIZ]

> Peter - that may explain why there are fewer gliderports, but not fewer
> pilots.
>
> I live in Phoenix, which has for 30ish years now has enjoyed the presence
> of Turf Soaring on the northwest side and Estrella on the south. If
> anything they should be enjoying more business, not less, especially
> considering the order of magnitude growth in the area since those
> operations began. I've previously stated on this newsgroup my opinions on
> why participation in the sport is declining and won't repeat them here,
> but I believe it has little to do with urban expansion. Much more to do
> with numbers of military trained pilots since WWII and competition from
> other sports. It ain't as easy to become a pilot as it used to be, either.

We do not advertise.. we are a weekend club, we accept members every
"training season".. and as we approach this time of year, we have to turn
some away.. we are "full". Our instructors and equipment is max'd out.. as a
weekend club there are only so many training hours in a day. We have a
waiting list.. Our "training season" begins in September. I'll agree that we
have one primary trainer, one advanced trainer and one tow plane, and two
other gliders for those already solo'd or checked out. We are looking at
whether to buy another training glider, and maybe have to pick up a second
tow plane... but the other short fall... we need tow pilots.. tail wheel,
high performance qualified.

We run into the "expand or stay the same".... need $$ to expand.. and need
members to support the expansion.. which came first the chicken or the egg.
For a weekend club it is a tough call.. for a full time club.. full time
employees.. it would be doable.

Now there are two additional commercial "tourist ride" and "glider training"
glider companies on the same field... let's see if they can survive. For
those of you who come up to Jean every spring from AZ... drop me a line..
we'll get you the information for "mid week tows"..

BT

[Don Johnstone]

In the UK we are suffering the same problem. Distance
to a club is seldom a factor for us, our country is
much smaller. Getting to fly is not a problem as no
licence is required to fly a glider in the UK and even
the instructors do not have to hold power type categories.
I would have to say that these are not the cause of
the decline, not in the UK anyway.

I think it has more to do with the perceptions of the
new generations. They are able to access 'fun' on tap.
Go somewhere where their fun is provided, have it,
and then go on to something else. The concept of going
somewhere all day to help others have fun is alien
to them, why would the need to do that. My generation
needed to do it, the current generation don't and I
think it is as simple as that, coupled with the choice
of adventurous sports now available giving much more
opportunity. The 'access fun provided by someone else'
as opposed to 'make your own fun' ethos is here. Gliding
is one of the sports that needs people other than those
actually flying to take place at all.



At 07:00 28 January 2005, Btiz wrote:
>> Peter - that may explain why there are fewer gliderports,
>>but not fewer
>> pilots.
>>
>> I live in Phoenix, which has for 30ish years now has
>>enjoyed the presence
>> of Turf Soaring on the northwest side and Estrella
>>on the south. If
>> anything they should be enjoying more business, not
>>less, especially
>> considering the order of magnitude growth in the area
>>since those
>> operations began. I've previously stated on this newsgroup
>>my opinions on
>> why participation in the sport is declining and won't
>>repeat them here,
>> but I believe it has little to do with urban expansion.
>>Much more to do
>> with numbers of military trained pilots since WWII
>>and competition from
>> other sports. It ain't as easy to become a pilot as
>>it used to be, either.
>
>We do not advertise.. we are a weekend club, we accept
>members every
>'training season'.. and as we approach this time of
>year, we have to turn
>some away.. we are 'full'. Our instructors and equipment
>is max'd out.. as a
>weekend club there are only so many training hours
>in a day. We have a
>waiting list.. Our 'training season' begins in September.
>I'll agree that we
>have one primary trainer, one advanced trainer and
>one tow plane, and two
>other gliders for those already solo'd or checked out.
>We are looking at
>whether to buy another training glider, and maybe have
>to pick up a second
>tow plane... but the other short fall... we need tow
>pilots.. tail wheel,
>high performance qualified.
>
>We run into the 'expand or stay the same'.... need
>$$ to expand.. and need
>members to support the expansion.. which came first
>the chicken or the egg.
>For a weekend club it is a tough call.. for a full
>time club.. full time
>employees.. it would be doable.
>
>Now there are two additional commercial 'tourist ride'
>and 'glider training'
>glider companies on the same field... let's see if
>they can survive. For
>those of you who come up to Jean every spring from
>AZ... drop me a line..
>we'll get you the information for 'mid week tows'..
>
> BT
>
>
>

[Bill Gribble]

With respect, that's ******** :p

Put on the spot I would argue that //my// generation are as eager and as
capable as yours ever were or will be of "going somewhere all day to
help other to have fun" for nothing more than the rewards of equal
participation. To say otherwise is nothing but ageist, bigoted conceit
talking, perhaps a little influenced by the charm of looking back over
your glorious golden age of days gone by through rose-tinted spectacles.

No offence intended.

But you do touch on part of the issue when you mention the competition
we suffer these days in terms of the availability of other adventurous
sports. White water rafting, riding around dune buggies, sky-diving,
aerobatics in an old biplane, the list is endless, adrenaline pumped,
accessible and for the most part very visually and energetically
advertised.

I think gliding will always be a minority sport. It is never going to
enjoy mass appeal. It either terrifies the average man in the street or
it simply fails to throw the necessary switch. The idea of flight is not
to him what it is to you and me, it's a means to an end, whereas here it
is the end in itself.

But beyond that, our principle problem is obscurity and inaccessibility.
Nobody knows we're here, and if they do, they've no idea how to access
us. That's certainly true here in the UK, and I'd guess no different
over in the States judging by some of the other posts in this thread.


-Bill

Don Johnstone writes
>I think it has more to do with the perceptions of the new generations.
>They are able to access 'fun' on tap. Go somewhere where their fun is
>provided, have it, and then go on to something else. The concept of
>going somewhere all day to help others have fun is alien to them, why
>would the need to do that. My generation needed to do it, the current
>generation don't and I think it is as simple as that, coupled with the
>choice of adventurous sports now available giving much more
>opportunity. The 'access fun provided by someone else' as opposed to
>'make your own fun' ethos is here. Gliding is one of the sports that
>needs people other than those actually flying to take place at all.

--
Bill Gribble
| http://www.ingenuitytest.co.uk
| http://www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk
| http://www.scapegoatsanon.demon.co.uk

[Don Johnstone]

Bill, I apologise, you are obviously one of the current
generations who does not think that way and I am aware
there are a few, unfortunately you are the exception
rather that the rule.
Fell right into the generality trap there.

It's not an age thing per se, it's more an expectation,
as time goes on people expect more and more and the
culture of 'you can get anything if you pay for it'
is here. No effort required.

At 12:30 28 January 2005, Bill Gribble wrote:
>With respect, that's ******** :p
>
>Put on the spot I would argue that //my// generation
>are as eager and as
>capable as yours ever were or will be of 'going somewhere
>all day to
>help other to have fun' for nothing more than the rewards
>of equal
>participation. To say otherwise is nothing but ageist,
>bigoted conceit
>talking, perhaps a little influenced by the charm of
>looking back over
>your glorious golden age of days gone by through rose-tinted
>spectacles.
>
>No offence intended.
>
>But you do touch on part of the issue when you mention
>the competition
>we suffer these days in terms of the availability of
>other adventurous
>sports. White water rafting, riding around dune buggies,
>sky-diving,
>aerobatics in an old biplane, the list is endless,
>adrenaline pumped,
>accessible and for the most part very visually and
>energetically
>advertised.
>
>I think gliding will always be a minority sport. It
>is never going to
>enjoy mass appeal. It either terrifies the average
>man in the street or
>it simply fails to throw the necessary switch. The
>idea of flight is not
>to him what it is to you and me, it's a means to an
>end, whereas here it
>is the end in itself.
>
>But beyond that, our principle problem is obscurity
>and inaccessibility.
>Nobody knows we're here, and if they do, they've no
>idea how to access
>us. That's certainly true here in the UK, and I'd guess
>no different
>over in the States judging by some of the other posts
>in this thread.
>
>
>-Bill
>
>Don Johnstone writes
>>I think it has more to do with the perceptions of the
>>new generations.
>>They are able to access 'fun' on tap. Go somewhere
>>where their fun is
>>provided, have it, and then go on to something else.
>>The concept of
>>going somewhere all day to help others have fun is
>>alien to them, why
>>would the need to do that. My generation needed to
>>do it, the current
>>generation don't and I think it is as simple as that,
>>coupled with the
>>choice of adventurous sports now available giving much
>>more
>>opportunity. The 'access fun provided by someone else'
>>as opposed to
>>'make your own fun' ethos is here. Gliding is one of
>>the sports that
>>needs people other than those actually flying to take
>>place at all.
>
>--
>Bill Gribble
>| http://www.ingenuitytest.co.uk
>| http://www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk
>| http://www.scapegoatsanon.demon.co.uk
>

[Nyal Williams]

At 11:30 28 January 2005, Don Johnstone wrote:
>In the UK we are suffering the same problem. Distance
>to a club is seldom a factor for us, our country is
>much smaller. Getting to fly is not a problem as no
>licence is required to fly a glider in the UK and even
>the instructors do not have to hold power type categories.
>I would have to say that these are not the cause of
>the decline, not in the UK anyway.
>
>I think it has more to do with the perceptions of the
>new generations. They are able to access 'fun' on tap.
>Go somewhere where their fun is provided, have it,
>and then go on to something else.

Not only that, but the youth culture today is one of
physical indolence. 'You mean you have to put it together
and take it apart every time you want to fly?' We
move around less, play computer games instead of physical
ones, put on weight, and become physically lazy. Exertion
is for the very lowly; we don't even have ditch diggers
anymore; struggle is an intellectual concept only.

Maybe none of this is correct. Perhaps we have conquered
the air and there is no longer any romance in it.
Airline pilots are just bus drivers, a private airplane
is just another vehicle. Even mountain climbing has
been reduced to climbing fake rocks in a shopping center
boutique. Who can say where any of this is going?
Maybe we will wind up as nothing but brains stored
in little cubicles and our jobs will be 'make-work'
thinking just to keep up occupied. Thereis a novel
in there somewhere; who wrote it?

[Bearsoars]

Re: Obscurity and inaccessibility.

I think mostly obscurity. The soaring mindset IMHO (USA) is to only
market the sport to those already in aviation, an already small subset
of our society. That momentum keeps this sport a secret.

Even though I was an air force brat, I had no exposure to general
aviation or soaring. I went to school (texas tech) only a couple
hundred miles from Hobbs, home of the USA SSA. Littlefield, site of
some great contests, was only about 50 or so miles away. I didn't know
a thing.

I was absolutely fascinated with aviation as a kid. Had I been
introduced to soaring as a youngster I would have made the effort. I
only found out about it by chance similar to another story in this
thread. I would like to think I am fairly knowledgeable fellow- I had
no idea people did this, and if you go to a high school or college
right now, I would bet you a significant majority has no idea what a
sailplane is and more certainly what they are capable of doing. I would
speculate that there are not too many sports veiled in that kind of
secrecy. If you don't tell anyone about it, it is't going to grow. I am
absolutely befuddled that we complain about the growth but don't change
anything to sell it.

RE: It is never going to enjoy mass appeal

No sport is meant for everyone. Where we differ form other sports is
that everyone knows about white water rafting, mountain climbing,
sailing, at least to the point of knowing what it is. The "average man
on the street" doesn't even know what soaring is and will likely never
know with our current mindset. It has nothing to do with whether it
will hit the switch or not- he will never see the switch to start with.

Joe in Atlanta GA USA




> I think gliding will always be a minority sport. It is never going to

> enjoy mass appeal. It either terrifies the average man in the street
or
> it simply fails to throw the necessary switch. The idea of flight is
not
> to him what it is to you and me, it's a means to an end, whereas here
it
> is the end in itself.
>
> But beyond that, our principle problem is obscurity and
inaccessibility.
> Nobody knows we're here, and if they do, they've no idea how to
access
> us. That's certainly true here in the UK, and I'd guess no different
> over in the States judging by some of the other posts in this thread.
>

[Malcolm Austin]

Well Bill I guess you shot from the hip and thought about it later :-)

I'm also from the UK and agree with just about everything both you and
Don had to say.

I would add to it in one small part.

Firstly - This is now an advertising based country, although we haven't
quite sunk to the depths of the States (sorry guys!) When did you last
see anything in a paper or on the TV about gliding.

When our club has spent a bit of cash in the local rag we often get a
good number of "punters" through the door for their 3 flights. The numbers
that stay on are probably <3%, even so the value to us in useful.

I am beginning to wonder why we don't get together and push for a short film
or a big advert. It might cost a bit but surely would bring in a new set of
people.
With the best part of 100 clubs in the UK it should make for an interesting
bit
of money.

Secondly - We have to attend to the time gliding takes. Every club I've
been to
has taken a couple of hours minimum to get you in the air. And we know how
long a circuit bash takes don't we. When we get a ridge day in North Wales
the effect of visitors is interesting. They think its wonderful to stay up
for 45 mins!

My 2 pence worth...

Malcolm...


"Bill Gribble" > wrote in
message .. .
> With respect, that's ******** :p
>
> Put on the spot I would argue that //my// generation are as eager and as
> capable as yours ever were or will be of "going somewhere all day to help
> other to have fun" for nothing more than the rewards of equal
> participation. To say otherwise is nothing but ageist, bigoted conceit
> talking, perhaps a little influenced by the charm of looking back over
> your glorious golden age of days gone by through rose-tinted spectacles.
>
> No offence intended.
>
> But you do touch on part of the issue when you mention the competition we
> suffer these days in terms of the availability of other adventurous
> sports. White water rafting, riding around dune buggies, sky-diving,
> aerobatics in an old biplane, the list is endless, adrenaline pumped,
> accessible and for the most part very visually and energetically
> advertised.
>
> I think gliding will always be a minority sport. It is never going to
> enjoy mass appeal. It either terrifies the average man in the street or it
> simply fails to throw the necessary switch. The idea of flight is not to
> him what it is to you and me, it's a means to an end, whereas here it is
> the end in itself.
>
> But beyond that, our principle problem is obscurity and inaccessibility.
> Nobody knows we're here, and if they do, they've no idea how to access us.
> That's certainly true here in the UK, and I'd guess no different over in
> the States judging by some of the other posts in this thread.
>
>
> -Bill
>
> Don Johnstone writes
>>I think it has more to do with the perceptions of the new generations.
>>They are able to access 'fun' on tap. Go somewhere where their fun is
>>provided, have it, and then go on to something else. The concept of going
>>somewhere all day to help others have fun is alien to them, why would the
>>need to do that. My generation needed to do it, the current generation
>>don't and I think it is as simple as that, coupled with the choice of
>>adventurous sports now available giving much more opportunity. The 'access
>>fun provided by someone else' as opposed to 'make your own fun' ethos is
>>here. Gliding is one of the sports that needs people other than those
>>actually flying to take place at all.
>
> --
> Bill Gribble
> | http://www.ingenuitytest.co.uk
> | http://www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk
> | http://www.scapegoatsanon.demon.co.uk

[Bob Johnson]

Nyal,

This may not be so. Look at the bios of the solo group in the new Soaring.
Today's active young citizens looking for a shot of adrenaline are bungee
jumping, snowboarding at Vail, skydiving, ultra lighting, climbing Everest,
scuba diving, whatever. You name it, they seem to have the resources and
desire to do it. After all, compared to these things, how exiting can a
computer game or spending an hour or two of preparation to float around a
glider circuit be? Even the CAP cadets located across the field in full view
of our glider club operations have never been curious enough to drop in.

Bob Johnson


"Nyal Williams" > wrote in message
...
> At 11:30 28 January 2005, Don Johnstone wrote:
>>In the UK we are suffering the same problem. Distance
>>to a club is seldom a factor for us, our country is
>>much smaller. Getting to fly is not a problem as no
>>licence is required to fly a glider in the UK and even
>>the instructors do not have to hold power type categories.
>>I would have to say that these are not the cause of
>>the decline, not in the UK anyway.
>>
>>I think it has more to do with the perceptions of the
>>new generations. They are able to access 'fun' on tap.
>>Go somewhere where their fun is provided, have it,
>>and then go on to something else.
>
> Not only that, but the youth culture today is one of
> physical indolence. 'You mean you have to put it together
> and take it apart every time you want to fly?' We
> move around less, play computer games instead of physical
> ones, put on weight, and become physically lazy. Exertion
> is for the very lowly; we don't even have ditch diggers
> anymore; struggle is an intellectual concept only.
>
> Maybe none of this is correct. Perhaps we have conquered
> the air and there is no longer any romance in it.
> Airline pilots are just bus drivers, a private airplane
> is just another vehicle. Even mountain climbing has
> been reduced to climbing fake rocks in a shopping center
> boutique. Who can say where any of this is going?
> Maybe we will wind up as nothing but brains stored
> in little cubicles and our jobs will be 'make-work'
> thinking just to keep up occupied. Thereis a novel
> in there somewhere; who wrote it?
>
>
>

[Bruce]

Bob Johnson wrote:
> Nyal,
>
> This may not be so. Look at the bios of the solo group in the new Soaring.
> Today's active young citizens looking for a shot of adrenaline are bungee
> jumping, snowboarding at Vail, skydiving, ultra lighting, climbing Everest,
> scuba diving, whatever. You name it, they seem to have the resources and
> desire to do it. After all, compared to these things, how exiting can a
> computer game or spending an hour or two of preparation to float around a
> glider circuit be? Even the CAP cadets located across the field in full view
> of our glider club operations have never been curious enough to drop in.
>
> Bob Johnson
>
>
> "Nyal Williams" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>At 11:30 28 January 2005, Don Johnstone wrote:
>>
>>>In the UK we are suffering the same problem. Distance
>>>to a club is seldom a factor for us, our country is
>>>much smaller. Getting to fly is not a problem as no
>>>licence is required to fly a glider in the UK and even
>>>the instructors do not have to hold power type categories.
>>>I would have to say that these are not the cause of
>>>the decline, not in the UK anyway.
>>>
>>>I think it has more to do with the perceptions of the
>>>new generations. They are able to access 'fun' on tap.
>>>Go somewhere where their fun is provided, have it,
>>>and then go on to something else.
>>
>>Not only that, but the youth culture today is one of
>>physical indolence. 'You mean you have to put it together
>>and take it apart every time you want to fly?' We
>>move around less, play computer games instead of physical
>>ones, put on weight, and become physically lazy. Exertion
>>is for the very lowly; we don't even have ditch diggers
>>anymore; struggle is an intellectual concept only.
>>
>>Maybe none of this is correct. Perhaps we have conquered
>>the air and there is no longer any romance in it.
>>Airline pilots are just bus drivers, a private airplane
>>is just another vehicle. Even mountain climbing has
>>been reduced to climbing fake rocks in a shopping center
>>boutique. Who can say where any of this is going?
>>Maybe we will wind up as nothing but brains stored
>>in little cubicles and our jobs will be 'make-work'
>>thinking just to keep up occupied. Thereis a novel
>>in there somewhere; who wrote it?
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
We find that the offer of a couple of chandelles and a loop in a Blanik appeals. ..

[Bearsoars]

Re: TV- I concur. In the USA, you can watch everything imaginable on
our sports networks, from Poker to Golf distance driving. Where is
soaring? What could be more exhilarating than seeing a low pass at
140kts by an open class sailplane dumping water? Current technology
would allow all sorts of monitoring of GPS traces, cameras in planes,
etc. If people can actually remain awake through a broadcast of a golf
match, surely we could get a sailplane race on TV. Wouldn't have to be
live, right?

Most all of our sports are driven by Television and Advertising. It is
time for Soaring to get a piece of that pie. But with it comes the
attention. You ready for grandstands at a sailplane race? Interviews
after a flight. My cynical side says we aren't- we like our private
little sport. And that mindset will keep it where it is at.
Joe in Atlanta

[Ken Kochanski (KK)]

Bearsoars wrote:

Most all of our sports are driven by Television and Advertising. It is
time for Soaring to get a piece of that pie. ...

http://www.126association.org/graphics/CamelAd.jpg

Looking at this ad above(from the 1-26 Association site), you would
guess there was a time in the US when soaring was as common a pastime
as smoking ... but, that was actually never true even in the post WWII
period when aviation was the only 3-D reality sport. As others have
noted, competition is tough ... ad sponsors are going to look at
soaring and say the potential consumer base is not worth the expense
(by a large margin) .. and we won't grow (if we want to) unless we get
a lot more exposure in prime time media outlets. If a Nats was covered
by a major network, that could be a start ... but if the viewer numbers
were low, and they probably would be, a Nats would never be covered
again. Maybe we could use gliders in one of the extreme challanges ...
stuff contestants in the front of a couple/four 2-place ships
(instructors in back of course) ... and they have to fly silver
distance ... cameras in the cockpit could cover the anguish and joy we
all experience going XC ... and of course you have the drama of the
off-field.


KK - Ken Kochansk

[Bearsoars]

I do take your point about bottom line and consumer base- ReMax Realty
sponsors Golf Distance driving contests, and you can catch anything
from curling to skate boarding to mountain biking on outllets such as
ESPN if you happen to have the misfortune of watching TV on a saturday
instead of flying. They all get sponsored, albiet they do have a
broader appeal. I think there is an assumption that the consumer base
is only among participants in the sport or perhaps aviaton. We can make
this sport tv friendly, and what we do is interesting, isn't it? Is
soaring competion really so boring that no one would sponsor it? A
camera shot of 20 gliders in a gaggle would certainly make someone stop
while channel surfing, no? I think there is enough excitement with
landouts, weather changes, etc, to make it interesting. Of course, I
am already hooked on the sport and of course biased. Perhaps there is
a hook with Americans getting into international competitions. Just
food for thought I guess... Thanks for listening..

Joe

[Armando Pucci]

Soaring declining membership? Not in Argentina!

=20

Last five years I heard a lot about soaring declining symptoms=85 I just
arrived home from 52=B0 Argentinean National Soaring Championship =
organized
and sponsored by of Asociacion Aeronautica Azul (CP Azul), a small city
305km south of BsAs with impressed numbers:

=20

* A record number of 73 gliders and 5 motorgliders attended the 52=B0
National Championship & FAI 100=B0 years Cup
* 46 Standard (Jantar Std 2 and 3, LS-4 etc) and 32 Free (open) Class
gliders (ASW-22BLE, ASW-20C, Nimbus 4dM, Nimbus 2C, Ventus 2cM, Jantar =
2B,
LAK-12, DG-800, DG-400, Genesis etc) & 12 tug planes;
* 8 AAT task was set to Open and 7 to Standard class between 200 and
420km (details on their website)
* Operations were great, CP Azul airfield has two grass runway: The
main one (35/17) with 1500x150mts and a secondary (09/27) 900x150mts; =
The
flatland topography is safe for out landings in any direction; Several =
was
done without any damage.
* No airspace restrictions; An Air Force base near Tandil was set as
waypoint on some task without any conflicts.

=20

I learned that soaring is growing in Argentina, not just on Andes but =
also
on flatlands called =93Pampas=94; This happens due a =93old style=94 =
European
soaring system based on community glider clubs, instead a fleet of =
private
gliders; Young pilots without a car or bike can fly a expensive Us$ 30k
plastic gliders paying only Us$ 10.00 fee;

=20

Also the clubs infrastructure includes social areas as swimming pools,
tennis & soccer court, R & V camping and barbecue facilities; My group =
of 7
Brazilians gliders, pilots and helpers drove 2750 km during 3 days to =
spent
10 wonderful days with the best soaring community of South America.

=20

Come to fly with us on 53=B0 Argentinean National Soaring Championship =
on
January 2006 in Adolfo Gonzales Chaves, you will change your mind!

=20

Sds. VoLo.

=20

Armando R. Pucci

Ventus 2cM (AR)

=20


=20
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=20

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