iPod generation in Gliding

[[email protected]]

Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? Have the
feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.

[Kemp[_2_]]

On Nov 13, 3:10 am, wrote:
> Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
> using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? Have the
> feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.

IMHO, this is key for spreading the word about soaring. One point of
my video blog: http://hdsoaring.blogspot.com/
is to have ipod videos available (the "small" versions of each
video). Ipod versions to populate small devices, large formats (full
1920 x 1080) for filling up big screen TVs and projectors with an
impressive HD video. I do not have a iTunes channel yet, that is on
the list to do. More pilots need to produce these, but it is a
challenge because you have to:

1) setup the equipment in or on the glider
2) fly the flight in interesting conditions (good wx, contest, etc.)
3) edit the video on a powerful enough machine (macs strongly
preferrred)
4) output the formats and upload and host the videos

To find these skills in one or a few people and to do this on a
sustained and voluntary basis is quite a lot to ask. I do everything
listed above but so far, I think I'm the only one to do this on a semi-
regular basis (I'd like to be shown wrong), and I can tell you it's a
big commitment of time. For any hope of having a sustained
production, we either have to have the commitment of some organization
(BGA, SSA, etc.) to back a production program, or get alot more young
people (under 30) into the sport who will pick up the skills much
quicker (and have the time to produce) than the existing "older"
pilots. As reference, I'm 49 and taught myself or had someone teach
me the steps to produce and host the videos, so if I can do it, anyone
can.

Kemp

[Jim Kellett]

On Nov 13, 6:10*am, wrote:
> Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
> using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? *Have the
> feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.

<snip>

One way would be to use the technology to expand awareness of what
goes on at conventions using not only podcasts but other internet-
based media. Some years back, the Clubs and Chapters Committee
videorecorded the seminars and made them available online - Frank
Whitley did a fantastic job of doing that (Frank, I can't find the
links to those on my computer any more . . .do you still have
them?).

Other proposals at that time to make the sessions available via
streaming video or podcasts was vigorously opposed by the then-
leadership of SSA, with the argument that making the benefits of
convention attendance available to anyone (not just SSA members) for
free inhibited attendance (a position which is PROBABLY no longer held
in Hobbs, and which probably would be better received now).

Jim Kellett

[sisu1a]

On Nov 13, 3:10*am, wrote:
> Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
> using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? *Have the
> feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.

insidesoaring.com (behindtheyawstring.com) While appreciated by glider
pilots as well as being informative, I'm not sure now many students
it's bound to attract...

-Paul

[Pat Russell]

Here's a reference to one that seems to have disappeared:

http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=4639

[Andreas Maurer]

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:20:41 -0800 (PST), Kemp >
wrote:

>1) setup the equipment in or on the glider
>2) fly the flight in interesting conditions (good wx, contest, etc.)
>3) edit the video on a powerful enough machine (macs strongly
>preferrred)
>4) output the formats and upload and host the videos


.... or simply put a digital camera on the runway, wait for a glider to
arrive and do some very basic editing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbI_d4mUJpo


Hint:
Turn the sound up and listen to the guys when they realized that the
camera was in danger...


@Ray:
I guess you already know the airfield and the "Nussbaum"... ;)




Bye
Andreas

[Frank Whiteley]

On Nov 13, 7:53*am, Jim Kellett > wrote:
> On Nov 13, 6:10*am, wrote:
>
> > Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
> > using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? *Have the
> > feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.
>
> <snip>
>
> One way would be to use the technology to expand awareness of what
> goes on at conventions using not only podcasts but other internet-
> based media. *Some years back, the Clubs and Chapters Committee
> videorecorded the seminars and made them available online - Frank
> Whitley did a fantastic job of doing that (Frank, I can't find the
> links to those on my computer any more . . .do you still have
> them?).
>
> Other proposals at that time to make the sessions available via
> streaming video or podcasts was vigorously opposed by the then-
> leadership of SSA, with the argument that making the benefits of
> convention attendance available to anyone (not just SSA members) for
> free inhibited attendance (a position which is PROBABLY no longer held
> in Hobbs, and which probably would be better received now).
>
> Jim Kellett


I'll re-post to this thread with the links once they are re-arranged
in a more sensible format (day or two). I didn't make public
announcements in fear of crashing the server as it's shared with
several businesses and streaming media is not it's primary function.
I have provided links to clubs that were discussing relevant topics.

Kemp has a good handle on what we, SSA and other nationals
organizations, should be doing and some of the hurdles. Within the
SSA, I've floated the idea of a (digital) media working group (both
formal and ad hoc) a few times to governors and committees along with
some thematic proposals to capture the current and moving paradigms.
Videos, webinars, RSS feeds (SSA has), and webcasting/podcasting are
among the tools we should be using now, in a coordinated manner. By
coordinated, I mean setting some standards, branding, editorial review
or content management, and 'marketing'. There are several independent
efforts out there with the majority showing up on YouTube and others
hosted elsewhere and independently. The other day I was presented
with two links to high quality videos. However, they were encoded at
2Mbps (too high for a T-1, okay for some cable but not for many DSL,
satellite, and wireless services) despite the host site's
recommendation to compress at 340Kbps. If you don't consider your
audience, you'll lose them.

Then there's equipment consideration, from camera to server, but the
biggy is the process in between. Check out Dave Newill's video
(currently top row center) in the SSA Video Gallery. This was done
with the Oregon Scientific ATC2K which records to SD cards. Fixed
aperture, 640x480 videos, but a cheap and rugged way for a club or
commercial operator to start gathering videos without breaking the
bank. HD camcorders recording to SD-HC cards are starting to become
cost competitive. Out west, the HDD camcorders are elevation limited,
so SD, SD-HC, and mini-DV rule. Gathering content and processing and
editing requirements take significant time and effort. Moving
original media also takes some effort as an hour of raw miniDV tape is
15GB.

Webinar services allow for live presentations. I've written a
proposal and have a line item in the SSA proposed budget, however, I
also need to finish establishing the benefit for providing such a
service before the proposal is accepted. The possibilities are
significant for presenting/capturing the conventions, soaring
seminars, training, recruiting, and so on. However, there are
standards and choices to consider on the way to completing the
proposal.

Today's options may only be valid for the next year or five as new
paradigms will surely emerge. We should be working on it.

Frank Whiteley

[Martin Gregorie[_4_]]

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:10:28 -0800, borje.8x wrote:

> Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
> using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? Have the feeling
> we don’t attract new students in there channels.
>
I notice that nobody has yet mentioned Airsports.TV, an Internet TV
channel that covers all airsports including gliding:

http://www.airsports.tv/

So far most of the material is major competition coverage and pilot
interviews, but it may be well worthwhile seeing if they're interested in
taking freelance material too. I think its a good shop window for us.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

[noel.wade]

Two separate points, but i'll consolidate them into one post:

1) Kemp & others that film your flights: I'm a tech-savvy guy who's
put together some videos. I've shot a fair bit of little clips with
my digital camera in the cockpit; but I don't know how to rig external
cams or what reasonably-priced equipment might be available. Any of
you care to put together a buying-guide or an explanation on how to
rig the equipment on a glider? (Preferrably without degrading glider
performance too much, since some of us have simple standard-class
ships, not long wingers! *grin*)

2) I have outlined and article titled "Soaring: Just for Old Men?"
that I've been meaning to flesh out and submit to SOARING magazine.
As a young whipper-snapper in this sport (I'm 30), I have a lot of
thoughts about the problems that the current soaring community has -
especially in the USA - in reaching a younger audience. Some of it
has to do with technology and fancy stuff like what's been discussed
here; but a lot of it has to do with today's social settings and the
psychology of the generation gap between today's glider pilots in the
USA (average age being in the high 50's to low 60's), and tomorrow's
potential glider pilots (being in their teens to late 20's).

I also have some opinions about leveraging the other pilot populations
in the USA by having the SSA become a part of AOPA or EAA (at least
develop a close relationship with them)... But that's a whole other
topic. :-P For the record though, I just got a new Sporty's catalog
in the mail and have notice a small but steadily increasing number of
soaring products. I'd hate to see the established resellers get
squeezed out of the market - but the more "major" publications we can
sneak soaring into, the more it'll be "on the radar" of the 400,000+
GA pilots here in the USA. Whether or not they want to try the sport,
its good to increase awareness and coordination between powered and
silent flight! Again, its another topic for another post/thread....

Take care,

--Noel

[[email protected]]

On Nov 13, 5:10*am, wrote:
> Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
> using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? *Have the
> feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.


Our own Cherokee Kid, Tony Condon, is a frequent contributor to the
pilotcasts at:

http://pilotcast.libsyn.com/?search_string=gliders&Submit=Search&search=1

That link is for a show about teaching off-airport landings mainly to
airplane pilots but Tony, being the primo glider wiz and promoter that
he is, often talks about soaring on these shows. He's had people in
various places recognize his voice on aircraft radios from hearing him
on pilotcasts! He's done more to promote awareness of soaring in his
few short years flying gliders than I have in 20 years.

Check it out!

[[email protected]]

On Nov 13, 7:37*pm, wrote:
> On Nov 13, 5:10*am, wrote:
>
> > Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
> > using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? *Have the
> > feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.
>
> Our own Cherokee Kid, Tony Condon, is a frequent contributor to the
> pilotcasts at:
>
> *http://pilotcast.libsyn.com/?search_string=gliders&Submit=Search&sear...
>
> That link is for a show about teaching off-airport landings mainly to
> airplane pilots but Tony, being the primo glider wiz and promoter that
> he is, often talks about soaring on these shows. He's had people in
> various places recognize his voice on aircraft radios from hearing him
> on pilotcasts! *He's done more to promote awareness of soaring in his
> few short years flying gliders than I have in 20 years.
>
> Check it out!

i've also talked gliders on Jason Miller's podcast
(www.thefinerpoints.net) as well as Will Hawkins "Pilots Flight
Podlog" (pilotwill.libsyn.net) and I think thats pretty much it. I
have a lot of fun talking about flying in general, and always enjoy
talking soaring as well. Between that and a personal addiction to
online aviaiton forums, i've done what i can to spread the good word.
And i've inspired quite a few people to go out and start flying
gliders.

[[email protected]]

How about getting something on TV?

I made a video that was picked for TV on the Current TV network.

My video can be seen here (not soaring related) : http://current.com/items/89439340_

The main page of the network is www.current.com then you go to "Viewer
Uploads" and submit a video. Every Thursday at 5PM a new video is
picked, as determined by the up votes. The network targets the 18-34
year old crowd.
Tom

[[email protected]]

The one thing about making a video for TV is that you have to have a
license for everything you use from music to appearance releases from
each individual and location releases from the property owners from
where you film from from, etc..You will not see a video on TV with say
Beatles music as there is no license for that.

It's far easier to make a Youtube video as those licensing
requirements are far less stringent and are not being broadcast in TV
on a commercial network.

But if you can overcome this hurdle, a well done video would be a nice
submission. There has to be a story to the video, not just soaring
footage, to make it compelling.
Tom

[[email protected]]

On 14 Nov, 04:20, wrote:
> The one thing about making a video for TV is that you have to have a
> license for everything you use from music to appearance releases from
> each individual and location releases from the property owners from
> where you film from from, etc..You will not see a video on TV with say
> Beatles music as there is no license for that.
>
> It's far easier to make a Youtube video as those licensing
> requirements are far less stringent and are not being broadcast in TV
> on a commercial network.
>
> But if you can overcome this hurdle, a well done video would be a nice
> submission. There has to be a story to the video, not just soaring
> footage, to make it compelling.
> Tom

Thanks’ all of you. There is two parts for me and federation in my
topic. One is about communicate our sport and to get more interest
(more student, press etc) Next topic and perhaps more easy is to
spread internal communication like instruction, stories from nice
flights and so. In this I am thinking off recorded without video. To
spread video in commercial way it’s not so easy..

Borje, 8X

[HoUdino]

There is a robust amount of video on YouTube which is the largest
houser of video on the web. Just do a search. Many of the videos I've
watched have a large number of hits. In talking to new members of my
club, there seems to be an awareness of these YouTube videos and an
excitement generated by them. I often mention the YouTube links to
prospective new members.

What seems to be missing is not promotional content but rather the
next step of directing them to a clearing house for getting directly
involved with soaring, ie the "next step". The videos I've watched
often mention the local group that made the video (We've made a few
for OCSA), but for those prospects not in my clubs marketing area they
don't get a hand off. If every video ended with a link to an IGC
listing of national organizations, and if every national organization
had a listing of all their associated clubs, and every club had a
welcoming message to share with the viewer then the waterfall would be
complete. The SSA's "Where to Soar" section is an example but is
never mentioned in any video I've seen.

How can we encourage our video posters to include a (inter)national
link?

LT
54 and getting older...

PS- Posting seminars, etc is a great idea too for those of us adready
into soaring, but this does not address the "new student" promotional
issue which was borge's original question.

PPS- Noel, I'd like to hear more about your "social settings and the
psychology of the generation gap" as you mention in #2 of your post.




On Nov 13, 5:10*am, wrote:
> Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
> using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? *Have the
> feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.