(glen beckham) wrote in message . com...
It seems to me that the ASA is just a private little racing club for
those with expensive sailplanes.In my opinion the reason many people
drop out of soaring after getting a license, is that there is no place
to fly other then commercial operations which are more expensive and
are focused on other things.It seems the ASA could pattern itself
after the texas soaring assoc. or tucson's soaring club.

Glen-
A bit of ASA history. The ASA has never been private or exclusive. I
was a member of ASA during the time of the transition from a full
service club to the beginning of what it is today. I have been away
from Arizona for several years but I doubt the ASA has changed all
that much. I currently live in Nashville and fly in the Tennessee
area. My suggestion would be for you to join, fly the Grob, and bring
in friends that think the way you do. Only by having an influx of new
pilots with varying ideas and a willingness to put in the time &
effort does an organization change and grow stronger. The cost is $35
per year. However, remember 3 things; 1) What really binds a club
together is the friendship & socializing surrounding the flying. 2)
You must be willing to volunteer to do the "dirty work" required. 3)
Don't judge people or pick friends in soaring by what they fly. Talk
to Bob Hurni about the 1-26 Association.



I was a member of ASA for many years in the 60s & 70s. The club
aircraft consisted of tow plane, a 2-22 for training and 5 or 6
privately owned ships. John Ryan – Sisu, Joe Lincoln – 2-32 & 1-23,
Doc Turnbow – an Lk, Bob Roe – an LK, & Charlie Rockwell – 1-19. We
flew out of Deer Valley during the fall, winter & spring, and out of
Prescott during the summer. Training from the instructors was free
and a tow to 2k ft was $5. Dues were reasonable so we generally had
30 – 45 members. Cross country was frowned upon. It was considered
too risky by the powers in the club. The beginning of cross country
for the general membership started when Charlie Rockwell flew his 1-19
from Deer Valley to one of the Luke Aux fields. The distance was
about 25 miles, as I remember it. Cross country and eventually
competition, in the ASA, evolved from that flight. Primarily,
competition evolved because we traveled to different locations within
the state to experience the different conditions. Instead of just
flying around the airport on these safaris, the pilots wanted a goal
to make them stretch their limits. Therefore competition was born in
the ASA.

During this time the club was always looking for ways to foster the
sport of soaring. We gave rides to groups. A lot of the time these
were free. We trained people young and old. I flew the sailplane
while Ruth Perty trained & checked out the Tucson clubs first tow
pilot. I believe it was Mrs Brooks. We helped other clubs get
started. Most didn't make it for whatever reasons – generally
financial. The Tucson club did and has become a great club. I don't
know if anyone still flies in Flagstaff, but we also worked with a
group from there.

The Prescott club has its roots in the ASA. Many of the founding
members and some of the current members were members of ASA and flew
with them.

A couple of things were consistent problems – money and a permanent
place to fly. On occasion, when we were in dire straights, one of the
members would donate a sum of money to bale us out and/or give us
operating capital, or equipment.

The Horvath brothers, and Roy and his partner, decided they wanted to
start soaring sites at Estrella and at Chandler, (later Chandler
became Turf, and now is Turf Soaring). They approached ASA about
their concerns of ASA's free instruction and to find out if ASA would
fly at their locations. Because of the benefits of having a permanent
location(s) and consistently available professional training, an
agreement was reached where ASA would not provide free instruction in
competition. The decision was also made, because of cost and to
support the local commercial operations become successful, to sell the
tow plane and 2-22, and buy a 1-26. Interestingly, the 1-26 was
continuously underutilized. This started ASA's migration towards
being a club of mostly private owners. However, they still own a Grob
102, which is available to approved pilots for local and cross country
soaring. Support equipment includes oxygen, radios, and trailer.

You should read Trish Durbin's book to get more about the ASA's
history.