One thing we tried was inviting the Air Force JRROTC cadets over to fly at a
reduced rate. They made a club of it and even had non cadets flying with us.
Maybe we should hit the high schools.
"Bill Daniels" wrote in message
news:NKSfc.144982$gA5.1763352@attbi_s03...
I LIKE it.

Bill Daniels

"John" wrote in message
om...
Added a similar comment when I filled in the SSA soaring survey.

Want to grow soaring? Market soaring as low-cost entertainment to
generate mass appeal. Develop a commercial gliding site that focuses
on giving rides only, quickly and cheaply.

Look at all the teenagers spending $5-$15 to ride go-karts or roller
coasters every Saturday at county fairs. Would they not also pay
$5-15 for a quick 750-1000 foot winch or auto launch glider ride?
Especially, if the gliders were launching right next to the county
fair (airport was next door...or maybe launching right off the
fairgrounds themselves). This is entertainment, not soaring. But
from the launch to the high bank turn on final, along with the 750
foot altitude, should be quite entertaining for the masses.

Key is low cost and keeping the wait in line to less than 15 minutes.
Might need several winches and several gliders. And maybe even drop
the launch height to 600 feet. (Just want to be high enough to not
create any landing pattern safety issues, but low enough to get on the
ground as quick as possible for the next ride). Have to compete with
other forms of low-cost entertainment, in terms of both time and
money. This is how you develop mass appeal.

How do these entertaining glides create a benefit for the larger sport
of soaring? Thru numbers...throw enough people into the air, and some
of them might develop an interest to become soaring pilots.