Ian Johnston wrote:

And that, with all due respect, is the sort of attitude that explains
why gliding is in such trouble. I, on the contrary, have enormous
sympathy for those whose burning desire to fly is thwarted by The
System, and I'm all in favour of making things cheaper and simpler
whenever possible.

Cheaper and simpler is good.

But Hang Gliding is not Para Gliding is not Soaring.

Going first class always costs a little more. Your argument that the
best experience should be available for a price and a degree of effort
commensurate with the most basic experience flies in the face of all
human history, Ian.

Those who whine or "whinge" (UK), about the cost of fast glass, and
yet find a 1-26 or a PW-5 beneath them, those who complain that the
air field is too far away but can't be bothered to move their tent,
and those who can't abide a bit of study and compliance sound a
similar note to yours. Fortunately, the rest of us are too busy flying
to be very concerned about the background noise.


Jack