Bert Willing wrote:
You can't necessarily blame the problems of clubs on the prices of new
gliders. The clubs could as well buy second hand gliders - it's the club
members (or managers) who *want* the most expensive toys, very often without
regard whether the club members really need the difference between 47:1 or
40:1.

But the effect is the same - less and less youngsters between 16 and 25 who
are supposed to be the future of soaring :-(

- Problem in US that keeps a lot of youngsters from soaring is lack of
any decent equipment in most of the clubs. When couple years ago I was
visiting French club that only had 45 members they presented following
list of gliders available for club members: 1 Ka-6, Ask-21, Libelle
201, 2 - Ls-1's, 2 Pegasus 101's, 1 edelweiss, 1 Phoebus,1 std.Cirrus
and couple old French made trainers - all the club rates!
How many non-profit clubs in US are there that could stand up to such
equipment?
NONE, if you want to get serious about soaring in US you have to own a
glider and how many youngsters in US can afford to own a glider?

So called "soaring with Schweitzer" is an oxymoron in Midwest area...

GK