These prices are not bad, and the amount I cited only covers the
amortization of the glider (which is not the only cost involved).
Youngsters in France still get a reasonable amount of money as a"bourse",
and when I was starting gliding at the age of 16, I never asked my parents
to pay the bill, but I moved my ass and did some little jobs to earn money.
Of course, my parents helped me a little bit, but they wouldn't have had the
means to pay it all.
Now, if youngsters switch to the "assisted mode", they may well stay with
their Nintendos.


"Michel Talon" wrote in message Here around
Paris, i see that gliders are rented at a much higher price
that what you mention. Let me take the CVVFR which is known to be one of
the least expensive in the region, runned only by volunteers, so there
is absolutely nothing here devoted to salaries. Everything is published
on the web, easily accessible at http://cvvfr.free.fr
Price is
LS4-Janus-Pegase 17,40 euros/hour
LS 8, 15, 18 mètres 23,50 euros/hour
Duo-Discus 30,60 euros/hour

or, and this is a novelty, there is a possibility to pay a global sum

"Forfait heures illimitées"

On ASK21, ASK23, LS4, Janus, Pégase 1000 euros 1350 euros

i suppose that 1000 is for people aged less than 25.

To that you need to add the club cotisation and insurances. Let us say
around 300 euros if you come in winter to work on gliders or around
450 euros otherwise.

And then, cherry on the cake

Towing at 500 meters 20 euros ( aged 25) 23 (aged more 25)

So i clearly see something of the order of 2000 euros/year, and i am
quite sure you will have hard time to find less expensive while still
decent around Paris - and by the way i doubt very much it is less
expensive in the Alps.

Beleive it or not, 2000 euros is a non negligible sum for a lot of
people, particularly for those who have a lot of free time in their
hands to go to the gliderport. I am not speaking of the case of people
who can afford the luxury to buy their own glider. Anf finally there are
skying clubs also, and youngsters can afford to go skying using such
services for a fraction of the above cost. Myself being a parent, i know
i would have difficulties forking the above sum of money for each of my
children if they did want to do gliding, while i had no problem with
skying.




--

Michel TALON