On Nov 8, 3:18*pm, toad wrote:
I think that it is certainly true that there are some number of people
that would start and continue soaring even with the most outdated
equipment, but there would be more people if the equipment and
operation were more modern and more exciting.

The question is how large is the difference, and would it pay for the
additional cost.

It doesn't need to be very new.

My experience is that if you sit a brand new DG1000 (in 18m config, so
no swoopy tips and winglets) next to a well-maintained late 70's Twin
Astir or Janus then most visitors to the airfield can't distinguish
between them.