iPod generation in Gliding

Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? Have the
feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.

On Nov 13, 3:10 am, wrote:
Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? Have the
feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.

IMHO, this is key for spreading the word about soaring. One point of
my video blog: http://hdsoaring.blogspot.com/
is to have ipod videos available (the "small" versions of each
video). Ipod versions to populate small devices, large formats (full
1920 x 1080) for filling up big screen TVs and projectors with an
impressive HD video. I do not have a iTunes channel yet, that is on
the list to do. More pilots need to produce these, but it is a
challenge because you have to:

1) setup the equipment in or on the glider
2) fly the flight in interesting conditions (good wx, contest, etc.)
3) edit the video on a powerful enough machine (macs strongly
preferrred)
4) output the formats and upload and host the videos

To find these skills in one or a few people and to do this on a
sustained and voluntary basis is quite a lot to ask. I do everything
listed above but so far, I think I'm the only one to do this on a semi-
regular basis (I'd like to be shown wrong), and I can tell you it's a
big commitment of time. For any hope of having a sustained
production, we either have to have the commitment of some organization
(BGA, SSA, etc.) to back a production program, or get alot more young
people (under 30) into the sport who will pick up the skills much
quicker (and have the time to produce) than the existing "older"
pilots. As reference, I'm 49 and taught myself or had someone teach
me the steps to produce and host the videos, so if I can do it, anyone
can.

Kemp

On Nov 13, 6:10*am, wrote:
Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? *Have the
feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.

snip

One way would be to use the technology to expand awareness of what
goes on at conventions using not only podcasts but other internet-
based media. Some years back, the Clubs and Chapters Committee
videorecorded the seminars and made them available online - Frank
Whitley did a fantastic job of doing that (Frank, I can't find the
links to those on my computer any more . . .do you still have
them?).

Other proposals at that time to make the sessions available via
streaming video or podcasts was vigorously opposed by the then-
leadership of SSA, with the argument that making the benefits of
convention attendance available to anyone (not just SSA members) for
free inhibited attendance (a position which is PROBABLY no longer held
in Hobbs, and which probably would be better received now).

Jim Kellett

On Nov 13, 3:10*am, wrote:
Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? *Have the
feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.

insidesoaring.com (behindtheyawstring.com) While appreciated by glider
pilots as well as being informative, I'm not sure now many students
it's bound to attract...

-Paul

Here's a reference to one that seems to have disappeared:

http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_...hp?pod_id=4639

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:20:41 -0800 (PST), Kemp
wrote:

1) setup the equipment in or on the glider
2) fly the flight in interesting conditions (good wx, contest, etc.)
3) edit the video on a powerful enough machine (macs strongly
preferrred)
4) output the formats and upload and host the videos


.... or simply put a digital camera on the runway, wait for a glider to
arrive and do some very basic editing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbI_d4mUJpo


Hint:
Turn the sound up and listen to the guys when they realized that the
camera was in danger...


@Ray:
I guess you already know the airfield and the "Nussbaum"...




Bye
Andreas

On Nov 13, 7:53*am, Jim Kellett wrote:
On Nov 13, 6:10*am, wrote:

Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? *Have the
feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.

snip

One way would be to use the technology to expand awareness of what
goes on at conventions using not only podcasts but other internet-
based media. *Some years back, the Clubs and Chapters Committee
videorecorded the seminars and made them available online - Frank
Whitley did a fantastic job of doing that (Frank, I can't find the
links to those on my computer any more . . .do you still have
them?).

Other proposals at that time to make the sessions available via
streaming video or podcasts was vigorously opposed by the then-
leadership of SSA, with the argument that making the benefits of
convention attendance available to anyone (not just SSA members) for
free inhibited attendance (a position which is PROBABLY no longer held
in Hobbs, and which probably would be better received now).

Jim Kellett


I'll re-post to this thread with the links once they are re-arranged
in a more sensible format (day or two). I didn't make public
announcements in fear of crashing the server as it's shared with
several businesses and streaming media is not it's primary function.
I have provided links to clubs that were discussing relevant topics.

Kemp has a good handle on what we, SSA and other nationals
organizations, should be doing and some of the hurdles. Within the
SSA, I've floated the idea of a (digital) media working group (both
formal and ad hoc) a few times to governors and committees along with
some thematic proposals to capture the current and moving paradigms.
Videos, webinars, RSS feeds (SSA has), and webcasting/podcasting are
among the tools we should be using now, in a coordinated manner. By
coordinated, I mean setting some standards, branding, editorial review
or content management, and 'marketing'. There are several independent
efforts out there with the majority showing up on YouTube and others
hosted elsewhere and independently. The other day I was presented
with two links to high quality videos. However, they were encoded at
2Mbps (too high for a T-1, okay for some cable but not for many DSL,
satellite, and wireless services) despite the host site's
recommendation to compress at 340Kbps. If you don't consider your
audience, you'll lose them.

Then there's equipment consideration, from camera to server, but the
biggy is the process in between. Check out Dave Newill's video
(currently top row center) in the SSA Video Gallery. This was done
with the Oregon Scientific ATC2K which records to SD cards. Fixed
aperture, 640x480 videos, but a cheap and rugged way for a club or
commercial operator to start gathering videos without breaking the
bank. HD camcorders recording to SD-HC cards are starting to become
cost competitive. Out west, the HDD camcorders are elevation limited,
so SD, SD-HC, and mini-DV rule. Gathering content and processing and
editing requirements take significant time and effort. Moving
original media also takes some effort as an hour of raw miniDV tape is
15GB.

Webinar services allow for live presentations. I've written a
proposal and have a line item in the SSA proposed budget, however, I
also need to finish establishing the benefit for providing such a
service before the proposal is accepted. The possibilities are
significant for presenting/capturing the conventions, soaring
seminars, training, recruiting, and so on. However, there are
standards and choices to consider on the way to completing the
proposal.

Today's options may only be valid for the next year or five as new
paradigms will surely emerge. We should be working on it.

Frank Whiteley

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:10:28 -0800, borje.8x wrote:

Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? Have the feeling
we don’t attract new students in there channels.

I notice that nobody has yet mentioned Airsports.TV, an Internet TV
channel that covers all airsports including gliding:

http://www.airsports.tv/

So far most of the material is major competition coverage and pilot
interviews, but it may be well worthwhile seeing if they're interested in
taking freelance material too. I think its a good shop window for us.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

Two separate points, but i'll consolidate them into one post:

1) Kemp & others that film your flights: I'm a tech-savvy guy who's
put together some videos. I've shot a fair bit of little clips with
my digital camera in the cockpit; but I don't know how to rig external
cams or what reasonably-priced equipment might be available. Any of
you care to put together a buying-guide or an explanation on how to
rig the equipment on a glider? (Preferrably without degrading glider
performance too much, since some of us have simple standard-class
ships, not long wingers! *grin*)

2) I have outlined and article titled "Soaring: Just for Old Men?"
that I've been meaning to flesh out and submit to SOARING magazine.
As a young whipper-snapper in this sport (I'm 30), I have a lot of
thoughts about the problems that the current soaring community has -
especially in the USA - in reaching a younger audience. Some of it
has to do with technology and fancy stuff like what's been discussed
here; but a lot of it has to do with today's social settings and the
psychology of the generation gap between today's glider pilots in the
USA (average age being in the high 50's to low 60's), and tomorrow's
potential glider pilots (being in their teens to late 20's).

I also have some opinions about leveraging the other pilot populations
in the USA by having the SSA become a part of AOPA or EAA (at least
develop a close relationship with them)... But that's a whole other
topic. :-P For the record though, I just got a new Sporty's catalog
in the mail and have notice a small but steadily increasing number of
soaring products. I'd hate to see the established resellers get
squeezed out of the market - but the more "major" publications we can
sneak soaring into, the more it'll be "on the radar" of the 400,000+
GA pilots here in the USA. Whether or not they want to try the sport,
its good to increase awareness and coordination between powered and
silent flight! Again, its another topic for another post/thread....

Take care,

--Noel

On Nov 13, 5:10*am, wrote:
Does anyone out there have a good example how we in gliding community
using Podcasts to spread our information and stories ? *Have the
feeling we don’t attract new students in there channels.


Our own Cherokee Kid, Tony Condon, is a frequent contributor to the
pilotcasts at:

http://pilotcast.libsyn.com/?search_...earch&search=1

That link is for a show about teaching off-airport landings mainly to
airplane pilots but Tony, being the primo glider wiz and promoter that
he is, often talks about soaring on these shows. He's had people in
various places recognize his voice on aircraft radios from hearing him
on pilotcasts! He's done more to promote awareness of soaring in his
few short years flying gliders than I have in 20 years.

Check it out!