SSA Convention on track to more than double attendance

The SSA convention in Ontario, CA, is roughly one month away.

It is being advertised in Jan/Feb issues of various cross-over interest
magazines, including power and model airplane flying, health and
fitness, sailing, and scuba. These activities were identified as being
very popular among glider pilots by the online National Glider Pilot
Survey done last year by the SSA. Mention of the convention in
Newsgroups for these activities is about to begin. Posters have been
sent to over 200 model airplane and 100 hang gliding clubs.

Additionally, SSA/Region 12 volunteers staffed a booth at the Academy of
Model Aeronautics National Convention this past weekend, coincidentally
located at the Ontario Convention Center. A Sparrowhawk and soaring
videos were the hit of the show, and over 700 brochures announcing our
own convention were distributed. Many attendees expressed significant
interest in seeing nearly 25 "real" sailplanes. The convention was also
advertised at the 2004 AOPA National Convention, and several southern
California airshows.

While it is impossible to list nearly 50 speakers and talks, here is a
taste:

Just added: Hans Werner Grosse, "900 Hours in the eta - the World's
largest Sailplane." Others include Henry Combs - "205 Diamond Distances
- Survived and Enjoyed," Al Cangahuala of the JPL - "Interplanetary
Cross Country" (today's Huygens probe landing on Titan will be
discussed), George Moffat/Burt Compton - "Marfa, First World Contest in
the US," Reiner Rose (originator of the OLC), Michael Greiner (the "G"
in the new ASG-29), Gavin Wills (Soar Omarama), Einar Enevoldson
(co-pilot for the Perlan Project), and Paul MacCready, "The Present and
Future of Elegant Soaring.

For the first time at a convention, 8 different motorgliders will have
their systems and particulars demonstrated by knowledgeable pilots, on
the convention floor during 16 presentations totaling 8 hours. A
demonstration and display of model R/C gliders and electrics with spans
ranging between 12 cm. and 2 meters will take place on Saturday.

Our efforts to make this the most interesting and best-attended SSA
convention appear to be paying off. Pre-registration for several events
is nearly triple that of any prior convention. There were 84
registrants for the Saturday Awards Banquet at this time last year -
today the count is 200. People who have heard Mike Melvill at other
events report his talk to be among the most amazing they have ever attended.

Many lunch and breakfast events have more than double the number of
pre-registrants one month prior to last year's event, and past
experience indicates they should double again by the time of the
convention. The "Charlie and Ed" Variety Show will by far surpass the
attendance at Charlie Spratt's Roast last year.

The free Soaring Software Academy on Wednesday afternoon, Feb 9th is
already a huge hit, with several of those classes now having over 80
registrants.

It seems clear many events will be sold out by the time of the
convention, due to space limitations. The DoubleTree Hotel will not hold
rooms for convention attendees after Jan 24th.

The Local Organizing Committee of the 2005 SSA Convention invites
everyone with an interest in soaring to attend.

Jim Skydell