Attracting the kids

On Aug 16, 1:49 am, "Mike Schumann" mike-nos...@traditions-
nospam.com wrote:
I suspect that what hooked her was the winch launch.

Basically yes, but I don't want to overstate that opinion;
I strongly suspect she would have become hooked anyway.

The same thing
happened to me while visiting Germany. Glider pilots who have never
experienced a winch launch have no idea how much fun the launch itself is.

They are gobsmacked just *watching* a few winch
launches, particularly comparing 0-60kt in 5s
(cars 0-60mph in 15s and seeing the *top* of the
aircraft as it ascends. It *looks*dangerous and exciting,
so (with exceptions) they want to try it.


Pulling 2 Gs and gaining 1,000 ft in 40 seconds is how you get kids'
attention. The fact that it is MUCH cheaper, makes it possible for them to
come back on a regular basis.

They (and me for that matter) appreciate that in the early
stages it is important and *fun* to be doing lots of circuits
and landings. Not to mention cable-break practice ("if
the mud floats around your face you've done it about
right, if it plasters itself over the canopy you've been
too enthusiastic" Thermalling is fun, but a bit
repetitive if you can't go cross-country.

I'll go even further and state that I suspect a more difficult
stage will be early post-solo when circuits and landings
are "mastered" but they aren't capable/confident of
going cross-country.

tom gardner