Getting new members

One of our members is a high school teacher. He worked things out
with the school to take a field trip to our gliderport for
introductory rides. And, as luck would have it, the day they came out
to fly was a spectacular soaring day! How often does that happen?
And they even got the story to one of the local stations. Caught a
glimpse of the footage while at the gym, and found the story this
evening. Enjoy!

http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/M...121362149.html

Thanks to John Peters for the students, Bob Holliday for the rides,
and I am going to guess Bob Hall for the towing?

Steve Leonard
Wichita Soaring Association

I tried to do this at the high school located on Edwards AFB (of all
places) with the physics class (of all things) that I taught/teach
using the flight school that the USAF Test Pilot School contracts with
and whom I have worked with for more than 25 years. School management
and their lawyers went completely apoplectic. The students, their
parent, and I had to sign all sorts of documents that we would never
do such a thing nor speak of flying ever again in class. I recall
that we were also forbidden to even think about it, at least in
school.

On 5-6-2011 06:59, wrote:

I tried to do this at the high school located on Edwards AFB (of all
places) with the physics class (of all things) that I taught/teach
using the flight school that the USAF Test Pilot School contracts with
and whom I have worked with for more than 25 years. School management
and their lawyers went completely apoplectic. The students, their
parent, and I had to sign all sorts of documents that we would never
do such a thing nor speak of flying ever again in class. I recall
that we were also forbidden to even think about it, at least in
school.



SarcasmWell, I guess the Air Force doesn't need pilots anymore, so no
use getting people interested in flying./Sarcasm Tell me it ain't so!!

On May 6, 3:42*am, Scott wrote:
On 5-6-2011 06:59, wrote:

SarcasmWell, I guess the Air Force doesn't need pilots anymore, so no
use getting people interested in flying./Sarcasm *Tell me it ain't so!!

Scott, the Air Force doesn't run the schools on it's bases - they are
run by civilians (and lawyers - not sure what they are) working for
the DoD.

So if you want to say that educators and lawyers think the Air Force
doesn't need pilots anymore, your sarcasm will be a little closer to
reality.

Kirk

Same thing when I worked for Lockheed (before the mergers). I was not
allowed to fly for company business. Fear of the headlines - FLAMING
LOCKHEED EMPLOYEES RAIN DOWN ON YUPPIE DAY CARE CENTER. And the CEO at the
time was an SSA member...


"Scott" wrote in message
.. .
On 5-6-2011 06:59, wrote:

I tried to do this at the high school located on Edwards AFB (of all
places) with the physics class (of all things) that I taught/teach
using the flight school that the USAF Test Pilot School contracts with
and whom I have worked with for more than 25 years. School management
and their lawyers went completely apoplectic. The students, their
parent, and I had to sign all sorts of documents that we would never
do such a thing nor speak of flying ever again in class. I recall
that we were also forbidden to even think about it, at least in
school.



SarcasmWell, I guess the Air Force doesn't need pilots anymore, so no
use getting people interested in flying./Sarcasm Tell me it ain't so!!

I've approached my school administration for permission to take my
students soaring. No Joy Liability issues.

Thing thing is, I teach a Special Needs class... and I run the local
chapter of Freedom's Wings Canada, a charity that gives FREE
inspiration flights in the disabled community and certain of the
special needs groups (such as my class). I could have gotten them
flown for just the cost of the bus transportation.

Whenever I'm with other Special Needs teachers, I tell them about the
programme... the parents may bring their kids on their own volition.

For those interested or curious about our programme, visit
www.freedomswings.ca

-John

On May 6, 12:59*am, " wrote:
I tried to do this at the high school located on Edwards AFB (of all
places) with the physics class (of all things) that I taught/teach
using the flight school that the USAF Test Pilot School contracts with
and whom I have worked with for more than 25 years. *School management
and their lawyers went completely apoplectic. *The students, their
parent, and I had to sign all sorts of documents that we would never
do such a thing nor speak of flying ever again in class. *I recall
that we were also forbidden to even think about it, at least in
school.

Educational institutions have become risk averse, including at the
collegiate level. Twenty five years ago you could find white water
kayaking, glider clubs, and hang glider clubs on campus that owned
equipment. Nearly non-existent now and most clubs for that type of
activity must engage external organizations and keep involvement at
arm's length. Campus clubs are largely social welfare oriented
today.

We had a member's daughter seek to have her Junior ROTC unit take
orientation flights, but the school district balked.

Boy Scouts can participate under their aviation tour permit. Girl
Scouts no. Aviation Venture Crews can be so organized, but there are
still limits.

Some soaring clubs and a few commercial operators have found
interesting ways to engage youth. We can do better.

Currently, there are 441 SSA Youth Members in 134 flying chapters. 10
chapters have 10 or more youth members. 50 Chapters have no youth
members. 22 have one youth member. The average 45 member chapter has
3.25 youth members. To date we've received four Bultman applications
(4/30 deadline). I suspect many more of the 441 were eligible to
apply.

Frank Whiteley

Here's something the Hawk Valley club did in New Jersey a couple of years
ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21PAYdokVxY

This was at a grade school, where the principal was a glider student at
our field. He and a few others did a *lot* of preparation work, and the
kids got about a half day of exposure to basic flight physics, history of
flight, building balsa model gliders, and finally getting an up close
encounter with our club 1-26. I don't know if we made any lasting
impressions, but we gave it a good effort. And it was fun for us, too.

Jim Beckman

On May 7, 7:52*am, Jim Beckman wrote:
Here's something the Hawk Valley club did in New Jersey a couple of years
ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21PAYdokVxY

This was at a grade school, where the principal was a glider student at
our field. *He and a few others did a *lot* of preparation work, and the
kids got about a half day of exposure to basic flight physics, history of
flight, building balsa model gliders, and finally getting an up close
encounter with our club 1-26. *I don't know if we made any lasting
impressions, but we gave it a good effort. *And it was fun for us, too.

Jim Beckman

Bottom line, soaring is an expensive hobby, attracting people is not
ever going to be easy, they don't have the disposable income to enter
the sport. 150,000 machines are not in most peoples budget.
It is a "one person" activity, wives, girlfriends,kids are left out
of the picture. It is not a family friendly activity.
Unless something can be done to get the cost of gliders,
equipment,tows,instruction etc.on the order of being able to play
golf,riding motorcycles,,jet skis etc. it will never grow. With the
reality of the US economic picture at present, it will continue to
soaring will continue to shrink.
Maybe a "national club" deal where people could go from one glider
port/club to another and rent a bird and get tows for say 125.00$ per
day as a package, might help.

On May 7, 7:55*am, ray conlon wrote:
On May 7, 7:52*am, Jim Beckman wrote:

Here's something the Hawk Valley club did in New Jersey a couple of years
ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21PAYdokVxY

This was at a grade school, where the principal was a glider student at
our field. *He and a few others did a *lot* of preparation work, and the
kids got about a half day of exposure to basic flight physics, history of
flight, building balsa model gliders, and finally getting an up close
encounter with our club 1-26. *I don't know if we made any lasting
impressions, but we gave it a good effort. *And it was fun for us, too.

Jim Beckman

Bottom line, soaring is an expensive hobby, attracting people is not
ever going to be easy, they don't have the disposable income to enter
the sport. 150,000 machines are not in most peoples budget.
*It is a "one person" activity, wives, girlfriends,kids are left out
of the picture. It is not a family friendly activity.
*Unless something can be done to get the cost of gliders,
equipment,tows,instruction etc.on the order of being able to play
golf,riding motorcycles,,jet skis etc. it will never grow. With the
reality of the US economic picture at present, it will continue to
soaring will continue to shrink.
Maybe a "national club" deal where people could go from one glider
port/club to another and rent a bird and get tows for say 125.00$ per
day as a package, might help.

Splitting glider ownership 3-4 ways works very well to ease the burden
of ownership. Been there, done that, both in Europe and the US. In
my opinion, that should be the rule, rather than the exception.

Frank Whiteley