Grow soaring thru entertainment

Added a similar comment when I filled in the SSA soaring survey.

Want to grow soaring? Market soaring as low-cost entertainment to
generate mass appeal. Develop a commercial gliding site that focuses
on giving rides only, quickly and cheaply.

Look at all the teenagers spending $5-$15 to ride go-karts or roller
coasters every Saturday at county fairs. Would they not also pay
$5-15 for a quick 750-1000 foot winch or auto launch glider ride?
Especially, if the gliders were launching right next to the county
fair (airport was next door...or maybe launching right off the
fairgrounds themselves). This is entertainment, not soaring. But
from the launch to the high bank turn on final, along with the 750
foot altitude, should be quite entertaining for the masses.

Key is low cost and keeping the wait in line to less than 15 minutes.
Might need several winches and several gliders. And maybe even drop
the launch height to 600 feet. (Just want to be high enough to not
create any landing pattern safety issues, but low enough to get on the
ground as quick as possible for the next ride). Have to compete with
other forms of low-cost entertainment, in terms of both time and
money. This is how you develop mass appeal.

How do these entertaining glides create a benefit for the larger sport
of soaring? Thru numbers...throw enough people into the air, and some
of them might develop an interest to become soaring pilots.

I LIKE it.

Bill Daniels

"John" wrote in message
om...
Added a similar comment when I filled in the SSA soaring survey.

Want to grow soaring? Market soaring as low-cost entertainment to
generate mass appeal. Develop a commercial gliding site that focuses
on giving rides only, quickly and cheaply.

Look at all the teenagers spending $5-$15 to ride go-karts or roller
coasters every Saturday at county fairs. Would they not also pay
$5-15 for a quick 750-1000 foot winch or auto launch glider ride?
Especially, if the gliders were launching right next to the county
fair (airport was next door...or maybe launching right off the
fairgrounds themselves). This is entertainment, not soaring. But
from the launch to the high bank turn on final, along with the 750
foot altitude, should be quite entertaining for the masses.

Key is low cost and keeping the wait in line to less than 15 minutes.
Might need several winches and several gliders. And maybe even drop
the launch height to 600 feet. (Just want to be high enough to not
create any landing pattern safety issues, but low enough to get on the
ground as quick as possible for the next ride). Have to compete with
other forms of low-cost entertainment, in terms of both time and
money. This is how you develop mass appeal.

How do these entertaining glides create a benefit for the larger sport
of soaring? Thru numbers...throw enough people into the air, and some
of them might develop an interest to become soaring pilots.

One thing we tried was inviting the Air Force JRROTC cadets over to fly at a
reduced rate. They made a club of it and even had non cadets flying with us.
Maybe we should hit the high schools.
"Bill Daniels" wrote in message
news:NKSfc.144982$gA5.1763352@attbi_s03...
I LIKE it.

Bill Daniels

"John" wrote in message
om...
Added a similar comment when I filled in the SSA soaring survey.

Want to grow soaring? Market soaring as low-cost entertainment to
generate mass appeal. Develop a commercial gliding site that focuses
on giving rides only, quickly and cheaply.

Look at all the teenagers spending $5-$15 to ride go-karts or roller
coasters every Saturday at county fairs. Would they not also pay
$5-15 for a quick 750-1000 foot winch or auto launch glider ride?
Especially, if the gliders were launching right next to the county
fair (airport was next door...or maybe launching right off the
fairgrounds themselves). This is entertainment, not soaring. But
from the launch to the high bank turn on final, along with the 750
foot altitude, should be quite entertaining for the masses.

Key is low cost and keeping the wait in line to less than 15 minutes.
Might need several winches and several gliders. And maybe even drop
the launch height to 600 feet. (Just want to be high enough to not
create any landing pattern safety issues, but low enough to get on the
ground as quick as possible for the next ride). Have to compete with
other forms of low-cost entertainment, in terms of both time and
money. This is how you develop mass appeal.

How do these entertaining glides create a benefit for the larger sport
of soaring? Thru numbers...throw enough people into the air, and some
of them might develop an interest to become soaring pilots.

In the UK the problems associated with getting a bunch of high school kids
onto an airfield are far too challenging for the average club. Health and
safety, child protection and the sheer responsibility of having someone
else's kids under the control of an unnofficial, untrained, unsupported and
potentially 'dangerous' supervisor is enough to make this a non-starter!

Add to this the fact that it might instill in them some form of :
responsibility for their own actions,
independent thought processes,
appreciation of science and nature,
the ability to communicate in more than grunts
a willingness to work as part of a team.
and the whole scenario is just too threatening to our 'modern' society.

Sorry guys, I have my somewhat cynical hat on today.

Ian


"Whitson Bush" wrote in message
...
One thing we tried was inviting the Air Force JRROTC cadets over to fly at
a
reduced rate. They made a club of it and even had non cadets flying with
us.
Maybe we should hit the high schools.
"Bill Daniels" wrote in message
news:NKSfc.144982$gA5.1763352@attbi_s03...
I LIKE it.

Bill Daniels

"John" wrote in message
om...
Added a similar comment when I filled in the SSA soaring survey.

Want to grow soaring? Market soaring as low-cost entertainment to
generate mass appeal. Develop a commercial gliding site that focuses
on giving rides only, quickly and cheaply.

Look at all the teenagers spending $5-$15 to ride go-karts or roller
coasters every Saturday at county fairs. Would they not also pay
$5-15 for a quick 750-1000 foot winch or auto launch glider ride?
Especially, if the gliders were launching right next to the county
fair (airport was next door...or maybe launching right off the
fairgrounds themselves). This is entertainment, not soaring. But
from the launch to the high bank turn on final, along with the 750
foot altitude, should be quite entertaining for the masses.

Key is low cost and keeping the wait in line to less than 15 minutes.
Might need several winches and several gliders. And maybe even drop
the launch height to 600 feet. (Just want to be high enough to not
create any landing pattern safety issues, but low enough to get on the
ground as quick as possible for the next ride). Have to compete with
other forms of low-cost entertainment, in terms of both time and
money. This is how you develop mass appeal.

How do these entertaining glides create a benefit for the larger sport
of soaring? Thru numbers...throw enough people into the air, and some
of them might develop an interest to become soaring pilots.

On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 06:49:35 UTC, "bt news"
wrote:

: In the UK the problems associated with getting a bunch of high school kids
: onto an airfield are far too challenging for the average club. Health and
: safety, child protection and the sheer responsibility of having someone
: else's kids under the control of an unnofficial, untrained, unsupported and
: potentially 'dangerous' supervisor is enough to make this a non-starter!

All that proves is that if clubs want to run flying for minors they'll
have to do it properly. Maybe even think of this as a long term
development activity and not just, as with many/most other "Air
Experience" deals as a cash cow?

For a start, why does the supervisor have to be "unnofficial,
untrained, unsupported and
: potentially 'dangerous'"? What's so difficult about having an official, trained and supported youth officer?

: Add to this the fact that it might instill in them some form of :
: responsibility for their own actions,
: independent thought processes,
: appreciation of science and nature,
: the ability to communicate in more than grunts
: a willingness to work as part of a team.
: and the whole scenario is just too threatening to our 'modern' society.

I work with children in several roles. I am glad to say that I don't
recognize the pessimistic picture you paint. Overwhelmingly the
children I work with - for example, running robot building workshops,
including soldering, for 400 8 - 14 years olds last year - are keen,
responsible, interested, careful and cooperative.

Seriously, I honestly don't think it would be nearly as hard as people
seem to think to have a good youth programme at a gliding club.

Ian

bt news wrote:
In the UK the problems associated with getting a bunch of high school kids
onto an airfield are far too challenging for the average club. Health and
safety, child protection and the sheer responsibility of having someone
else's kids under the control of an unnofficial, untrained, unsupported and
potentially 'dangerous' supervisor is enough to make this a non-starter!


Nah, its not so hard. Myself and a fellow clubie once flew with about
10 14 year olds. We were in the gliders most of the time. We gave them
rules and instructions. Followed up between flights. No problems and
no complaints.

Shawn

Shawn Curry wrote:
bt news wrote:

In the UK the problems associated with getting a bunch of high school
kids
onto an airfield are far too challenging for the average club. Health and
safety, child protection and the sheer responsibility of having someone
else's kids under the control of an unnofficial, untrained,
unsupported and
potentially 'dangerous' supervisor is enough to make this a non-starter!


Nah, its not so hard. Myself and a fellow clubie once flew with about
10 14 year olds. We were in the gliders most of the time. We gave them
rules and instructions. Followed up between flights. No problems and
no complaints.

Shawn
Just ran a flying day for some scouts. 9 girls, one boy version turned up and we
had a really good day.
Started off with a safety lecture at the hangar.
Took them to the launch point and got them to follow around with a daily
inspection, and then made 30 flights, including taking some of their parents up.

The biggest problem we had safety wise was a club member having a senior moment
and sending the retrieve vehicle up the runway when we had a cable out. Slowed
things down a bit but our procedures worked and no danger incurred.
Experience has been similar to Shawn's - Have well thought out rule, explain the
rules, be alert to problems, enjoy a really rewarding day. Kids in the 10-16 age
group who come out to the field are generally no problem. They were safe, worked
hard and were a pleasure to have around, wish I could say the same of some of
the adult geniuses we occasionally get turning up for a flight.

It is a bit of work, and you have to have the right people on the field but is
is a great way to introduce people to the sport.

Have to ask yourself if this really is the kind of people you want to
involve in soaring... Fair-goers awaiting some new source of entertainment-

Admittedly, I want people interested in the sport that are willing to work
toward a goal, not be given something that is easily
obtained and cheaply advertised.

It's a great sport, an amazing gift-
I don't want it taken for granted by those seeking entertainment, I want it
enjoyed by those seeking joy-







"John" wrote in message
om...
Added a similar comment when I filled in the SSA soaring survey.

Want to grow soaring? Market soaring as low-cost entertainment to
generate mass appeal. Develop a commercial gliding site that focuses
on giving rides only, quickly and cheaply.

Look at all the teenagers spending $5-$15 to ride go-karts or roller
coasters every Saturday at county fairs. Would they not also pay
$5-15 for a quick 750-1000 foot winch or auto launch glider ride?
Especially, if the gliders were launching right next to the county
fair (airport was next door...or maybe launching right off the
fairgrounds themselves). This is entertainment, not soaring. But
from the launch to the high bank turn on final, along with the 750
foot altitude, should be quite entertaining for the masses.

Key is low cost and keeping the wait in line to less than 15 minutes.
Might need several winches and several gliders. And maybe even drop
the launch height to 600 feet. (Just want to be high enough to not
create any landing pattern safety issues, but low enough to get on the
ground as quick as possible for the next ride). Have to compete with
other forms of low-cost entertainment, in terms of both time and
money. This is how you develop mass appeal.

How do these entertaining glides create a benefit for the larger sport
of soaring? Thru numbers...throw enough people into the air, and some
of them might develop an interest to become soaring pilots.

Bruce Greeff wrote:
Shawn Curry wrote:

bt news wrote:

In the UK the problems associated with getting a bunch of high school
kids
onto an airfield are far too challenging for the average club. Health
and
safety, child protection and the sheer responsibility of having someone
else's kids under the control of an unnofficial, untrained,
unsupported and
potentially 'dangerous' supervisor is enough to make this a non-starter!


Nah, its not so hard. Myself and a fellow clubie once flew with about
10 14 year olds. We were in the gliders most of the time. We gave
them rules and instructions. Followed up between flights. No
problems and no complaints.

Shawn

Just ran a flying day for some scouts. 9 girls, one boy version turned
up and we had a really good day.
Started off with a safety lecture at the hangar.
Took them to the launch point and got them to follow around with a daily
inspection, and then made 30 flights, including taking some of their
parents up.

The biggest problem we had safety wise was a club member having a senior
moment and sending the retrieve vehicle up the runway when we had a
cable out. Slowed things down a bit but our procedures worked and no
danger incurred.
Experience has been similar to Shawn's - Have well thought out rule,
explain the rules, be alert to problems, enjoy a really rewarding day.
Kids in the 10-16 age group who come out to the field are generally no
problem. They were safe, worked hard and were a pleasure to have around,
wish I could say the same of some of the adult geniuses we occasionally
get turning up for a flight.

It is a bit of work, and you have to have the right people on the field
but is is a great way to introduce people to the sport.

Nice to hear, good job!

Shawn

John wrote:

Added a similar comment when I filled in the SSA soaring survey.

Want to grow soaring? Market soaring as low-cost entertainment to
generate mass appeal. Develop a commercial gliding site that focuses
on giving rides only, quickly and cheaply.
...

I was involved in something looking like this last summer. It was
not a commercial gliding site, just a little club that had a deal
with the local municipality. As this town organizes and sponsors
various summer (i.e. holidays) activities for teenagers, the club
proposed gliding rides. The deal was that the club proposed 16
flights per day during 4 days, 8 short flights (just gliding back
from winch launch height) in the morning and 8 longer flights (20 mn)
in the afternoon for 2 groups of 8 teenagers, each boy/girl having
in alternance a short flight in the morning one day and a long flight
in the afternoon the other day, other activities were proposed for
the non flying half day. Two 2-seaters were used, each one for the
half of the flights.

I am dubious about the impact of such an action for the growth of
soaring. Of course this makes that youngsters discover a sport
they would probably never heard of otherwise, but this would probably
not be followed by any personnal committment in this sport, for many
reasons. One of them is the age of participants, which implies that
they participation is probably not their own decsision (or not completely)
but rather the decision of their parents. As this is a sponsorized activity,
the youngs and parents interested are probably among those who would
never have the money for a continued practice of the sport. Although
some of the kids were really interested, the lack of interest of some
others was clearly demonstrated by the fact that on of them fell asleep
during a long flight.

However, as opposite to John's proposal, I think that a sufficiently
long flight is essential to the promotion of our sport, i.e. a flight
with a duration that clearly shows the ability of saiplanes to
stay in the air by they own means (or rather the combination of
the energy present in the air and the skills of the pilot).