Soaring is the cheapest way of flying an aircraft ever, at least here in
Spain.
It is a sport however you look at it.
I'm far from rich and I own a glider. Lots of my friends own gliders. From
12000 ? you can get a glider. With three partners you can cut down costs a
lot.
It's not as cheap as other activities but man oh man it is rewarding! You
are flying, after all!!!
Lennie, if I spend in one soaring day more than what you earn a month, then
you are in deep deep trouble. Sorry about that.
What I spend during a day, say flying two hours, is:
tow: 22?
flight hour: 2x 13?/hr= 26? (renting ASK-21, I own my glider and won't get
into numbers)
A beer after the flight: 2?
Total for two (or more) absolutely delightful flight hours away from noise
and world and common people: 50?
That's what you earn in a whole month? Wow.

I love soaring because I love flying, and soaring is the most challenging
form. Aside from the manipulation of controls, you make decisions on a
constant basis, and there is the beauty. You get to see a bigger piece of
sky than in a powered plane, bigger windscreen, and feel the flight in its
purest.
The feeling when you get off tow and you know you are on your own is just
wonderful. The controls are light, you see the sun, clouds, mountains... all
is one and you fly with eagles... Incredible.

"Lennie the Lurker" escribió en el mensaje
om...
Pro football is cheaper. And that includes paying the team. Soaring
is not a sport, it's a hobby, and only for those that can afford more
in one day than I spend in one month. Face facts, not your one sided
fantasy. If God had intended man to fly he would have given them more
money.