Stewart Kissel wrote:
Hmmm, the George Orwell references are a little over
my head...but perhaps I am on a parallel track and
don't know it.

Soaring ain't going to become 'cool' anytime soon,
and I am not so sure it was in its heyday. So rather
then battling the fact that lumpy white old guys in
funny looking clothes are not a marketing tool...why
not examine who might be interested in an 'uncool'
activity.

The hang-glider population is not getting any younger,
and their landing gears continue to wear out...this
group seems to be making their way to sailplanes on
their own.

Software engineers seem to also be finding their way
to the sport...and the reality of the modern instrument
panel probably intrigues many of them.

I don't see young, fit skiers, snowboarders, parachutists,
cyclists as particularly fertile recruiting ground.

Don't be so sure. I paraglide, mostly because of the cost and also
convieniance. You will find the better paraglider pilots all have a
bigger interest in soaring as a whole, and respect and recognise the
skill soaring requires over any other sport (you have to read inivisible
weather systems, learn about areodynamics and so on). By soaring I mean
paragliding/hanggliding/sailplanes. Im sure when I have the money and
stability, I will move in to sailplanes.

Justin

And once the vid-game generation comes of age...things
will probably get even quieter at the glider port.