If you look at the membership, then yes, there are about the same number of
members in USHGA and SSA. But, being around both sailplanes and HG/PG, I can
tell you there are way more HG and especially PG pilots flying in any given
day then sailplanes, at least in region 11. There are more hang gliding
sites then gliderports, and in each site you will typically see at least 10
pilots on any given weekend day. I rarely see more then 10 pilots (not
counting students and rides) in any gliderport on any weekend, and I fly in
most gliderports in region 11. Just like statistics, membership numbers
don't tell the whole story...

Ramy


"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
Francisco De Almeida wrote:
Eric Greenwell wrote:


[snip] Remember how sailplane pilots used imagine hang gliding did=20
so well compared to sailplanes was because it was a much cheaper sport =

(...).

It seems that the cost in any amateur sport or hobby tends to increase =
to a limit defined by the average available income in the specific =
country/society. Therefore, serious participation may involve comparable
=
levels of committment and expense, be it in models gliders, =
hang-gliding, sailplanes (or target shooting, potholing, scuba diving, =
alpinism, whatever...)

Notwithstanding, the barriers to entry are lower in HG and PG than in =
soaring.

And yet, at least in the USA, they have the same number of members in
their national organizations. I expected there would be a lot more HG/PG
members. Perhaps (again, in the USA) the barriers for HG/PG aren't as low
as we imagine. Maybes some sailplane pilots that also hang-glider pilots
can inform us of the realities.

--
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA