Bill Daniels wrote:
"Shawn" wrote
Training costs do need to be reduced but attack the launch cost with a
winch and keep the glass gliders.
The club I fly at is in a college town, Boulder, CO. Lots of college kids
rip around town on $10,000 Ducs and Suzukis. There's lots of money out
there in the hands of young potential pilots. Yes, I know, you hear from
people with kids wanting to fly, that cost is prohibitive. However this
is a subset of the population that is already interested in soaring. They
may be sold on the sport, but some who are driven away by cost would find
the sport financially challenging at half the cost. Bicycling may be too
expensive for them.
The challenge I feel soaring should address is luring those with the time,
inclination, and the *money*, who would not otherwise know about our
sport. Don't chase the choir with cheaper robes. The battle isn't the
price, it's marketing.


Shawn

No doubt there is a population of well-to-do youth for whom the expense of
soaring is no factor but my experience is that they also have a lot more
activities that compete with soaring - things like fast cars and girls, if
not less legal pursuits.

Sure, but why not market to them, are they too rich? They can subsidize
the kids you mention below.
Works for health care. ;-)

On the other hand, I have seen a LOT of young people who were enthralled
with soaring but who eventually left with a tear in their eyes when the cost
became overwhelming.

Flying anything with hard wings is expensive. Why not try to draw in
those rich kids looking for something more than their shallow affluent
existence has to offer? Maybe someone can rephrase that in a more
appealing way. ;-)




Shawn