On Aug 15, 5:42 pm, "01-- Zero One" wrote:
"Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote in message

:



I think it's you who's living in the past. I also don't think you are
supporting youth. I think you have conned a bunch of people into
suppoprting a tow plane. The 2-33 excells at that - it falls out of the sky
so it needs a lot of tows. BTW, can't you use your real name?

snip

Bill Daniels

Oh, my, Mr. Daniels! Are you ever in for a walloping! Before this is
over, I bet you will wish you had just slapped your grandmother instead
of posting this!

I am going to just sit back and watch!!!!

Larry

01 "zero one"

Now Larry, whatever could you mean by that comment :-)

Awww hell, I'll rise to the bait.

Bill, either you're intentionally playing dumb, or it's not an act.
Regardless, you ought to think before you criticize someone like
Hank. There's certainly room for disagreeing with his approach, but
you better be careful how you do it. Considering he (and a couple
of others from his club) have managed to keep alive an operation alive
and growing at Middletown for the better part of 30 years on the backs
of Schweizer Iron suggests that there's more than one way to skin this
cat.

I'll throw out the following as the keys to attracting new blood in
descending priority order from my experience as a past club president,
instructor, and SSA Governor:

1. First impressions. When someone shows up for their initial
ride, does it feel like the club/ FBO is excited to see them or are
they treated like a minor annoyance? Does he/she leave with an info
pack and next steps (e.g. the 3 flight introductory instruction
pack).
2. Operations. Does the club/FBO accomodate busy schedules and
respect the time that people are committing? Are the Instructors
professional and caring?
3. Challenge. Does the club/FBO help lay out a roadmap that goes
well beyond solo?
4. Hassle factor. Is it fun to come to the club/FBO or do you stand
a good chance at being yelled at for no good reason?
5. Socializing. Is there a reason to hang out before/after flying
or even on non-flying days?
6. Equipment. Is there enough of it and does it provide for some
logical progression beyond solo (say up to Gold badge) .

I'm not saying that an all glass fleet isn't nice to have or that it
doesn't contribute to the overall experience (it does). But, many
operations, at least in the US, have significant limitations based on
where they fly, the availability of hangar space, etc.

Also, wrt the winch vs. towplane, I think there's no question that
many of us would like to do more winching and less aero-towing.
However, one of the big problems is the availability of glider-only or
winch-friendly airfields. Take the NY/NJ area where I fly. Every
one of the glider operations works from busy GA airports with mixed
traffic. Imagine trying to fit in Winch launches while five 1-52s
try to shoot touch and goes in the pattern. Even if we proposed it
at our field, I can guarantee the airport manager would laugh himself
silly right before slamming the door behind us (and probably with good
reason).

As far as turning off the youth, that hasn't been our experience.
When we strap a 15 year old in the front seat of a 2-33, he/she can't
see the tube and steel behind him/her. It's just plexiglass and an
instrument panel. What does turn them off is crotchety old-timers
yelling at them for minor infractions and/or being the only kid among
a bunch of septegenarians.

Anyway, there's nothing here that hasn't been said before. However,
I'll just close by saying that anyone who thinks it's the gliders that
are holding back growth are barking up the wrong tree.

Erik Mann
LS8-18 P3 (started in a 2-22 btw)