My own gliding interest started at age 9 when my father sent me up on
a demo ride in a 2-33.

Dad passed along his interest in aviation to me by doing stuff with
me. Building flying models etc and visiting glider ports and getting
a ride now and then.

Took up RC model activity from age 9-35.

In the process of being a middle class earner it took until age 35
that I could finally realize my dream of personal aviation and get a
glider rating.

It was a combination of time, money and guilt of spending money on
something just for me, not the family.

I also lived in Canada at the time where nearly ALL glider clubs are
non-profit (relatively cheap)

Now I live in the US where a large portion of the gliding resources
are commercial and costly.
Our local club charges almost as much for a tow as the local
commercial operations.

So I am now in my late 40's I am exploring motorgliders and own a
couple, now that the fruits of my labors are finally cashing in and I
have no familly to support.

The cost for young people in our club is prohibitive at $63 a tow for
at most an 75min flight, due to the time blocks for club gliders, plus
a monthly memebership of $25-$50.

Even at these rates the club barely survives so its not due to
profiteering....its just an expensive hobby that your familly can only
watch from the ground.

I think its just the economics that only the middle aged folks and
older can support such an expensive sport.

Right now times are tough, so all expensive sports and hobbies are at
risk of downsizing.

The new generations are not being introduced to affluent lifesyles of
the Baby Boomers anymore, its a tighter economy and hobbies are taking
a big hit.

Its a question of survival, not prosperity these days, with dreams
being tucked away for another decade while this particular uncertainty
of the future slowly resolves itself.


Ray