I agree that "learning" to fly gliders is quite expensive. I try to assure
my students that there is "light at the end of the tunnel."

As you get better at the sport, the price goes way down.

Clubs are typically in the $500 to $1000 per year cost range.

The cost of ownership (individual or with partner) of a modest glider is
not much more that that......(I'm leaving out the cost of the glider itself
figuring the glider can most likely be sold at any time for your purchase
price)

You soon learn to "choose your days" ... don't fly on days that are going
to be sleigh rides...

Once you learn to find thermals during tow, you can usually release at
2000' or less, saving $10 or more per tow. (Clubs typically offer tows for
about 1/2 the price of commercial operators, but clubs with tow planes
typically have higher dues..it is a wash....unless if you fly a lot, then a
towing club is a big cost advantage.

Once you start mastering thermalling, and then x country...flights of 3
hours become "normal" and many flights will be 6 or even 8 hours. Flying at
a ridge location, you can literally fly all day long if you so desire.
(Obviously the longer the flight, the lower the cost per hour.)

Now if you fly say, every other week.... you can do the math and find that
the cost drops to under $50 per hour...probably more like $25.

Suddenly, gliding becomes cheaper than Golf, or Skiing, or drinking at the
bar, etc!

I've had years where gliding cost me around to $10 per hour!!!

Cookie





At 17:37 23 February 2013, wrote:
"Small, exclusive and expensive"...I think we are already there. At my
loca=
l commercial operation, a 3,000 ft tow is $60, one hour in a L23 is $50
and=
instruction is $50 per hour. If you end up with no lift, you have about
a
=
15-16 minute sled ride. Figure in the minimum charges for the glider
rental=
and the CFIG and you are north of $100 for essentially 15 minutes of
flyin=
g. That is entertainment to the tune of $400 per hour. I don't know many
fo=
lks that have that kind of entertainment budget. THAT is one problem
hinder=
ing the growth and sustainability of this sport.