I learned to fly sailplanes while stationed with the USAF in Germany. I've been soaring in the US since 2000 and with my airline job have many opportunities to visit clubs around the world. My take on one of the factors is that the US is so large and clubs spread so far apart. Many times not near metropolitan areas. The club I've belonged to is an hour and forty minutes each way. The next nearest clubs are at least twice that distance and more. It's just a huge commitment to make a day at the club happen.

Now, my experience in Europe where I've flown internationally the most (Germany and England) There is a club every 30 miles. Usually, there's public transportation available from town to the club which makes it very accessible even for me on layovers. Imagine if here in the US we had this kind of access to our club field and facilities. Europe is not the US and this is the limitation we have. There are many reasons membership is dwindling, but I wanted to put this part of the equation out there.

Steve Vihlen