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Old April 24th 18, 05:30 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
John Foster
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Default Wanting to start a new glider club

On Monday, April 23, 2018 at 6:26:55 PM UTC-6, 2G wrote:
On Monday, April 23, 2018 at 1:56:24 PM UTC-7, John Foster wrote:
Hi everyone

I just started glider flying lessons and I'M HOOKED!!! Unfortunately, the closest glider club is 3:45 hr drive away. I also live in an area that looks to me to be perfect for ridge soaring, with a range of mountains facing the west that runs for at least 85 miles, and possibly longer. We have an airport close by with a 4800' runway, about 2-3 miles west of the mountains. A friend is a CFI and A&P, and is interested in getting his "#1glider ticket" as well. There are a few other folks in the area that have expressed varying interest in flying gliders as well. But as it currently stands, no one (except one possible individual that I haven't yet talked to) in the area actually flies gliders. My friend and I have talked about the possibility of starting a local club. What would be the best way to go about doing this?


Your #1 issue is finding a CFIG in your area, which you can use the FAA airmen search feature to find.


Yes. I agree. Good thing is my friend who is the A&P, is also a CFI, who is interested in getting his CFIG.

#2 you are going to need a glider (DUH!).


Will need money for this. What I struggle with is what to start with and when to pull the trigger on getting a club glider. I would expect this would be the last piece to put in place before actively recruiting club members, as the glider would have to be bought with club money, which would be raised through initiation fees and annual dues. However, in order to have enough money to buy a decent glider (2-33 in good shape, or a more expensive G 103), one would need a critical mass/number of members who are willing to fork out for the glider. Less members = higher buy-in; more members = harder to get interest until people see gliders actually flying around the area. What would be an acceptable initiation fee/club dues?


#3 you will need tow pilots who are CURRENT to tow, or can get current.


My friend who is the A&P and CFI also has a Cessna 180 that he is planning to attach a tow hook to. He is planning to get his glider rating, as well as training/experience at towing. There is also another Super Cub in the area, but I haven't approached the owner yet to gauge interest in using it for towing. It's a possibility though.

#4 you will need a tow plane, which is a subject all onto itself.


see above

#5 you will need to incorporate to limit liability.


That is doable.

These are not insignificant issues, but clubs have overcome them. Sometimes there are suitable aircraft locally, such as a Super Cub, that can be used for towing (given a supportive owner). The glider must be a two-place so you can give instruction, and if you operate commercially it must be certificated.

Tom


An idea that has floated to the surface is once we have everything in place and are flying, to invite a reporter from a local news station to come for a ride and explain what we are trying to do. I would expect that the flying would be good enough here locally that we could easily draw from both Missoula and Kalispell, in between, and even from the greater NW Rocky Mountain region. It will take a bit of work, I expect, though. I would like to eventually get a winch operational here as well, to further help make flights more affordable. Yes, I'm aware good winches are incredibly expensive, so that will likely need to be a project for once things are well on their way, but it's nice to have big dreams, right?

Again, where I see one of the biggest challenges facing new clubs is the glider. Serviceable 2-seater gliders that aren't beat up, low performing 2-33s, that people are going to be excited to fly, are prohibitively expensive, unless a club has many members and is well-established. But you can't get to that point without a glider. I wish some glider manufacturer would build a reasonably well-performing glider new for an affordable amount (whatever that would be defined as), but at least a lot less than $75,000 for a used/rebuilt 2-33 or a ASK-21.