Hi Mat,
interesting problem you have there. One point first,
parachutes DEFINITELY !!

My club here in the UK does not have much of a reputation for cross country.
This is a bit historic as the club has only been going 5 years or so and
only have K7's to play with and very little money to update the kit. We are
blessed though with a 20 mile ridge very close to the site, so long flights
are easily achieved with that.

Earlier this year I took the BGA's Cross Country Endorsement tests. Some of
this entails flying a motor glider on a 100 km triangle whilst map reading.
Having not gone XC I found it rather difficult to use the map this first
time, even though an ordnance survey map is like reading to me! To achieve
instructor level I have to complete this level and then the Silver, so no
one in the UK now gets to be an instructor without some XC experience.

One important down side on not going XC is that people generally get a bit
bored with "local" flights. This follows on over time and everyone gets
bored, then they go somewhere else or even out of the sport.

The costs and time factor are of course important for any club, but the
motivation to less experienced pilots of this sort of flying must be a major
benefit.

It would seem you have a difficult task moving the dinosaurs out of the
mud!!

Best of luck, Malcolm...

PS. On parachutes; Last year we got a K8 at the club, which I flew for the
first time one lovely day. It came with a wonderful seat which was better
than my arm chair at home, but no room for a parachute. My flight went to
cloud base at 6200' and after 45 mins I came down to give others a chance.
That evening I returned to find the "Soaring & Gliding" magazine had
arrived. I read first (as always) the accidents. There was a case of a K8
flying into an area for parachutists, and being hit in one wing. The pilot
died only because he didn't have a chute. I have never flown that or
another glider since without a parachute (save definitely winch/circuit
days)



"mat Redsell" wrote in message
news:0LE6d.36$lf2.15@trnddc09...
I have been very concerned about our club, which discourages cross country
in club gliders. My thought is that purpose of soaring is cross country
and
if one just concentrates on flying above the airport then ones member ship
tends to end when you have your license.

We have many airports withing a 15 miles radius and many flat fields with
always an option of landing in cut hay fields, harvested bean and corn
fields etc. There is no lack of good landing fields or airports.

Our board is composed of pilots who do not go cross country and
surprisingly
none of the instructors have flown cross country ( there may be an
exception.... but none I know of have gone recently). And I am not allowed
to teach since I insist on wearing a parachute for both student and
instructor. ( I have in the past provided a chute for the student).

The thought at our club is that if you want to go cross country you buy
your own ship... a rasther harsh reality for many pilots.

I have found surprisingly ( tonque in cheek here) that if there is lift at
the airport we fly from there is usually lift 10 to 50 miles away but I
have
no way of convincing our board members.

Can anyone give me some ideas.... and do other clubs let their ships for
short cross country runs?

-mat
--
Marske Flying Wings
http://www.continuo.com/marske