Why is Soaring declining

The way I read the FARs,..... it takes 20 Flights in a glider,
aeronatical experience, if you do not have a power license. This could
be done in areas where there is good lift, rather teach SOARING by
flying one or two hrs at a time, than making all those launches the
way they do it in Germany in many places. Interesting that there is no
requirement for minmum time, like in power training (hrs)! The only
requirement is the two hrs of solo flight time mentioned, which in no
lift sites could take quite a few launches.
All this refers to US FARs

With a power rating, or 40 hrs of power time under your belt it could
be done with 13 flights. All this, Of course, has to be cleverly
arranged, to fit into the rest of the framework, dual and soloflights
required. AND those are minima. Some students learn fast, very few
never get it.


Yeah, and the Tooth Fairy is alive and well.

You might do well interviewing actual students and see what their
experience has been. The legal minimums is a fairy tale. If you want
to play in fairy land, go ahead. The reality of training REAL STUDENTS
in a REAL ENVIRONMENT is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!

Real students have interruptions in their training (seasons,
financial, etc.) and are forced to re-learn material already covered.
Some are A LOT SLOWER than others. This is reality. You are living in
a fairy tale world: it's thinking like yours that is driving the sport
into the ground.

Tom Seim
Richland, WA