Cheap sailplanes

Steve Hill wrote:
I continue to believe that the answer to building soaring has mainly to do
with making it more convenient.

I think licensing is quite inconvenient. This is a huge
hassle that the other sports just don't have.

I don't think it's the cost of the sailplane that's prohibitive, I
think it's the whole package...club fees/dues, tows, insurance, equipment,
etc...

Cost of licensing. A coupla thousand $$$$s? Now that's a huge initial cost.
I'm really excited about Sport Pilot transitions. The airplane guys
and ultralighters are our best shot.

They've already shown strong stomaches for turbulence, have many of the
skills already, and have money.

We definitely need to adjust our view as to who
our target audience is, and define a demographic...for the pursuit of fresh
meat....for our sport...

The newbie pure glider guys I've met are most excited about
acro (in the Fox), nice BBQs/social meetings, and "safaris" to new
gliderports, maybe ground launch?

Variety and social stuff. Y'know, fun! Personally, the stories about
landouts and heavy wings and fighting bulls and there I was at the
competition don't do it for me. I'm not an addict, I'm a soaring consumer.
Easy, reasonably priced, and fun. The ragged edge of performance still
isn't interesting for me.

But stories of water ballon drops, hammocks and BBQs?
Now THAT's a weekend!
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Mark J. Boyd