A proposal to increase membership, cross-country pilots, competitors,and world champions (USA).

On Monday, August 11, 2014 6:18:38 AM UTC-6, Kevin Brooker wrote:
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Kevin Brooker

True for some Kevin.



I once called a lapsed SSA member to see why he'd dropped out after a

year. Turns out he was president of a local Corvette owner's club. He

tried soaring for a week, but hadn't soloed and gave it up. His

expectation was way out of line. For some it's simply not a good fit.

For others, given the chance, it becomes a lifetime pursuit. How do we

give them that chance?



Frank Whiteley



Frank,

I was an extremely active glider and power pilot for years; SSA state

record keeper, successful contest pilot, state record holder, and headed

up the committee to make Mt. Washington a National Historic Landmark of

Soaring. My involvement went well beyond trying it for a week and deciding

soaring wasn't a good fit.



What keeps me from flying is the lack of available time to participate in

a way which is meaningful and enjoyable. Soaring requires a lot of

discretionary time and the ability to be opportunistic with respect to the

weather. If a potential pilot works Monday through Friday and only has

weekends to complete domestic chores, and other recreational activities

(go for a bike ride, run, exercise, visit friends/family) there is not

much time left over to head to the airport. If the weather isn't flyable

then the opportunity to get some stick time and feed the interest is gone

past. Have a few weekends in a row with non-flyable weather and the

interest wanes or is replaced by something not so conditional.



When my life changed to where the point of losing the opportunism, flying

went away. I still head to the airport to visit soaring buddies and listen

to storied and keep in touch but I haven't flown anything in at least two

years. My glider sits in the trailer in the yard with hopes of getting the

time to fly it but it is mostly just hanging onto a dream. I should divest

of it or remove the canopy and plant it full of flowers. At least as a

flower pot it will be getting some use.



Learning to fly requires a lot of time, specific conditions (just VFR not

necessarily soarable) on a consistent basis in order to keep the student

interested. There are too many other things to compete with which give

more access. Learning to fly is also relatively difficult and society

doesn't have the attention span of discipline to wait. Most people expect

instant results and success. Soaring is also extremely solitary while

participating. Most other activities are more communal and social while

participating.



The number of barriers to growing the sport of soaring are monumental

compared to the small hurdle of expense. American's have tons of

discretionary income and an immense playing field to spend it. Expense is

an easy scapegoat and blinds us from seeing what else needs to be done to

grow the sport either by attracting new participants or keeping what we

have.









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Kevin Brooker[/i][/color]

Agreed, discretionary time is probably more important then income. I've been doing a lot of grandparenting with two that are not yet ready for the gliderport. And also looking after affairs of estate of my late father-in-law, a much bigger project than for my parents. At least we're out of the cheap rentals business and only keeping the farm viable.

Outreach remains our most important imperative.

Frank