Why is Soaring declining

there is one very solid reason soaring is declining.that is the lack of
qualified gliding instructors!
If any of us expect to keep soaring alive it's not only recruiting new
members, but also, and more inportantly, having someone available to bring
these new recruits to the poinyt where that can actually get certification
and eventually fly and own their own gliders....
tim

"Tim Mara" wrote in message
...
there is one very solid reason soaring is declining.that is the lack of
qualified gliding instructors!
If any of us expect to keep soaring alive it's not only recruiting new
members, but also, and more inportantly, having someone available to bring
these new recruits to the poinyt where that can actually get certification
and eventually fly and own their own gliders....
tim


Yep, and a lot of instructors are quitting because they are fed up with the
back seat of a 2-33.

Bill Daniels

I'm not a fan of flying from the back of a 233 (I really don't like the
front in a 233 any better :-)
but that really isn't the only thing that is losing instructors.....When I
became a CFI I had hoped and even planned on training enough new glider
pilots that some would eventually take over and become instructors
themselves, thereby giving back what was given to them..very few ever
did...a lot of KUDOS to the ones that have.....
Glider pilots (not all) in general are a self centered group of
"individuals" that's why we like flying along in our single seaters, using
one man rigs, flying motor gliders and so on......all of these things
contribute to being self sufficient and well, self centered....we hear the
chant on how to save soaring, promote the sport, but generally followed by a
chant, "so it'll still be there for me"..
Giving back and instructing others is a challenge, it's a lot of effort and
has few rewards outside of seeing another happy new pilot on his way to new
adventures....but without finding more new instructors to take the lead we
will continue to see the decline in our favorite pastime....and all the
promotion and advertising we do nothing.
tim

"Bill Daniels" wrote in message
news:lhgfc.134640$gA5.1578464@attbi_s03...

"Tim Mara" wrote in message
...
there is one very solid reason soaring is declining.that is the lack of
qualified gliding instructors!
If any of us expect to keep soaring alive it's not only recruiting new
members, but also, and more inportantly, having someone available to
bring
these new recruits to the poinyt where that can actually get
certification
and eventually fly and own their own gliders....
tim


Yep, and a lot of instructors are quitting because they are fed up with
the
back seat of a 2-33.

Bill Daniels

Well, maybe we should take advantage of their self-centered nature and offer
them an interesting two-seater to train people in. Even altruistic CFI-G's
need some rewards beyond just seeing new pilots grin. There's not enough
money in instructing to ever make a difference.

Bill Daniels

"Tim Mara" wrote in message
...
I'm not a fan of flying from the back of a 233 (I really don't like the
front in a 233 any better :-)
but that really isn't the only thing that is losing instructors.....When I
became a CFI I had hoped and even planned on training enough new glider
pilots that some would eventually take over and become instructors
themselves, thereby giving back what was given to them..very few ever
did...a lot of KUDOS to the ones that have.....
Glider pilots (not all) in general are a self centered group of
"individuals" that's why we like flying along in our single seaters, using
one man rigs, flying motor gliders and so on......all of these things
contribute to being self sufficient and well, self centered....we hear the
chant on how to save soaring, promote the sport, but generally followed by
a
chant, "so it'll still be there for me"..
Giving back and instructing others is a challenge, it's a lot of effort
and
has few rewards outside of seeing another happy new pilot on his way to
new
adventures....but without finding more new instructors to take the lead we
will continue to see the decline in our favorite pastime....and all the
promotion and advertising we do nothing.
tim

"Bill Daniels" wrote in message
news:lhgfc.134640$gA5.1578464@attbi_s03...

"Tim Mara" wrote in message
...
there is one very solid reason soaring is declining.that is the lack
of
qualified gliding instructors!
If any of us expect to keep soaring alive it's not only recruiting new
members, but also, and more inportantly, having someone available to
bring
these new recruits to the poinyt where that can actually get
certification
and eventually fly and own their own gliders....
tim


Yep, and a lot of instructors are quitting because they are fed up with
the
back seat of a 2-33.

Bill Daniels

"Tim Mara" wrote in message
there is one very solid reason soaring is declining.that is the lack of
qualified gliding instructors!
If any of us expect to keep soaring alive it's not only recruiting new
members, but also, and more inportantly, having someone available to bring
these new recruits to the poinyt where that can actually get certification
and eventually fly and own their own gliders....

Yep, and a lot of instructors are quitting because they are fed up with the
back seat of a 2-33.

Bill Daniels

Well, Blaniks at $10k is a steal, and I have a ton of fun in 'em...
The 2-33 seems like a stone compared to an L-13 :P

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Mark Boyd
Avenal, California, USA