LS10 info

Andy Blackburn wrote:
income -- at least for the 'new glass' target demographic
of top ~5% income earners.


Sorry to say this is a very US centric point of view. Here most of the
practisers are members of clubs and don't belong to the top 5% income earners.
Of course increase of price of gliders implies that clubs are more expensive,
and so that people who don't earn a lot, particularly young people, have more
and more difficulties to soar. I think it is an obvious constatation that
clubs are more and more stuffed with old guys, and in my opinion, this is a
*very bad trend*.

Only problem is that much of the rise in HH income
is due to the rise in two-income families, so you may
be more likely to need to get some of the money from
your spouse. ;-)

I will be happy to see a spouse who accepts that even small part
of her earnings goes to a sport that she dislikes by principle :-(

--

Michel TALON

You can't necessarily blame the problems of clubs on the prices of new
gliders. The clubs could as well buy second hand gliders - it's the club
members (or managers) who *want* the most expensive toys, very often without
regard whether the club members really need the difference between 47:1 or
40:1.

But the effect is the same - less and less youngsters between 16 and 25 who
are supposed to be the future of soaring :-(


"Michel Talon" wrote in message
...
Andy Blackburn wrote:
income -- at least for the 'new glass' target demographic
of top ~5% income earners.


Sorry to say this is a very US centric point of view. Here most of the
practisers are members of clubs and don't belong to the top 5% income
earners.
Of course increase of price of gliders implies that clubs are more
expensive,
and so that people who don't earn a lot, particularly young people, have
more
and more difficulties to soar. I think it is an obvious constatation that
clubs are more and more stuffed with old guys, and in my opinion, this is
a
*very bad trend*.

Only problem is that much of the rise in HH income
is due to the rise in two-income families, so you may
be more likely to need to get some of the money from
your spouse. ;-)

I will be happy to see a spouse who accepts that even small part
of her earnings goes to a sport that she dislikes by principle :-(

--

Michel TALON

Bert Willing wrote:

members (or managers) who *want* the most expensive toys, very often without
regard whether the club members really need the difference between 47:1 or
40:1.

Personally, I couldn't care less whether a glider offers 1:40 or 1:48. I
*do* however care about its feel! I certainly enjoy a flight in an LS4,
but no way I volunteer for an LS4 at the briefing when there's that LS7
or LS8 nearby!

Stefan

I can relate to that - but there is a price tag to it, and nobody can blame
the sailplane manufacturer for the fact that you want it :-)

"Stefan" wrote in message
...
Bert Willing wrote:

members (or managers) who *want* the most expensive toys, very often
without regard whether the club members really need the difference
between 47:1 or 40:1.

Personally, I couldn't care less whether a glider offers 1:40 or 1:48. I
*do* however care about its feel! I certainly enjoy a flight in an LS4,
but no way I volunteer for an LS4 at the briefing when there's that LS7 or
LS8 nearby!

Stefan

Bert Willing wrote:
You can't necessarily blame the problems of clubs on the prices of new
gliders. The clubs could as well buy second hand gliders - it's the club
members (or managers) who *want* the most expensive toys, very often without
regard whether the club members really need the difference between 47:1 or
40:1.

But the effect is the same - less and less youngsters between 16 and 25 who
are supposed to be the future of soaring :-(

- Problem in US that keeps a lot of youngsters from soaring is lack of
any decent equipment in most of the clubs. When couple years ago I was
visiting French club that only had 45 members they presented following
list of gliders available for club members: 1 Ka-6, Ask-21, Libelle
201, 2 - Ls-1's, 2 Pegasus 101's, 1 edelweiss, 1 Phoebus,1 std.Cirrus
and couple old French made trainers - all the club rates!
How many non-profit clubs in US are there that could stand up to such
equipment?
NONE, if you want to get serious about soaring in US you have to own a
glider and how many youngsters in US can afford to own a glider?

So called "soaring with Schweitzer" is an oxymoron in Midwest area...

GK