Gliders at Oskosh

If you really want to generate interest, you should do some winch launch
demonstrations.

Mike Schumann

wrote in message
oups.com...
I come from the homebuilder ranks and if the idea is to attract new
blood to the sport of gliding from EAA members ....Then I think they
made an excelent choice of gliders to display. Most of the "purests"
already are involved in the sport. If you are pitching the sport to
the general public to attract non-aviation types then a more "pure"
craft might make sense.

IMHO there is a large untapped market among EAA and part 103 fliers
that would really enjoy the challange and economy of a reasonably
efficent motorglider. They just haven't been exposed to that branch of
aviation, or have been scared off by the "purests" with their big
expensive high performance glass. Soaring/gliding really is a fairly
well kept secret and even harder to get started in (in many parts of
this country) than general or experimental aviation.
======================
Leon McAtee

I second that.

Bill Daniels

"Mike Schumann" wrote in message
hlink.net...
If you really want to generate interest, you should do some winch launch
demonstrations.

Mike Schumann

wrote in message
oups.com...
I come from the homebuilder ranks and if the idea is to attract new
blood to the sport of gliding from EAA members ....Then I think they
made an excelent choice of gliders to display. Most of the "purests"
already are involved in the sport. If you are pitching the sport to
the general public to attract non-aviation types then a more "pure"
craft might make sense.

IMHO there is a large untapped market among EAA and part 103 fliers
that would really enjoy the challange and economy of a reasonably
efficent motorglider. They just haven't been exposed to that branch of
aviation, or have been scared off by the "purests" with their big
expensive high performance glass. Soaring/gliding really is a fairly
well kept secret and even harder to get started in (in many parts of
this country) than general or experimental aviation.
======================
Leon McAtee

Mike Schumann wrote:
If you really want to generate interest, you should do some winch launch
demonstrations.

My observation is airplane pilots, which covers most of EAA folks, are
not looking for more labor-intensive ways to go flying. Even a towplane
and a tow pilot seems like one more pilot and aircraft than they are
interested in. For airplane oriented pilots, the cost of glider flying
is not the $dollars, but the time involved in doing it. So, how does
winch launching attract this demographic?

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State USA

www.motorglider.org - Download "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane
Operation"

"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
Mike Schumann wrote:
If you really want to generate interest, you should do some winch launch
demonstrations.

My observation is airplane pilots, which covers most of EAA folks, are not
looking for more labor-intensive ways to go flying. Even a towplane and a
tow pilot seems like one more pilot and aircraft than they are interested
in. For airplane oriented pilots, the cost of glider flying is not the
$dollars, but the time involved in doing it. So, how does winch launching
attract this demographic?

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State USA

I don't think airplane pilots are that easy to pidgonhole. Obviously some
the the people at Oshcosh are looking for the thrill. Those marginally
interested in gliders will find winch launch exciting.

Bill Daniels

My main interest in winch launching is not saving money (even though that is
a major advantage), but the thrill of getting launched like you were being
shot out of canon. Instead of a boring tow, the launch itself is the
highlight of the ride.

Mike Schumann

"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
Mike Schumann wrote:
If you really want to generate interest, you should do some winch launch
demonstrations.

My observation is airplane pilots, which covers most of EAA folks, are not
looking for more labor-intensive ways to go flying. Even a towplane and a
tow pilot seems like one more pilot and aircraft than they are interested
in. For airplane oriented pilots, the cost of glider flying is not the
$dollars, but the time involved in doing it. So, how does winch launching
attract this demographic?

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State USA

www.motorglider.org - Download "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane
Operation"