Open Discussion; Creating XC pilots

Before I offer my 2¢, let me first say congratulations to MB on a job well done. I would argue that all of our sport's problems (mostly membership and participation) would be solved if every club had a 'MB,' and equally important, for those clubs to support their MB's efforts.

In the USA, we do pretty well in attracting new members, but we are pathetic at keeping them. Why? Because most clubs focus on the wrong thing: low-cost basic training. But we ignore, and in many cases discourage, the progression to cross-country soaring. If clubs offered good equipment and training, and the freedom, support, and encouragement to fly further and farther, we would go a long way in growing our clubs' rosters by not losing the members we already have.

Soaring is a product, and it competes with other products for our target market's interest. Flying a 50-year-old glider above the airport may be fun for a year or two, but without a new challenge (that doesn't come with a $20,000+ entry fee) most are going to quit the sport.

Chris Fleming

On Sunday, July 20, 2014 6:54:17 AM UTC-4, Fox Two wrote:
Before I offer my 2¢, let me first say congratulations to MB on a job well done. I would argue that all of our sport's problems (mostly membership and participation) would be solved if every club had a 'MB,' and equally important, for those clubs to support their MB's efforts.



In the USA, we do pretty well in attracting new members, but we are pathetic at keeping them. Why? Because most clubs focus on the wrong thing: low-cost basic training. But we ignore, and in many cases discourage, the progression to cross-country soaring. If clubs offered good equipment and training, and the freedom, support, and encouragement to fly further and farther, we would go a long way in growing our clubs' rosters by not losing the members we already have.



Soaring is a product, and it competes with other products for our target market's interest. Flying a 50-year-old glider above the airport may be fun for a year or two, but without a new challenge (that doesn't come with a $20,000+ entry fee) most are going to quit the sport.



Chris Fleming

Post Mills (Vermont) Soaring has a Glasflugel 304C. This glider has brought a number of new pilots into our club, but remains highly available. After a season or two sharing the 304 with other pilots, the hook is set and people go on and buy their own sailplanes. In this respect, it has been very successful.

Evan Ludeman / T8

St Louis Soaring Association is taking the XC task (pun intended) seriously:

- Just acquired a sweet Grob Astir CS (with radio, varios, & good trailer) specifically for members to take XC and chase OLC points.
- Is upgrading XC-suitable our fleet; we now have a 1-34, G-102 Club III, and the Astir CS for XC (all with trailers available), and for the read die-hards a couple of very basic 1-26s (one with an open canopy for that "Otto Lilienthal" experience!). In process of equipping all the fleet with radios and audio varios, and looking at providing some sort of power outlet for simple PDA/PNA/Phones.
- Has purchased several simple IGC loggers (FR300s) and encourage members to use them on every flight - and post to OLC.
- Have a G-103 and ASK-21 available for dual XC coaching (with a new Cobra trailer just in case!)
- And finally - we have a club OLC contest going this season: For the private owners (8 are participating), we each chipped in $100 to the pot, and the club is matching that; the pilot with the best 3 OLC plus scores (flights this year originating from our field, H07) takes it all....! For the pilots flying club ships, no ante up front is needed, but the club is putting up the same as for the private owners - $800 for the winner who uses club ships from our field.

No surprise - Lot's of interest in XC and OLC at our club now!

Kirk
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