Make Sailplane Racing Great Again

I believe it's possible to get a financing mechanism in place that allows for clubs and/or consortiums to purchase a glider without a guarantor if the have say 50% equity in a glider. Moreover, if more clubs had club class ships available for rent (for xc or regional contest use) then the dark ages problem might be somewhat alleviated.

Making sailplanes available through electronic contests might work. Run a national contest for non pilots. Use current racing tasks and invent a few more. Who can enclose the most area in two hours etc. Run the contest and the winner gets glider time at the airport of their choosing.

The idea of e sports can be tried, tasks experimented with, and we might just find a few new pilots.

I know nothing about Condor or any other sailplane sims but find the idea intriguing.

With a bit of help I'm interested in exploring this idea.

Craig,

Very well put. You forgot that fact he also has 2 sailplanes (I think). At least had 2 sailplanes to fly.

I have been around soaring for 35 years, and have competed, but it was not my thing to do, but I enjoy the camaraderie of soaring contests. I admire those who also can compete and get the job done.

Another factor, that I have not read yet, is that we have out priced soaring to an average naysayer. While the Sports class has do much to keep the average guy flying and competing. However, if you truly want to compete at the highest level and at an international level, you have to own and equip a $125,000+ sailplane, and that can easily be $200,000+ if you desire the best with an engine. What average guy has that money laying around for a sailplane, or what college student or graduate has that kind of money to compete at the highest levels?

Like Sean, I have a deep passion for the sport, a dying sport. I enjoy showing and giving rides to friends and curious naysayers, that might stumble onto the field on a given weekend day. Many of the people at my club, do not have a clue about the real amazing things about the sport of Soaring. As they never fly more than 5 miles away and make their flights and go home. They see some guys in high priced gliders take off at noon and come back at sunset, but do not stick around to help and ask questions at the end of the day. Because they don't see themselves at that level, because it is too expensive for them, and their wallets. While these guys and gals are flying, they are not interested in flying more, because they see it as too expensive.

I am not who said it above, but also the fact that some guy gets some money and goes out and buys an ASG29, and then in two years, is competing at a National level... Really? I would like to see more emphasis put back on Regionals, but saying that you can not compete at a Nationals unless you have a XX (82 - 85.00+) ranking. So you won't have a guy with a 56.00 ranking competing at National level, until he has flown a number of regionals and has perfected his skills and knowledge, and is able to truly compete with the "Major League" pilots. While I understand that there is still an issue with some sites getting limited participation. Hopefully this will put more participation for the Regional level, and might thin out some of the over participation in a National event (aka Uvalde). That's my 2 cents. See you at the GP.