Soaring not compatible with modern society?

On Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 4:05:06 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
You guys are missing one of several elephants in the cockpit...

Most Americans think that small power planes are 'extremely dangerous', and whenever it slips out that I fly gliders, casual acquaintances think that I'm 'totally nuts'. The people that already know me well before they find out about my piloting are usually surprised because... 'But, you seem so normal!'

I think your experience is unusual.

T8

Most Americans think that small power planes are 'extremely dangerous', and whenever it slips out that I fly gliders, casual acquaintances think that I'm 'totally nuts'. The people that already know me well before they find out about my piloting are usually surprised because... 'But, you seem so normal!'

I think your experience is unusual.

Not completely. When I was younger, the fact that many people viewed my gliding as "extreme" enhanced the appeal of soaring. Even in high school in the 60s, not everyone wanted to be thought of as "normal" (read: boring).

Chip Bearden

Maybe gliding is targeting the wrong group when trying to expand the sport. All the effort is going at targeting young people. How may power pilots were taught first to fly gliders because it is cheap - then moved to power and left the sport because they become professional pilots etc. Some may come back to the sport in later years but most do not. Maybe the target market should be the more mature people - settled in their careers and looking for a new challenge in life - not a cheap way into an aviation career. They the sort of people who stick to soaring - give time and resources to the clubs and become passionate about the purity of flying without an engine.