Why is Soaring declining

Martin Gregorie wrote in message . ..
On 18 Apr 2004 23:11:00 -0700, (Lennie the
Lurker) wrote:

As far as the gliders go, I had my 1-26 and was happy with it, I was
even happy with it after I had flown it.

Dammit, Lennie, you keep putting reasons in front of me to visit the
States again - I really must fly a 1-26 to see why so many pilots like
them.


That's funny, Martin picked up on the positive note! AND..he will
spend some pounds in the US to fly our beloved 1-26! BTW, There is a
good chance that most altitude Diamonds were flown in that type of
ship. 30 Years ago droves of people from all over the world, picked up
their diamonds in the Mine at Black Forrest Gliderport in Colorado
Springs.

Guess there is a reason Lennie calls himself the Lurker. He initially
meant to
just DO that. If he would just keep away from that keyboard unless he
had some positive thoughts? I learned something about Steel!

Lets all be very positive and the sport will SOAR.

Martin Gregorie wrote in message . ..
On 18 Apr 2004 23:11:00 -0700, (Lennie the
Lurker) wrote:

As far as the gliders go, I had my 1-26 and was happy with it, I was
even happy with it after I had flown it.

Dammit, Lennie, you keep putting reasons in front of me to visit the
States again - I really must fly a 1-26 to see why so many pilots like
them.

Think it appeals to those that like to keep things simple. It's a
simple plane, rigging it takes two people maybe 20 minutes, the second
time, and, mine anyhow, the cockpit was pretty uncluttered. Rudder
inputs are more like what one would expect from a powered plane,
pressures instead of movements, but other than being more responsive
than the 2-33 was, it flew about the same.

Then there's the possibility that some of them just like thumbing
their noses at the glassholes and cranking out some pretty darn
impressive flights. Not a world beater or record setter, but for
puttering in the "house thermal" just a fun little plane.

It helps to have an obsessive personality - soaring is never far from
any topic with me around. So far I have recruited an average of one new
club member per year - this year looks like it might be three... Over
achieving here ;-)


I used to be like that- my wife called me the flying evangelist. I've
since learned that in a function room with 200 people, only one or two
have any real interest in soaring. It boggles my mind, but there it is.
When I meet some one they soon understand that I fly sailplanes and that
a ride is available at the drop of a hat. But, they have to ask.

Tony V.

Tony Verhulst writes
I used to be like that- my wife called me the flying evangelist. I've
since learned that in a function room with 200 people, only one or two
have any real interest in soaring. It boggles my mind, but there it is.

Got to confess, it is absolutely baffling.

I find friends and family are at first surprised and faintly bemused to
find that I've got myself mixed up in this game, but from then on they
all seem to develop the same glazed, listless expression whenever my own
eyes (inevitably) drift skywards or conversation so much as hints at
either flying or the weather.

Strange people, the lot of 'em.

--
Bill Gribble

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Martin Gregorie wrote
As far as the gliders go, I had my 1-26 and was happy with it, I was
even happy with it after I had flown it.

Dammit, Lennie, you keep putting reasons in front of me to visit the
States again - I really must fly a 1-26 to see why so many pilots like
them.

Pilots like them because they're fun to fly. Light on the controls,
turns tight, thermals on a fart. Won't penetrate worth a damn, but if
the winds are light or you're going downwind it's a hoot. Think Ka-8,
only the wings are shorter (and consequently the glide ratio is lower)
and the control feel not quite as good. Thing is, Ka-8's are not very
common in the US and in that class of glider, the 1-26 is the next
best thing (among those commonly available in the US). Also, Ka-8's
have wood wings, which scares some people and makes it impossible to
tie them down outside. 1-26's have metal wings.

Michael

It makes no difference really, three people worked very hard to get me
to try it, two more joined them in trying to counteract the badmouth,
only to meet with failure because of a small number of people with fat
heads and huge egos. The end result, Egotist, one, soaring, zero.
Not the total cause, but enough that I decided the expense I was
paying wasn't worth it. I can stay at home and be ignored, which sure
beats going to the field and being irritated.

One of the "Michaels", don't remember which, once declared me as a
"total loss". Guess he was right, but I'm still the one that came out
on top.

This persons self confidence seems to be close to zero when it comes
to soaring, given he gave up because of one other persons opinion. Or
were there more, perhaps...?
On the other hand his self confidence seems to be equally unlimited
while he tries to convince the soaring world they are all making a big
mistake, he's the only one who's wright, trying with amazing amount of
time and energy to prove they are all terribly wrong in all their
positive thoughts about this sport and don't know what they are doing.

I can stay at home and be ignored...

Very obvious you can't.

but I'm still the one that came out on top.

Can't quite see how, given the cloudbase at 6500ft and me at 9000ft
yesterday ridgesoaring the clouds. The beauty of it was overwhelming.
Hard to understand how anyone can desperately not want such an
experience.
And more than that - he doesn't want any one else having it, either.
OK I can understand that - it's called jealousy and is quite common.
Nothing to worry about, Lenny.

Lennie,
When you choose to listen to the negative minority rather than the
postive majory YOU CHOOSE to live a sad and bitter life. IT IS YOUR
CHOICE. If you have no more determination than to give up due to some
negative words then you SHOULD move on to something else.

You obviously find a great deal of pleasure helping others with your
work. What if someone told you the wheelchair axle wasn't perfect and
derided you. Would you quit that too? I think not.

Since you don't soar anymore why don't you take YOUR negativity and
spite and move on, leave us alone so that we can enjoy our sport
whether we fly a 1-26, a PW5, or a Nimbus. Please do us a favor and
move on.

You will have then chosen to be a happier person. May you find peace
and happiness.


(Lennie the Lurker) wrote in message . com...
Don Johnstone wrote in message ...
I agree with much of what you say Lennie but the reality
is that the eogotists and the competion pilots are
just as important to the sport as the people who fly
the club hack.

Don, it took several people nearly three months before I decided to
even take an introductory ride, and that was more to see if I was
going to have problems with my sinus, something I've had as long as I
can remember. It took one of the mouths that couldn't shut exactly
three weeks to give me an indication that the remarks and derision of
the plane, and where it would take me, would never stop. A lot of
good people did what they could to counteract the poison tongues, but
first scratch is made in the enthusiasm, it's only a matter
of time before it crumbles. The big ego doesn't see him or herself as
they are, and it seems to them, or so I imagine, that they're only
offering "sage advice". "Sage advice" would have been for them to
keep their mouths shut.

As far as the gliders go, I had my 1-26 and was happy with it, I was
even happy with it after I had flown it.

It makes no difference really, three people worked very hard to get me
to try it, two more joined them in trying to counteract the badmouth,
only to meet with failure because of a small number of people with fat
heads and huge egos. The end result, Egotist, one, soaring, zero.
Not the total cause, but enough that I decided the expense I was
paying wasn't worth it. I can stay at home and be ignored, which sure
beats going to the field and being irritated.

One of the "Michaels", don't remember which, once declared me as a
"total loss". Guess he was right, but I'm still the one that came out
on top.

Martin Gregorie wrote in message . ..

The location I live in may have a small advantage over yours: there
are three or so local clubs I could have joined initially. I was
fortunate that the one I fly with was the first I looked at, it felt
right at my first visit and that impression was not misleading.

There are two, and possibly a third, within a reasonable driving
distance from me. (Reasonable for most people, two miles across town
to the hardware store isn't reasonable to me.) I've been to two of
them, the nearest club and the commercial that I flew from. The one
trip to the club, before I had even taken the introductory ride was a
disaster, I ran into the local asshole right off the bat. The
possible third, a few people have decided to fly there instead of the
operation I was with, but within three months they were back.
(Northern Illinois, megabuck territory, you can smell the money. OR,
as my buddy put it, "You are in one of the weathiest towns on the
planet, you are looking for a way out of there.")

We may be guilty of not always talking to newcomers as much as we
should, but I've never heard put-downs around the flight line.

The "put down" seems to be something we have elevated to an art form,
and honed to perfection, often very cutting. I can be as guilty there
as anyone else, but I usually confine it to something that I see as
gross stupidity. And as I've said before, perhaps I'm more sensitive
to some behaviors than most people, but sometimes I wonder how many
other people also are.

It should be noted that Lennie machined the nicest Schreder flap crank
system that I have ever seen I wish I had one for my HP-14!!

Lennie, if you have one sitting around, I sure would like to buy it!!
(Please contact me directly.)

Wayne
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder

"Bert Willing" wrote in message ...
In all the European clubs I have come across, I never watched such a
behaviour.

There is a difference between a club and a commercial operation. In a
club, such things can be somewhat controlled by general consensus. In
a commercial, it's paying customer to paying customer, and nobody is
in control of it.

One example of things I disagree with, one of the aircraft supply
houses saw in their "infinite wisdom" that I "needed" a subscription
to Flying magazine, without asking if I wanted it. It has been over
two years since I even sat in a cockpit, and I pointed this out to
them when I called them and told them to cancel the subscription.
Another copy of the mag lasted five seconds between being placed in my
mailbox, and placed on the bottom of the garbage can. (And if anyone
can't make the connection, what I told them was "NO!", not "maybe".
["What part of NO do you not understand?"]) A certain amount of
aggressiveness is needed to bring in new people. Going beyond that is
pushing something I've already stated I don't want. There is no risk
that they're going to **** me off a little more, it's a certainty.