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http://www.glidingmagazine.com/Featu...cle.asp?id=400
The current issue of Soaring had an interesting article by Chris Woods about this topic. When attempting to describe soaring I use the analogy of comparing sailboats to motorboats, not sure how accurate this is but it seems to occasionaly work. Anyone have other non-Pez techniques to describe what we do? |
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"Stewart Kissel" wrote in message ... http://www.glidingmagazine.com/Featu...cle.asp?id=400 The current issue of Soaring had an interesting article by Chris Woods about this topic. When attempting to describe soaring I use the analogy of comparing sailboats to motorboats, not sure how accurate this is but it seems to occasionaly work. Anyone have other non-Pez techniques to describe what we do? Up until the late 1960's, soaring was described as an "Art, Science, and Sport". I always liked that. You could explain that much of what we do is an art that it is difficult to reduce to scientific rules and it certainly has esthetic appeal. But yet, it is also a technical activity that involves meteorology, aerodynamics, and to an ever greater degree, computers - therefore it is also a science. Unlike other relatively low cost aviation activities, gliders can compete in closely contested races - a spectacular sport. I've had pretty good luck with that pitch. Bill Daniels |
#3
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Bill Daniels wrote
"But yet, it is also a technical activity that involves meteorology, aerodynamics, and to an ever greater degree, computers" I will go along with meteorology and aerodynamics, but computers? Aside from the design phase of the sailplanes, the use or knowledge of computers in soaring is superfluous for the majority of pilots. I am not sure that this thread addresses the need to attract new pilots, but we have a better chance to deter and discourage novices if we stress the non-essential aspects of the sport and the "difficulties" of it. Now, let the firefight and invectives start! Cheers, Charles |
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#5
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I will go along with meteorology and aerodynamics, but computers?
It's a buzz-word and lead in point of contact for 21st Century kids. Check out Chris Woods' article in the March SOARING, where he refers not only to his 1960s introduction but to recent encounters with kids from the other end of the generation gap. He anecdotally suggests high interest among kids today for all things computer vs. all things flying (let alone soaring). You bet. So, let's leverage off these social fashions, not to mention the public support we can add if we bandwagon soaring as motivation for kids towards computers. I had the pleasure, at the SSA Convention, to have breakfast and dinner respectively with two teen-aged PVT glider pilots. Kevin Christner is the USA dealers's expert on flywithCE for your in-flight PDA pleasure. Robert Ussery built a telemetering system for perfect winch launches, and aims at UAV University studies that could make professional pilots obsolete! BTW, both are looking for gliders to fly badges & contests. Got one to loan? As I like to say, "kids need the soaring movement, and we need them". John H. Campbell SSA Youth Committee |
#6
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When attempting to describe soaring I use the analogy of comparing
sailboats to motorboats. Works for me, too. I even like to add "soaring has more in common with sailing than with flying", when I get a chip on my shoulder about the very common assumption that only people "who already know how to fly" should be approached about soaring. Most of my ab initio students, in fact, express an interest (often "lifelong") to learn to soar specifically, with no interest in airplane certification. The fact that the fraction of airplane pilots who are also sailplane pilots is so low is indeed an opportunity, but it also betrays that these pursuits have different appeals and that the PR efforts of the soaring community must be as weak to the general public as they are to the airplane community (as in "gosh, if even they don't notice us..."). Uh, anyway... See the hollywood movie "Wind" from a few years ago with Matthew Modine and Chris Robertson--and Stellan Skarsgard mouthing the very anology and telling hardcore sailor Jennifer Grey she should try soaring. Sailing is to the water as Soaring is to the air. 2 dimensions on an interface vs. 3 dimensions. Nature powered by wind and sun. An outdoors, technical activity, with light physical activity, not arduously athletic, inspiring us with motion, scenery... What some fish have been doing for millenia vs. many, many birds, as in "of course humans should be doing this--what took them so long?" (soaring is far more "natural" than sailing). An art, a technique, a sport, an industry, a lifetime pursuit. Plenty of competition, history, technology, heroes, stories. Sailing has yachts, dinghies, sailboards. Soaring has Open Class sailplanes, 1-26s, hang-gliders, paragliders. Motorsailboats are not contentious like motorgliders, sailors have long been comfortable with the utility of a small engine to get out of the harbor conveniently to where things get interesting and not get stalled in a calm far away. Competition and racing are not "evil words" in sailing that people object to seeing mentioned in the national magazine (the major sailing organization is, I think, the US Yacht Racing Assoc.). Sailing has long been an Olympic sport. Youth programs are rampant, it almost borders on soccer where the real bulk of the activity is among teens. George Moffat has long made the parallel, especially in regards to one-design calsses, handicapping, and regular informal "regattas". I tried sailing in my 30s after soaring in my teens because it seemed similar. BTW, I do have a PVT-ASEL also and would do that more if I had any money. --JHC |
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http://www.glidingmagazine.com/Featu...cle.asp?id=400
Thanks to John Roake for all the research. I was interested to see how sizeable the USA contingent is likely to be, I had always thought that the UK and France were comparable despite their smaller land mass. Germany, of course, invented the pursuit and turned it into a national trademark. Boy, what a potential in so many remaining areas of the world. |
#8
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Yes, and that is why soaring is so fun - you can adapt it in your own
personal way! KISS or tons og high tech equipment. I love floating around in an old glider with simple instruments and I love racing down a cloud street with my 304 with the LX5000 "clicking" in the center of the panel and WinPilot "clicking" on the right. Soaring, or as we say, gliding is beautiful. The hard thing is to explain all this to newcomers! Robert Jack wrote: On 2/29/04 4:11 PM, in article , "Vorsanger1" wrote: ... we [would] discourage novices if we stress the non-essential aspects of the sport and the "difficulties" of it. Flying a glider can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Jack ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
#9
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"John H. Campbell" wrote in message ...
When attempting to describe soaring I use the analogy of comparing sailboats to motorboats. Works for me, too. I even like to add "soaring has more in common with sailing than with flying", when I get a chip on my shoulder about the very common assumption that only people "who already know how to fly" should be approached about soaring. Most of my ab initio students, in fact, express an interest (often "lifelong") to learn to soar specifically, with no interest in airplane certification. The fact that the fraction of airplane pilots who are also sailplane pilots is so low is indeed an opportunity, but it also betrays that these pursuits have different appeals and that the PR efforts of the soaring community must be as weak to the general public as they are to the airplane community (as in "gosh, if even they don't notice us..."). I came to soaring two years ago after more than thirty years of sailing and ocean voyaging. Never looked back. As John says, I've wanted to soar all my life, and finally asked myself, "If not now, when?" I agree that sailing and soaring are closely related, and I'd like to add one more component: motion. Far from getting seasick, many of us love the lift and thrust of a deck under our feet in a lively seaway. Same with soaring. I'm a vestibular junkie, and I can't get enough of circling in a strong thermal, or that smooth elevator feeling of wave, or the bumps and grinds of a turbulent day. Oddly enough, roller coasters aren't nearly the same kick for this vestibular junkie. I think it has to do with volition. IN a coaster I'm locked into whatever movements the ride designer decided on. In a sailplane, a sailboat, or on skis, I make the decisions about where to go, how to move my body through space. Control makes all the difference. I call it Dancing with Gravity. |
#10
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I like to think of it as the purest form of sport aviation. Soaring
has absolutely no utility. I find this its greatest attribute and charm. Sailplane pilots fly for the love of flight. It has no guarantees. No practical rewards -- save intangibles. Its practioners have interest in every type of weather where updrafts may be found, and the sport produces aircraft sturdy enough to remain controlable and intact in most of them. Our ability to stay aloft is predicated entirely on pilot skill, and while some may compare it to sailing, at least a sailboat stays afloat if the wind quits! I think, perhaps, we have a greater emotional investment than any other distinct group in aviation -- comparable to sailors, but even more to solo climbers, who thrive on the necessity of blending superlative technique with unflinching concentration. Perhaps we are comparable to any sport whose greatest rewards come with reflection, the act itself requiring too much attention to be thoroughly enjoyed in the moment. Just some thoughts at tangents to the party line... ;-) |
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