Is there a rule stating the cover photo for SOARING
magazine HAS to be a sailplane?

I would doubt it. And why should there be?

I like the cover photo, showing the SSA headquarters
building at Hobbs, NM, in snow. It's a nice, seasonal,
shot of our organization's home base.

What else could go on the cover? Photos of:

Soaring pilots;
Soaring crew;
igc flight traces;
Screen shots from See You or Stre Pla;
Convention photos;
Tow planes;
Winches;
Glider fields;
And, surely those with an artistic touch have much
better ideas.

The cover photo doesn't have to show the ubiquitous
German glider.

As for the Best Ever photo? Has to be the one by Chris
Woods over the Wright Brothers Memorial, shot on 4
JUL 03.

Snotty
aka Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA