Why is Soaring declining

Allan

I do not know where you had the negative experiences which you described. At
the commercial operation where I am a part-time instructor (Great Western,
Pearblossom, CA) the welcome is always warm and if you have scheduled a flight
-- instruction or not -- the plane will be ready. Same for the two other
commercial operators in the same geographical area.

Cheers, Charles

Well Charles,

Multiple sites in CA, sites in NV, AZ, Fl and HI.
I am not saying that the welcome was not warm - it was in every case.
I'm just saying I would like a little on-time with my warm fuzzies.

If my 10 or so sites are not representative, then my luck must be colossally
bad.

Allan

"Vorsanger1" wrote in message
...
Allan

I do not know where you had the negative experiences which you described.
At
the commercial operation where I am a part-time instructor (Great Western,
Pearblossom, CA) the welcome is always warm and if you have scheduled a
flight
-- instruction or not -- the plane will be ready. Same for the two other
commercial operators in the same geographical area.

Cheers, Charles

On 4/17/04 7:19 PM, in article , "ADP"
wrote:

If my 10 or so sites are not representative, then my luck must be colossally
bad.

It doesn't only happen at commercial sites. I had a similar sort of
experience at a well known glider club in southeastern Michigan a few years
ago, which caused me to delay my entry into the sport.

I moved to the western suburbs of Chicago last year and found a very
hospitable and desirable club.

From my limited experience, the old glider pilots' tales I've heard about
most glider clubs being something to avoid, rather than being attractive to
new members, may have considerable truth to it.



Jack

In article , ADP
writes
I find it interesting that almost no one has mentioned what I believe to be
the real problem with soaring.
It is a pain in the butt to go soaring.
Here in the US where most soaring is done at commercial sites vs. clubs,
commercial operations make it almost impossible
for a newcomer to say "I want to take a lesson and learn how to soar". Or,
for that matter, a oldcomer to rent a glider for a time.

Commercial operations in the US are good-old-boy networks. They may be run
by nice folks but good businessmen they are not.
Reserve a glider for 10:00 and arrive at 09:30.

At that time you will find:

1. The glider is out of annual and nobody called.
2. The glider needs to be deiced and won't be ready for 3 hours.
3. The glider crashed just yesterday and nobody called.
4. The tow plane is down.
5. The tow plane pilot is late/won't be here today.
6. The tow plane needs to be refueled so can you wait an hour or two?
7. We have to use the glider for a ride, you don't mind do you?
8. Oh were you on the schedule for today?
9. Sorry you can't go right away .... (fill in your reason here.)

We retired folk can put up with it, though we may not like it. The younger
person with job, family and other obligations runs on a tight
schedule. Get put off once or twice when you still have to take the kids to
a soccer game ar mow the lawn on one of your two days
off and you are not likely to go back.

Frankly, despite the good social environment, waiting for 3 hours to fly for
1 just isn't worth my time.

You don't say where you live, Allan, but I can tell you from personal
experience that there's at least one commercial gliding operation that
isn't like that at all.

It is the only place I have flown gliders in the USA, so it may be that
all the others are as yo describe, but it seems unlikely.

The place I went to was the absolute tops in every way, the people were
friendly, helpful, and delivered the service their brochure promised.
If I didn't live 8000 miles away I'd be there every week end.

So, you may ask, where is this paradise? Soar Minden, of course.
--
Mike Lindsay

On Wed, 21 Apr 2004 11:40:04 +0100, Mike Lindsay
wrote:

In article , ADP
writes
I find it interesting that almost no one has mentioned what I believe to be
the real problem with soaring.
It is a pain in the butt to go soaring.
Here in the US where most soaring is done at commercial sites vs. clubs,
commercial operations make it almost impossible
for a newcomer to say "I want to take a lesson and learn how to soar". Or,
for that matter, a oldcomer to rent a glider for a time.

Commercial operations in the US are good-old-boy networks. They may be run
by nice folks but good businessmen they are not.
Reserve a glider for 10:00 and arrive at 09:30.

At that time you will find:

1. The glider is out of annual and nobody called.
2. The glider needs to be deiced and won't be ready for 3 hours.
3. The glider crashed just yesterday and nobody called.
4. The tow plane is down.
5. The tow plane pilot is late/won't be here today.
6. The tow plane needs to be refueled so can you wait an hour or two?
7. We have to use the glider for a ride, you don't mind do you?
8. Oh were you on the schedule for today?
9. Sorry you can't go right away .... (fill in your reason here.)

We retired folk can put up with it, though we may not like it. The younger
person with job, family and other obligations runs on a tight
schedule. Get put off once or twice when you still have to take the kids to
a soccer game ar mow the lawn on one of your two days
off and you are not likely to go back.

Frankly, despite the good social environment, waiting for 3 hours to fly for
1 just isn't worth my time.

You don't say where you live, Allan, but I can tell you from personal
experience that there's at least one commercial gliding operation that
isn't like that at all.

It is the only place I have flown gliders in the USA, so it may be that
all the others are as yo describe, but it seems unlikely.

The place I went to was the absolute tops in every way, the people were
friendly, helpful, and delivered the service their brochure promised.
If I didn't live 8000 miles away I'd be there every week end.

So, you may ask, where is this paradise? Soar Minden, of course.

I'd add Williams Soaring to that list as well.

--
martin@ : Martin Gregorie
gregorie : Harlow, UK
demon :
co : Zappa fan & glider pilot
uk :

'...but still money that I should have put somewhere
else.'

That is what most wives say too. Maybe you would be
happier if you had spent all that money at the mall
on new dresses. But, then, likely not...most of those
dresses would just make you look fat.

Money spent is sunk cost and should never be considered
again in the future.

John Jones wrote in message ...
'...but still money that I should have put somewhere
else.'

That is what most wives say too. Maybe you would be
happier if you had spent all that money at the mall
on new dresses.

Hmmmm. I believe I've already said that I would trade every penny I
spent on soaring, every hour I've spent in a cockpit, and every
flyable day for the next fifty years, to have my wife back among the
living for one hour.

Money spent is sunk cost and should never be considered
again in the future.

Guess you don't mind repeating mistakes. I like to learn from mine.

Why is soaring declining? That's an easy one. Because of Bush.

Yeah - right - just like it "rebounded
during Clinton's administration"

RHWOODY wrote:

Yeah - right - just like it "rebounded
during Clinton's administration"

Damn. I hate it when rupublicans are right-um correct ;-)

Shawn