Cheap sailplanes

I continue to believe that the answer to building soaring has mainly to do
with making it more convenient. The other thing I believe is that one of the
very best things we, as sailplane pilots do is solve problems...I tend to
agree with some of the commentary on here that we just don't show enough of
how cool our sport is...the low finishes ARE cool...and occasionally someone
will get hurt...but damn are they fun!!! To this day, most of my flights end
in a low pass and quick circuit...one day it might get me...but for now, it
adds to my enjoyment and everyone who sees that sort of finish
goes..."Wow....I want to do that too..."

Not sure that's good or bad, but it definitely happens. The other thought
is, that I don't think it's the cost of the sailplane that's prohibitive, I
think it's the whole package...club fees/dues, tows, insurance, equipment,
etc...You guys can pontificate all day about how a cheap simple glider is
going to build the sport and I for one don't buy it. The first time the guy
with the new low cost glider sets off to try to accomplish some goal and a
buddy follows in a 30 year old "Old" glider and blows the living doors off
the new guy...the whole theory of new=better...starts to sink in...as...BS

If I've seen one consistent thing amongst young new prospective sailplane
types, its that they have a tough time justifying all the expense, for the
limited amount of time they get to participate ....weekends...April till
October...but for a few places in the U.S. that's a fairly common thing. So
we really come down to competing with EVERY other interesting thrill-seeking
venue out there. And quite frankly most of the rest of them are neater to
watch on TV...than ours...There's something quite simple in human nature,
that dictates that if you can watch it on TV...and then participate at any
level...you sorta get to live the experience twice. I watch my growing sons
watch surfing, snowboarding, skiing, golf, tennis...just about
everything...I think we ought to concentrate on finding a venue to air our
sport on TV...somehow. Anyone know anybody involved with WINGS?? Or any of
the extreme sport shows...?? I've got some amazing Video footage that really
looks cool...we just need a venue to get it seen by a bigger audience...

It seems we ought to try to figure out ways to get our sport seen by more
eyeballs...and make sure that what people see...is cool...WAY COOL DUDE!!!!

(imagining the following extreme sport show)

Bitchin Surfer Dude pilot 1: "So there I was dude....going up in this
bitchin wave....and whoa....I was like....this is totally gnarly dude...so I
just put the nose down and flew two hundred miles....It was awesome!!!!!

Bitchin Surfer Dude pilot2: "Whoa....I was like ...right behind him...and
then he was like...gone dude....hair on fire and movin out 140 miles an
hour....I went after him...and WE ROCKED!!!"



Okay...well....perhaps I went too far...suffice to say, we need more
eyeballs more exposure and we definitely need to adjust our view as to who
our target audience is, and define a demographic...for the pursuit of fresh
meat....for our sport...


Methinks.



Steve.