Re: [aus-soaring] Fwd: Winners - 3rd FAI World Junior Gliding Championship

[Gus Stewart]

Hi there As a brand new sign-up for this list, I was most intruiged by the posts that I have recieved already concerning Junior members, particularly those from backgrounds of the AAFC / AIRTC. Having flown with the AAFC for 4 or so years, I did like a growing number of enthusiastic cadets do and joined local clubs after I was no longer a member of the cadets, namely RAAF Richmond Gliding Club and later Bathurst Soaring Club. BSC hires their gliders and tugs out to the AAFC camps at Raglan for 8 weeks a year, and from what I understand there has been a very amicable relationship between the two clubs. In my experience in gliding, starting at the grand old age of 13, many cadets persue gliding well after solo, and learn x-c through institutions like the AAFC and like myself go on to do Silver and Gold. I doubt that I would have found the impetus to start gliding in a local club, and I like many others have problems keeping the sport alive during their student years, which many people on this list would recall as a time where money is.. shall we say.. not easily attainable. I laud many of the members of BSC and likewise RAAF Richmond for their support of younger members like myself… it’s an uneasy enough situation being the youngest by 20 years in some circumstances, and the attitude of club members makes ALL the difference. I have flown clubs where from the minute I walk in I am assumed to be reckless and irresponsible and have to take the time to prove otherwise. There is no sob story here.. I feel that overall the gliding movement is  become more welcoming of younger members and hopefully as earlier posts have said the more younger members in a club, the more that will join (an exponential effect). And as to cadets “breaking” equipment.. from what I’ve seen adults tend to do it too, but are more careful of covering their tracks. I’m a bit more scared of that than I am of cadets. On another note.. having just joined up to this list and being of the monstrous age of 20, I would love to hear more about the Junior activities, so keep me posted people! Thanks and cheers everyone. Gus Stewart