Christopher Mc Donnell wrote:
My son, who is in Brisbane, thought he might get back into gliding but
the aircraft tariffs were enough to scare him away from the idea and
he earns relativly well. Gliding is definitly shifting across the
socio/economic spectrum and the sort of people who could afford it are
such that they would not put up with the conditions at most gliding
clubs in the consumer society of today anyway.
That is what clubs are for - to allow the cost of expensive gliders to
be amortised across a wider group than just an individual or syndicate.
There are a number of clubs in the Brisbane region that have some quite
hot ships online. Beyond that however, you do not have to buy the
"latest and greatest" glider. A Libelle will cost less than a new Ford
or whatever - and (were she on the market) Alice would cost you less
than a new SUV.
In fact, the aircraft you are flying is only a very small part of the
overall performance of the pilot/glider combination. I reckon it is
going to take me at least five more years to get to the point where
Alice's limitiations will become as important on the overall result of
my flying as my lack of skills and execution. Even so, Alice has managed
to help me to achieve second place overall for several days in two
recent comps - but then my inabilities and inconsistencies kicked in and
we dropped like a stone!
This is one great advantage of the handicap system, even up in open class!
I would advise your son to go visit the clubs in the Brisbane environs
and pick one!
I agree with Robert Hart's comments a few moments ago, but he, like
me, seems to also be hoping that the sport will last long enough to
see him out.
Yikes - my intention was to convey the idea that we should all
contribute to gliding so that it will last way past my lifetime!
--
Robert Hart [EMAIL PROTECTED]
+61 (0)438 385 533 http://www.hart.wattle.id.au
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