RE: [Aus-soaring] Soaring training

[boonahgliding]

Not dissimilar to a game of rugby. Getting pummeled for 80minutes isn’t exactly enjoyable but we say we enjoyed the game. Wingers are of course the exception.   -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of David Lawley Sent: Monday, 20 February 2006 11:17 AM To: 'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.' Subject: RE: [Aus-soaring] Soaring training   Hi All,    All the reasons for dropouts are coming thru loud and clear on this list: ATTITUDE   The present badge system post C certificate, is aimed only at x/c flying so has virtually no relevance to the fun flyer. As we ignore their preferences they leave.   There seems to be in Gliding a distinct domination by those  who prefer contest/x/c flying-particularly in the management structure.   I suspect  there are probaby lots of people who WOULD  simply enjoy the challenge of staying up and floating around near the airfield and sight seeing    These people I suspect leave after solo when the mentally taxing and stressful nature of x/c flying is presented to them as the only option  and they are made to feel inadequate (In a subtle manner)if they do not start down that path.   Some just may not feel that 4-5 hours in a cramped, hot and often uncomfortable cockpit, with a very high concentration level not exactly relaxing and fun, strange really eh?    I have often said that I only enjoy x/c after the flight is over myself, frequently, much to my surprise, finding others feel the same way.   There is a constant subtle pressure that one is expected to perform x/c after solo, and that one is a lesser pilot if one does not see x/c as the be all and end all of a glider pilot. I have seen this happen at my own club recently a fellow pilot, who is not interested in going away from the airfield,  is frequently encouraged to so, despite his clearly stated lack of interest.   As I personally have not seen the kind of student of which Emilis writes in my 3 phases of flight training at 3 clubs with many different other students,  I wonder if there is not some portion of the pilots whom he talks about who are justified in their statements. This is a recurring theme in Emilis writing and only Emilis's over the years, that makes me wonder if it is the student or the instructor that is the issue. I personally could not wait to get out of the old clapped out , 30 year old 2 seater and into an pleasant aircraft to fly.   And what is wrong with wanting to go solo as soon as possible, if safe? Learning thermalling by myself after solo gave me an excellent feeling of an accomplishment of my own, defining part of my flying as my own, as did going cross country the first time and developing my own method.   Another point, more applicable to SA is the fact that the 2 main aerotow clubs have old nearly hour expired  trainers that are NOT pleasant to fly.(Twin Atirs with 10000+ hours!). I wonder if the dropouts happen after the first single seat flight or before?      In all honesty, out of probably 20 instructors I have had only 20% who managed to make me feel relaxed, and enjoy the process of training subsequently, this alone is probably part of the issue. Some have damaged my confidence so much in one flight it has taken several weeks to return to its  normal level. How many never come back?   If we do not get rid of the X/C is everything attitude, gliding will continue in its decline and eventually die. My 16 yo son put it best I reckon, he said to me that by the sound of things gliding has been "Flying straight in sink for more than 20 years", and if it doesn't change course soon there will be a final outlanding.   The most telling post is Leigh's rant comparing cardboard wine etc to peoples attitude to gliding. He talks of peolpe sampling then moving on, well yes of course, the point being that if the sample does not deliver the goods then they will move on. Most interesting is the denigration of those who do not make the same expensive choices as the poster "Readers Digest Life" indeed!(Sorry Leigh). Personally I like the immersive approach to gliding but that does not mean I expect everyone to want or need such a large time commitment..      I suspect that an immersive involvement has a 5 to 1 ratio of flying to actual atendance time, ie 5 hours on site for one hours flying.(Try adding up your own figuer for this!)   To sum up I feel that unless we can accept that some folks want different goals than x/c we will continue to lose these precious trainees.   What is often overlooked is that at a later date some peolple will, and do return  when their lifestyle/financial position improves. Perhaps we should concentrate more resources on getting some of the departed back, rather than getting more new recruits.   As a list member has often said of people, " You can tell 'em, but you can't give 'em the f.....g brains to think with."   How appropriate!   PS I have had 6 goes at writing this and still am not totally convinced I have made clear what im trying to say, but I had to post this as is because of time constraints.       Computer Manager Elizabeth Primary School  Elizabeth East Prinary School           From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Emilis Prelgauskas Sent: Saturday, 18 February 2006 9:22 AM To: aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net; 'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.'; aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net; 'Tom Wilksch' Subject: RE: [Aus-soaring] Soaring training On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 19:04:27 +1100, Matthew Gage wrote: >Does it really matter if someone takes 2 hours longer to get solo >than they could have if it means they have experienced more of what >is available in the process ?   There is indeed a portion of the customer base who do wish to solo as quickly as possible and accuse the instructors of all sorts of personal agendas when they don't. Their goal is to get away from a 2 seater as quickly as possible and permanently. These people just know everything about the sport, and their inability to soar is put down to the inadequacies of committee, site, club, fleet, launch, weather...   On the other end of the spectrum, there is scope to introduce low hour pilots to the real payoffs in having the experience, skill, will to squeeze all the potential out of the available list above.   The tension between the two is to find the right level for the individual pilot.

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