On 23/08/2010 1:13 PM, Mike Borgelt wrote:
---------------
The ultralight argument is interesting. It probably isn't co-incidence
that the Ultralight guys got recognition in 1983 and the peak GFA
membership was in 1984-85. This tells me that many people who were
flying gliders merely wanted to FLY as against SOAR. As ultralights
are so much more convenient to operate I can see why they went to
ultralights.
However a pool of 10,000 trained sport aviation pilots should be
regarded as an opportunity because some of them will get bored with
simply flying around the paddock or going over to the next airfield
for coffee. The GFA will need to get over itself though in its
operating philosophy or these people will take one look and never be
seen again. The gliders on offer had better be modern, high
performance and preferably self launching too. At least self
retrieving. This wasn't the case at Renmark so we haven't run that
experiment.
-------------------
Sounds like a reasonable theory. True the Renmark situation doesn't fit
that model. I'd be interested in any comments from Adelaide Soaring
Club about how many ultralight pilots convert to soaring there? I
believe they have 3 Jabiru's training and a DG1000 among a nice (to me)
list of sailplanes.
Kym Z.
_______________________________________________
Aus-soaring mailing list
[email protected]
To check or change subscription details, visit:
http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
