Sailplane & Gliding 1966 - Lakes Gliding Club

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also established members. Draw the line at around the Bronze/Silver C level and the wastage factor must be in the order of 90%, the reasons for which must be found and removed if real progress is to be made. In addition to the obvious reasons, lack of aptitude and cash, and the reasons given in my previous letter, r believe most intelligent adults will not tolerate indefi· nitely the interminable fumble, loitering and non-gliding activity found in the majority of clubs and which hasn't improved noticeably for many years. There are other reasons. By keeping subscriptions. etc., at the level of the local golf or tennis club. gliding clubs attract new members in such numbers that a substantial fraction of the resources available must be allocated to training them. Even before he has gone solo, anyone with an ounce of perception can see that the solo equipment available bears no relation to the ab initio intake, even with tbe present wastage rate. In other words, clubs depend on a hi~h wastage factor among ab initios to avoid complete saturation of their solo aircraft. Furthermore, when he has gone solo, the new member sees a never-ending vista of non-gliding activity, and a privileged class of private owners who deoend on his voluntary effort to minimise their own costs, while chasing after Gold, Diamonds and a place in the League. What is to be done? First. capital and revenue must be increased by a substantial margin by raising subscriptions, etc.. to provide more solo equipment and professional help, and also to discourage the non-serious ab initio. At the same time, a system of earning credit by voluntary labour must be devised for the impecunious enthusiast with time on his hands. Secondly, the private owner must be really soaked for the privileges he enjoys at the expense of less fortunate members-he is obviously ricb anyway! Thirdly, a booking system must be introduced so that the average solo pilot flying club aircraft can expect to achieve, say, 20 to 25 hours in a season without having to spend all of every week-end at his club to get it. If he wants more flying, he can "go private". Finally, the B.G.A. must itself decide for what purpose it exists. Are its only functions the provision of sites, airspace, and to supervise training and airworthiness. or does it e~ist solely for the purJ)Qse of producing a handful of potential world champions supported by slave labour in the guise of ab initio pilots? I suggest that its primary function is to provide the solo pilot with the essential facilities he requires, and that all other activities are of an ancillary nature. Compared with most other forms of individual sporting activity, the needs of the solo pilot are largely ignored. Yet the B.G.A. has within its power. by with, holding c.s of A. from member clubs, the means to enforce a square deal for the solo pilot. I submit that the B.G.A. has abdicated from what should be its primary task; furthermore, it appears determined to perpetuate an outmoded system which demands its quota of voLuntary effort because it has always been done this way. Is there not an alternative approach, short of complete commercialism and government control, which would permit the solo pilot to practise his chosen sport as and when it pleases him? Or is be forever doomed to be ultimately grounded by an attitude of mind .....hich regards actual fiying time as a special privilege-a bonus to be earned? Birdingbury, Rugby. DENN1S CARn MORE PROFESSIONALISM Dear Sir, May I question the suggestion by Mr. Nimmo in the August edition that the introduction of a ptofessional instructor into a <strong>Gliding</strong> <strong>Club</strong> would necessitate a large increase in the capital required. Mr. Nimmo suggests that it would have to be doubled. In my own club we employ two full-time instructors in addition to catering and secretarial staff. The capital investment per member is about £70 each-half the figure of £130 which Mr. Nimmo says is the case in his own club. It is a common fallacy that capital alone is sufficient. It must be made to work. Gliders must fly as much as possible. This means that launching equipment must be reliable and available. The answer to a club short of money is that it must stimulate 396
the demand for its se"rvices and satisfy it at economic rates. Although ,enthusiastic and capable unpaid members will often run a club admirably, their efforts will make it grow often to a point where they are no longer able to satisfy the demand that they have created. Frustration sets in. A full-time professional is necessary. If Mr. Nimmo's club has a capital investment of £130 per member. I suggest, with respect, that there may be a case for a COSt analysis of the club's operation, disposing of any under-used assets, and improving those in current use. Then increase utilisation by a full-time professional. Make the investment earn its keep. Weatllerby, Yorks. 1. C. RIDOELL CAN VULTURES SMELL THERMALS ? Dear Sir, The letter from Jack Harrison of the Aden Servic
Page 1 and 2:
SAIL A &GLIDI October-November 1966
Page 3 and 4:
SAILPLANE &, GLIDING OFFICIAL ORGAN
Page 5 and 6:
CALIFORNIAN HOLIDAY By FRED SLlNGSB
Page 7 and 8:
A gaggle, assembly, dope, or produc
Page 9 and 10:
to Lake Tahoe, partly in Nevada but
Page 11 and 12:
a most interesting visit to the Soa
Page 13 and 14: Guo (sharply): Are you referring to
Page 15 and 16: THE GERMAN NATIONALS EARLY a hundre
Page 17 and 18: B.G.A. NEWS Association Secretary R
Page 19 and 20: THE CARE AND FEEDING OF PASSENGERS
Page 21 and 22: "A.h, bwt lift in clowds is much bi
Page 23 and 24: V-TAILS By JOHN GIBSON HE recent in
Page 25 and 26: LONDON REGIONALS 30th July - 7th Au
Page 27 and 28: would also be possible. Pilots were
Page 29 and 30: Final 3L7 2.8 5.8 Total Place PI/or
Page 31 and 32: uckling of the whole wing upper sur
Page 33 and 34: FLYING IN THE U.S. NATIONALS By R.
Page 35 and 36: course ran S.E. diagonally across t
Page 37 and 38: "TURN LEFT AT READING" Some Thought
Page 39 and 40: SKYlARK FURTHER l.INES OF LAUNCHED
Page 41 and 42: others could be seen along the fron
Page 43 and 44: 1250 Regular asClockwork Every fiv~
Page 45 and 46: lost. An urgent plea over the radio
Page 47 and 48: silver colIectio.n from Burton, Bur
Page 49 and 50: ular lesson, and above an what he i
Page 51 and 52: RIETI 1966 By PHIL.lP WILLS W· HEN
Page 53 and 54: FIRST GOLD FOR WALES By IAN SHATTOC
Page 55 and 56: all around with large flat areas of
Page 57 and 58: GLIDING CERTIFICATES DIAMOND FOR HE
Page 59 and 60: quent flying. Anyway, on one of the
Page 61 and 62: winners of each Clas3 as National C
Page 63: idea of his position. This person w
Page 67 and 68: FOR SALE (continued) HIGH performan
Page 69 and 70: BRISTOL E are pleased to note that.
Page 71 and 72: Our holiday courses h.ave been high
Page 73 and 74: land is under consideration, as we
Page 75 and 76: enough to -make it impossible to dr
Page 77 and 78: Mick Ensor made our "highest" this
Page 79 and 80: AUSTRIA T HIRTY-FIVE pilots. flew i
Page 81 and 82: "4 came through, Karsten Christense
Page 83 and 84: nine completed, three faste! a seco
Page 85 and 86: NORWAY "T"'HB THIRD NORDIC GLIDING
Page 87 and 88: SWITZERLAND A NEW ELFE.-The designe
Page 89 and 90: [WO rubber springs. The fuselage ha
Page 91 and 92: Scottish Gliding Union PORTMOAK. SC
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Sailplane & Gliding 1966 - Lakes Gliding Club

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