I read with interest John Style’s article on getting things moving. He is to be commended for putting forward some positive ideas. The five-day course is excellent and is the way I got started gliding in 1966. A few points I would like to put a different viewpoint on are:

1. “The charter public are not interested in the club only their own thrill.” Give them what they want – a glider flight. Look on each of your passengers as a gliding ambassador because if you do your job right that is what they will become. An example of this was an elderly German lady I flew with in K13 GUQ. It was late on a July afternoon in very stable conditions. After release minimum sink was flown and turns and banks used sparingly. The flight was concluded with a gentle landing. A couple of years later I was taken out to tea by some gliding friends prior to leaving for a Charter Flying job in the Northern Territory. At a nearby table I overheard a lady telling her friends of a wonderful glider flight she had at Bacchus Marsh and telling them they should try the experience. This was the German lady and did get a surprise when I said Hello.

2. The club does need a third two seater and the roster should include two passenger rated pilots to fly it. This should enable proper time to be spent with the passenger before and after their flights. A harassed duty instructor is not the ideal person to be doing passenger flying. It also leaves two two-seaters to satisfy members needs.

3. “Sell the K13 and get another single-seater.” My experience with glider syndicates owing two-seaters and single-seaters shows that by far the greater flying time was generated by the two-seaters. They are a very valuable asset in giving people gliding experience and selling gliding.

On the 27/3/1971 K13 GUQ departed Bacchus Marsh for Bendigo towed by a Royal Victorian Aero Club Chipmunk. On arrival over Bendigo a sequence of aerobatics was flown with youthful exuberance by those in the K13. On landing passenger flying began and continued until late afternoon when a return to Bacchus Marsh was required, During the day an announcement on local radio that a limited number of glider flights will be available caused traffic gridlock around Bendigo airport.

Local aviation enthusiast Colin Campbell asked for a return visit. This time in late May 1971 GUQ was trailed to Woodvale and a Chipmunk came from Benalla for towing duties. The weather was frosty mornings sunny afternoons and a full weekend of passengers flying was achieved. Enthusiasm was high and a new gliding club was formed soon after.

Take the gliders to the people. Give them the opportunity of flight time. A number of these people will be back for more guaranteed.

I have the experience.