Worst state of affairs for Microlighting!

[Low Level]

AIRSHOWS and AVIATION EVENTS.

Who goes to airshows ? People with an interest in aviation. You want to bring newbies to the sport. Now you invite family and friends, and schools, who don't give a damn about flying. They pitch up for the dop and tjop, and maybe a flip. Are they aviation nuts ?

I have NEVER been to an airshow where a microlight - or gyro - school offered flips, R 50 for 15 min. Chopper fun flights are all over the place, but who is going to start flying choppers after their 15 min flight.

It's not about making money on the show, it's about marketing !!! Are there ANYTHING like this lined up for Tedderfied. I guess not.

P.S. I have a 55 yr old colleague at work, that hasn't miss an airshow, in 100 km radius, for the past 15 years. Have he been in the air yet - NEVER. Does he want to fly - YES. Does he get opportunities to be introduced to microlighting. Hmmmmm........

Just a thought.

[bobthebuilder]

The snake team di displays at most of the airshows.

I agree though ... it is a marketing thing.

[Tailspin]

Hi Guys

I have been involved in EAA and Microlighting for a few years and i can say the perception out there is very bad, specially from the microlighting side, every person i have taken up and or had somebody take them up has come back and said AWSOME great stuff we allways thought you guys were mad but now my eyes are open.

I have for a few years been at the Hobby-Xpo in the Dome and i tried to invite a few of the Schools to give me info and pamphlets etc but well every year i end up setting up my Aircraft ALONE, manning the stand ALONE and then 18:00 on a Sunday night packing up ALONE. Now a man can only take so much before he says screw it all and moves on. 5 years down the line now everybody wants to suddenly jump on the band wagon and reap the benefits of my work. I even got MISASA to put up a big banner and Mike Blythe came and took Pics etc, hoping to see them in microlighters the Banner was there

I can fully understand why people just toss it all in and just fly for the fun of it. Just my 2c - Rantings of somebody who is tired of BS JUST FLY MAN

[Dish]

whose trying to reap the benefits of your work ?? your expo stuff was to showcase BUILDING wasnt it... the project side of things... (correct me if im wrong) - were talking about raising an interest in FLYING...

chop

[James Bentley]

The Young Eagles program of EAA is a wonderful way to introduce new young people to the world of flying

I have been personally involved in arranging a couple of events in the Midlands where selected pupils from schools have gone on to become pilots

we wrote to schools in our area requesting them to select boys and girls who showed a keen interest in becoming involved in aviation, we did not restrict it to just the flying but any sector of the aviation industry whether they wanted to become an aircraft designer, technician, air traffic controller and so on

the responses where amazing, we asked for the pupils to write to us giving their reasons for their interest and selected from their responses the ones we felt had the most merit, they were chosen to spend a few hours with us where we gave them a brief lecture on the principals of flight, had an airline pilot give a talk on the path he had taken to get to be a captain on SAA and one of our local pilots who had many interesting stories to tell of the many years he had been flying. Each speaker was allocated just 10 minutes then it was time for an introductory flight.

It was also a pre-requisite that the parents were present all the time so they too had the lectures and joined us for a flight and they thoroughly enjoyed it

those were two of the most fun days I have ever had in aviation

we even had an incident on the one day when a Globe Swift lost a wheel on take off, fortunately not with one of the Young Eagles on board and it had to do a wheels up landing back in Maritzburg on the grass runway with the fire engines in attendance, the pilot landed his pride and joy perfectly with hardly a scratch to the aircraft

a great positive outcome which was met with much applause

So, if you can become involved in introducing young people to the world of flying you won't be dissapointed

[Tailspin]

whose trying to reap the benefits of your work ?? your expo stuff was to showcase BUILDING wasnt it... the project side of things... (correct me if im wrong) - were talking about raising an interest in FLYING...

chop

Yea Dish

Now worries.

[Dish]

so whens your new baby flying chap >??

[Tailspin]

so whens your new baby flying chap >??

Saturday

Doing last of Paperwork tonight, going to Andre Swanepoel CAA tomorrow

Hold thumbs

[Dish]

where will you be taking off from

[Kalahari]

Unfortunately part of this is to blame on CERTAIN instructors, and please this is no generalisation at all, I know of more than 1 Student pilot that was so excited about Microlighting that paid for their instruction and kicked of with a bang only to be dissapointed everytime they want to make an appointment with their instructors, guys that struggled to get 10hrs of instruction in a year and then they eventually give up and write their money of. This guys do not live in isolation and unfortunately they spread the word and their friends and friends of their friends that was also fascinated also lost interest before they even started just because of an unacceptable situation. Have a look on this forum and you will find some of this students on here as well!

[Tailspin]

where will you be taking off from

Flying from Crosswinds

If i can twist Alex or grants arm to do a Test flight & conversion i will be well on my way to Tedderfield

[Dish]

@ kalahari

Your right chap - there are elements out there who arent fantastic. Dont show up for lessons, dont conduct lessons properly etc. Im sure that aspect has dampened a few peoples enthusiasm for sure. Trick then is to sift out the crappy ones (who shouldnt be instructing anyway) and attend reputable well referenced schools.. - good point.

Solution ?

[Bundy]

AIRSHOWS and AVIATION EVENTS.

Who goes to airshows ? People with an interest in aviation. You want to bring newbies to the sport. Now you invite family and friends, and schools, who don't give a damn about flying. They pitch up for the dop and tjop, and maybe a flip. Are they aviation nuts ?

I have NEVER been to an airshow where a microlight - or gyro - school offered flips, R 50 for 15 min. Chopper fun flights are all over the place, but who is going to start flying choppers after their 15 min flight.

It's not about making money on the show, it's about marketing !!! Are there ANYTHING like this lined up for Tedderfied. I guess not.

P.S. I have a 55 yr old colleague at work, that hasn't miss an airshow, in 100 km radius, for the past 15 years. Have he been in the air yet - NEVER. Does he want to fly - YES. Does he get opportunities to be introduced to microlighting. Hmmmmm........

Just a thought.

Tedderfield is aimed at existing pilots and students and was concieved because MISASA wanted to host an event which showcases the best aircraft we have on the market within various price brackets across all types. WCM, CCM, LSA etc. It is not aimed (at least not this year) at the general public. So no, there no plans for flipping as most of those attending will be pilots themselves.

Introducing people to microlighting is not in my opinion the responsibility of the schools or MISASA alone. Its up to us to bring Joe Public in and get them interested. This is why I feel so strongly that the work needs to start at local airfield/club level. When you have a "buzzing" airfield, and then introduce newbies to that enviroment....things can only prosper.

The only time schools are interested in marketing is when the students stop booking lessons Im afraid.

In broad terms, a Young Eagles program is a great way to expose the youngsters and I certainly like this idea. It's really a pity such programs (I remember something similar when I was at school) have fallen away.

It will help bugger all however if those same young eagles arrive at an airfield with rusty, dust covered planes....and not a pilot in sight

It's like golf in many ways.... I never played the game for years until one day I was invited to tag along....I played like a doos, but it was that first game that got me hooked....flying is no different.

[Loco]

I played like a doos, but it was that first game that got me hooked....flying is no different.

bundy you biscuit! well put, ps. i still play golf like a d...

[Bundy]

I played like a doos, but it was that first game that got me hooked....flying is no different.

bundy you biscuit! well put, ps. i still play golf like a d...

That makes two of us buddy!

Pssst.....we are not alone!