John Matylonek <<john>>
writes:

The instructional program at Oregon Hang Gliding School is getting
some precocious progress in students because of a confluence of factors.
Interest in lessons is increasing because of the existence of comforting
systematic instruction. In fact, pre-teens and teenagers (and parents) are
increasingly taking lessons. We taught ten kids this season. Be ready for an
upsurge in ratings five years from now, when these kids become adults.

There is no sugar coating of what it takes to become basically competent, which
is generally appreciated by mature minded people. Thus the general quality of
the students has improved. We are weeding out the fools. In particular,
willingness to shore up weaknesses, pay for the program and persistence has
increased. Also, the advanced pilot community and former students are being
wonderful mentors for up and coming students. This is reinforcing the message,
of paying for the program, of sticking to fundamentals while making headway to
new skills (being on the same page). Regular, consistent and corroborating
messaging is ultimately important in attracting new students. The prospect of
hang gliding is too scary to hear wildly different strategies to learning.

I have noticed that the four of the second altitude flights this season resulted
in soaring flights - two of which were thermal flights as a first soaring
experience. Check out the video below.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oregon-Hang-Gliding-School/208548966114