Growing Membership

[Rob60430]

Howdy ya'all,
I've been a lurker here for about 4 years, I had to go through the membership list to find my sign-on so I could post this message.

A week ago or so was a discussion about declining membership and ideas on how to reverse that trend. Certainly in these challenging economic times
this is not an ez venture.

As an individual that has been blessed with many out of the norm fantastic
flying experiences the one that has been most frustrating is right here, and that's just trying to get some gyro seat time to see what you guys are talking about.

If I was in the selling Gyro's business I would be doing my damndest to find a way to sponsor more instructors, and establish some flying clubs.

As one who loves the flying experience in everything from Jets to Trikes
nothing has been more captivating to me than observing well flown Gyro's.

The most friendly people I have had the pleasure to meet are ones in aviation circles, and you guys are no different. However if you really want to grow with your small numbers its going to take more effort.

Fly safe
Rob

[PW_Plack]

Rob,

Welcome! You're right about the intro rides, but to be frank, I don't think any of the gyro kitmakers are doing enough volume right now to invest in travel to provide rides or instruction outside their local areas. You could argue that investment needs to come first, but there's not enough margin in the kits to cover that expense. We suffer to some extent from being known as "the cheapest way to fly."

Be a little less vague than "homewood" with your location, and maybe we can direct you to a fly-in or other opportunity to get an introductory ride.

[GyroDoug]

Rob,

How bad do you want it? I can tell you where you can get some flying time in a Gyro this Friday and Saturday. Come to the Utah Rotorcraft Association's Fly In. You can get more info on it at: "prachapter2.org". I realize this may not be close or convenient, so it really goes back to the first question, how bad do you want it. I had to drive over 2,000 miles to attend my first Gyro Event. I think you will find many in the sport that would tell of similar stories.

If you want it to be close and convenient, you can just sit around and hope and give it 10 years and see if the sport grow enough that there will be someone closer and more convenient to you. OR You could do whatyou've got to do to go where there are some Gyros flying and check it out. A very wise man once said, "When the dreams big enough, the facts don't count."

When there wasn't a PRA Chapter within a 6 hour drive of where I lived, I started talking to anyone and everyone I could, I checked with the National PRA organization to get a list of any members they had that lived in my area and then I started Promoting the idea and today we have a new chapter here in Utah and I have found dozens of other people who share my love of Rotaryt Winged Flight.

Like you, I was new and certainly not the expert or the person to be leading others to flying Nirvana, but there wasn't anyone else available to do the job so I stepped up and started doing the best I could and it's getting kind of exciting what it has turned into. Come and join us if you dare. But beware, it is addictive and it will change your life.

Best of luck!!!!

Gyro Doug

[dragonflyerthom]

Rob

Rotary aircraft flying is like nothing else in aviation, Be it Helis or gyros. Welcome to the best secret that very few outside of the gyro community even know about. When I first became interested was when Carter Aviation had an article in Popular Mechanics years ago.

You just might be the one to help us turn the corner. Good Luck in your quest for Rotary Flight.:laser:

[JRB549]

I have driven 160 miles every weekend (minus one here or there) for the last 2 years to live out my dream. I have given up alot, some would say " is'nt the price to high" if they knew all it has taken to do this thing called a GYRO. My first solo flight said " yes it was worth all of it". You've got to understand, I have the scars to prove a cloths pen, a towel and the leap off the roof before the age of 5 was tellin me something. On my first ride, I remembered that jump and said this is what I was tryin to do that day.

[fiveboy]

On my first ride, I remembered that jump and said this is what I was tryin to do that day.


PERFECT!

Fiveboy