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Success Stories

Success Stories. Tidewater Soaring Society Region IV S.E. Virginia Garner Gliderport 3VA8. Presentation to 2006 Soaring Society of America Convention Gary W. Van Tassel, President. Garner Gliderport. Two Runways – no waiting Tow Plane Landing Glider T/O and Landing

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Success Stories

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  1. Success Stories Tidewater Soaring Society Region IV S.E. Virginia Garner Gliderport 3VA8 Presentation to 2006 Soaring Society of America Convention Gary W. Van Tassel, President

  2. Garner Gliderport

  3. Two Runways – no waiting • Tow Plane Landing • Glider T/O and Landing • Safety / Retrieve Strip

  4. TSS Today • Long term commitment on gliderport • 2 towplanes (Citabria, Pawnee) • 5 gliders (2-33s, 1-26D, L33, L23) • No debt • 55 to 65 members, can accommodate more • Fully funded engine overhaul fund • Strong cash reserves

  5. Fee Schedule • Initiation Fee $200.00 • Refundable deposit $200.00 • Family member (each) $ 50.00* • Yearly SSA Dues $ 64.00 • Monthly Dues $ 30.00 *one time fee

  6. Fee Schedule • Aircraft Rental (per hour) • 2-33 $ 5.00 • 1-26D $ 7.00 • L33 Solo $12.00 • L23 $12.00 • Tow Fees • 3000 ft. $19.50

  7. Short History • Formed in 1966 • 10 members • Each member bought a share for $200 • Club purchased a 2-22 • No Dues • 1969 club dues instituted • 1972 • Membership down to 16 • Treasury in less than desired shape

  8. 1972 • Bold move to turn the tide! • Buy a new tow plane • Guarantee regular towing service • Raise interest in regular flying • 1974 • Membership increasing • Tow plane paying its way • Search for new home

  9. South Norfolk Airport

  10. South Norfolk South Norfolk Airport closed in 1985 Victim of development and expansion

  11. 1975 – moved to Garner • Continued to struggle financially • 1980 Tow plane suffered serious landing accident • 1981 Tow plane engine failure • 1983 TSS getting stronger • Outstanding loans down to $10,000 • Daily flight record – 36 flights • Yearly total – over 1000 flights • Reduced monthly dues! • 1985 • 45+ members • Debt Free !

  12. 1989 – Second tow plane added • 1990 – Second 2-33 added • 1991 – Over 50 members • TSS membership planned for the future • Engine overhaul fund • Capital improvement fund • Plan to accumulate capital to acquire airport

  13. TSS Has Permanent Home • 1999 – Mr. Garner graciously offers to donate field • 501C3 created to acquire the field • Tidewater Soaring Foundation • Tidewater Soaring Society (501C7) leases field from TSF • 2000 – TSS has long term commitment on Garner Gliderport

  14. WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SAY?

  15. The New Millennium • Capital to acquire field can be put to other uses • New sailplane hangar • New L-33 Solo • New L-23 • Pawnee recover & overhaul

  16. The MembershipPuts Hands to Work

  17. Rolling The Field The difference between men and boys?

  18. Organizational Structure • Tidewater Soaring Society (501C7) • Member based Glider Club • Manages Gliderport and all flight activities • Owns all aircraft and other support equipment • Owns new hangar • Leases Gliderport from Tidewater Soaring Foundation under long term lease

  19. Tidewater Soaring Foundation (501C3) • Owns Garner Gliderport • Sponsors and manages Scholarship Program • Accepts tax deductible donations in support of its mission of promoting soaring flight • Leases Garner Gliderport to Tidewater Soaring Society under long term lease

  20. TSF/TSS Scholarship Program • Three scholarships available each year • 35 flights per student • All costs covered • TSS and SSA membership • Aircraft rental and tow fees • Instruction • Textbooks, logbooks, etc. • Upper age limit 21 • Strong interest in aviation and soaring • Financial need a factor

  21. Flight Activity

  22. Looking Ahead • Financially sound • Recent membership decline • Costs rising (Fuel, maintenance) • Participation decline • Need to re-energize the membership • Encroachment concerns, noise issues

  23. Constraints onMembership Growth • Instructors • Policy to not take new members unless an instructor is available • Scholarship program has major impact on instructor workload • Transition pilots (power to glider) much less instructor impact

  24. Other Concerns • Decreased availability of tail dragger pilots to take duties of tow pilot • Most power pilots trained in tricycle landing gear • May need to “grow our own” • INSURANCE

  25. Proposed Clubhouse

  26. Important for membership to work together and keep in step. Sometimes its hard to accomplish! Pilots will be pilots

  27. Always looking for new members. Even if they appear to be a bit stuffed.

  28. VA-EAA Regional Fly In • Worthwhile • Encourage other Region IV clubs to join us • Important to spread the word about soaring • Ready made base of pilots • Never know where next member will come from

  29. Thank You

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