Silver Wings not teaching anymore after this weekend.

[silverwings]

I will not be teaching anymore after this weekend. The cost of Pasa/RRG, the hassle of having to go and spend a day mowing (it takes 4.5 hours not counting travel) every 2-3 weeks, constantly following the weather to see if it might be teachable, trying to get adequate students for a class, the pain of traffic going to Taylors most of the year and especially during the summer, and giving up my weekends if teachable has made me decide to stop teaching.

[silverwings]

Be aware that I mowed there on Monday, so the grass should be fine for 2 - 3 weeks before it starts to get too high making it unsafe. The Taylors do mow a few times a year but that is only when it fits in their schedule for haying.

[wuffos]

John,
Thank you for your efforts over the years, and I salute you.

Sincerely,

Bill U.
Phila., PA

[stevek]

How long have you been teaching down there?

[wmelo]

Congratulations for all the achievements as an instructor!
As a former student of yours, I am very thankful for your dedication!
What about having a retirement party?

[PTerry]

John -- Thank you for all the years of instruction and support of free flight in the region.
All the best and having weekends back to yourself.
Pat

[mcgowantk]

Hi John

You have served as an instructor for many more years than we deserved. I believe that I found the Silver Wings phone number in the Washington Post in 1994 and you had been teaching long before that. I think you taught almost every weekend through the summer and fall. I got my H-II in no time since you devoted both days most weekends to teaching. I would bet that many of us had the same experience.

I can't thank you enough for being an instructor and for teaching so many of us to fly.

Tom McGowan

[carweill]

John
Echo Tom's comments. I remember having to travel out-of-state to get instruction until I found out you operated locally.
Even after you helped us get ratings, let us a join your first days in spring for the yearly refreshers.

Thank you John!

Carlos

[silverwings]

Thanks for the comments. I taught for 30 years! I was able to teach my last classes on Saturday (with 4 students) and on Sunday (with 2 first timers).

[g.sessa]

John,

Thank you for all the years of dedication to the sport of hang gliding, and for bringing so many new people into the sport (including myself)! You have been a great instructor over the years, and have certainly made a difference in helping to grow the CHGPA community! While your HG instruction will certainly be missed, I can understand why you have made this decision. Enjoy your time, and see you soon in the sky!

Greg

[chuckok]

Sounds like it's time for a retirement party!

[Eric]

I wish I could've been there for one of your last classes. Thanks again for all the top notch instruction. You deserve instructor of the quarter century plus as far as I'm concerned (not just 2012).

The grass doesn't grow as quickly and the traffic isn't as bad during the cooler months... It's too bad about the cost of Pasa/RRG. How does a hang gliding and paragliding club remain a hang gliding and paragliding club without a resident hang gliding instructor?