The State Of Our Hobby --- WOW
12-30-2016, 11:52 AM
#52
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So with no first hand knowledge you felt compelled to take an opposing stand to someone who isn't 900 miles away? I have visited IRKS, I have seen 20 people abandon that club to join us at the field over the past few years I've been going there.
How about you focus on the thread yourself before you try to get the last word in on something, 4 posts in a row is a bit much.
How about you focus on the thread yourself before you try to get the last word in on something, 4 posts in a row is a bit much.
12-30-2016, 12:30 PM
#54
Jester,
You're right. I respect his right to make the choice to let me walk. What prompted the boycott was the call afterwards. It's a bummer for him, as I've probably purchased a couple grand worth of stuff since then, much of it he might have had a chance to sell me. While it's true that not all customers will boycott over something like this, but the LHS needs to understand that some will. I'm one of that group.
You're right. I respect his right to make the choice to let me walk. What prompted the boycott was the call afterwards. It's a bummer for him, as I've probably purchased a couple grand worth of stuff since then, much of it he might have had a chance to sell me. While it's true that not all customers will boycott over something like this, but the LHS needs to understand that some will. I'm one of that group.
12-30-2016, 02:53 PM
#55
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This is the field, last Saturday. We have an area that was developed with roads and cleared, then the developer went bankrupt decades ago. Dave Platt (Dave Platt models) bought a lot that we fly on, in conjunction with the free flight association, giving everyone permission to be there, it's not private property. So all those years of uneventful flying have secured that area through today. It's very laid back and a lot of fun. In 2002 they taught me to fly again, and finding a couple of estate sales over the years, I shared the booty with them which was even more fun since flying free airplanes really brings out the aerobatic maneuvers from anyone, like a rental car of sorts. 
If you're ever down in FL, look us up. We use the road as a runway, it's great. We all pitch in for gas to get the grass mowed from one of the regulars that has a bush hog.
If you're ever down in FL, look us up. We use the road as a runway, it's great. We all pitch in for gas to get the grass mowed from one of the regulars that has a bush hog.Before I moved my family to Idaho we live in WA about 60 miles away, there was a fairly new middle school that had no development around it, beyond the soccer fields is where an old RC airport was, it was shut down because of the school being to close, so after that we started flying off the sports fields at the middle school every Sunday when there was nobody around to bother, worked out great for a few years until they started building houses where the old RC field was, not long after that we moved to ID and I still haven't found a nice place to fly out here aside from a club
Last edited by Dealspeed; 12-30-2016 at 03:06 PM.
12-30-2016, 06:43 PM
#59
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It's 51F right now here in Palm Bay, and 28F in Lockport NY, but it's 7 mph winds here and 51 feels like 49. Both fields will be nearly empty for the weekend I'm sure. But I know 3 who are going to brave the cold and fly anyway. I haven't found my coat since 2009, so I'll stay in my truck as much as possible. A whole 5 days ahead in the forecast. it sucks, but I've been through it before, so...
70s by Wednesday is a good thing. Hate to lose two weekends to crummy weather.
70s by Wednesday is a good thing. Hate to lose two weekends to crummy weather.
12-30-2016, 07:06 PM
#60
It's 51F right now here in Palm Bay, and 28F in Lockport NY, but it's 7 mph winds here and 51 feels like 49. Both fields will be nearly empty for the weekend I'm sure. But I know 3 who are going to brave the cold and fly anyway. I haven't found my coat since 2009, so I'll stay in my truck as much as possible. A whole 5 days ahead in the forecast. it sucks, but I've been through it before, so...
70s by Wednesday is a good thing. Hate to lose two weekends to crummy weather.
70s by Wednesday is a good thing. Hate to lose two weekends to crummy weather.
But that's all. Hope we don't lose it.
12-31-2016, 01:35 AM
#62
The field is owned and cared for by the county and it is rarely used for flying RC models, since they have to pay someone to take care of it, the tax payers would want it for another soccer field.
12-31-2016, 11:14 AM
#63
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Well you gave it a good effort.
Any business in a community could be seen as providing a service ( if only convenience ) to a community.
Hope you have a Happy New Year.
Any business in a community could be seen as providing a service ( if only convenience ) to a community.
Hope you have a Happy New Year.
Last edited by harcosparky; 12-31-2016 at 11:45 AM.
12-31-2016, 11:21 AM
#64
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This would be a win for the county as your club would be cutting the grass and they would not have to, and at the same time the club would have exclusive use of the fileld.
Your county Dept Or Recreation could even step in supporting the activity by promoting RC flying and the club along with its other activities.
Of course this would mean club members would have to step up and pitch in on the work ...... but the effort would be worth it in the long run.
I know of one club in this area that has done just that....and it seems to have worked for them.
12-31-2016, 11:26 AM
#65
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Here is the club that is on county property near me ....... http://hcrcm.com/about.html
The club pays for all improvements, and grounds care ...... and has exclusive use of the property.
They used to lease land from a farmer ..... but the farmer wanted to open a new business and push the club out. They found the new home on county property.
The club pays for all improvements, and grounds care ...... and has exclusive use of the property.
They used to lease land from a farmer ..... but the farmer wanted to open a new business and push the club out. They found the new home on county property.
12-31-2016, 12:46 PM
#66
Are you a member of a club? If so perhaps the club could approach the county about 'adopting' the fiield agreeing to take on it's general upkeep.
This would be a win for the county as your club would be cutting the grass and they would not have to, and at the same time the club would have exclusive use of the fileld.
Your county Dept Or Recreation could even step in supporting the activity by promoting RC flying and the club along with its other activities.
Of course this would mean club members would have to step up and pitch in on the work ...... but the effort would be worth it in the long run.
I know of one club in this area that has done just that....and it seems to have worked for them.
This would be a win for the county as your club would be cutting the grass and they would not have to, and at the same time the club would have exclusive use of the fileld.
Your county Dept Or Recreation could even step in supporting the activity by promoting RC flying and the club along with its other activities.
Of course this would mean club members would have to step up and pitch in on the work ...... but the effort would be worth it in the long run.
I know of one club in this area that has done just that....and it seems to have worked for them.
Last edited by fliers1; 12-31-2016 at 12:48 PM.
12-31-2016, 01:22 PM
#67
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Club participation in a lot of hobbies seem to be dwindling ..... amateur radio and photography as well as R/C flying.
Nobody wants to put forth the effort ..... they sit home and get all the information they need off YouTube, or so they think.
Hell even Radio Shack is TRYING to bring people who have a true interest into the hobby with their " Build-A-Drone " program.
Granted it is a 'micro' drone ....... not much to put together but the current generation seeks instant gratification and building just isn't for them.
I don't know what the answer is but that doesn't mean i am giving up.
12-31-2016, 02:07 PM
#68
I would ask if there is a hobby shop nearby ..... often a source of new member recruits .... but given what this thread is about, I doubt there is.
Club participation in a lot of hobbies seem to be dwindling ..... amateur radio and photography as well as R/C flying.
Nobody wants to put forth the effort ..... they sit home and get all the information they need off YouTube, or so they think.
Hell even Radio Shack is TRYING to bring people who have a true interest into the hobby with their " Build-A-Drone " program.
Granted it is a 'micro' drone ....... not much to put together but the current generation seeks instant gratification and building just isn't for them.
I don't know what the answer is but that doesn't mean i am giving up.
Club participation in a lot of hobbies seem to be dwindling ..... amateur radio and photography as well as R/C flying.
Nobody wants to put forth the effort ..... they sit home and get all the information they need off YouTube, or so they think.
Hell even Radio Shack is TRYING to bring people who have a true interest into the hobby with their " Build-A-Drone " program.
Granted it is a 'micro' drone ....... not much to put together but the current generation seeks instant gratification and building just isn't for them.
I don't know what the answer is but that doesn't mean i am giving up.
I've been trying to bring in new members, but it seems most clubs in the area wish to do such in their own way. One club in the Buffalo area once had over 125 members, but it's down to around 25.
Last edited by fliers1; 01-01-2017 at 12:18 PM.
12-31-2016, 02:29 PM
#69
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It's getting tough for clubs these days and that's a shame because hobbyists lost out.
I am also a licensed Amateur Radio Op and even Ham Radio Clubs are struggling. People just are not as social, as they were in generations past.
Of course past generations had to be social IN PERSON and todays generation is social electronically, which really doesn't work.
I know some clubs, in an effort to boost membership are hosting multi-rotor aircraft ( alias " drone " events such as FPV races.
My son is a member of one club, and he at least goes to all of their meetings however he is different from most his age .... he likes to do some of his own building, and there is a lot of builder experience at the clubs.
I am in the process now of emptying out one of our rooms and will be building a 16 foot long, 3 foot deep workbench just for an airplane build area for him.
That will be along one wall, along a second wall is my radio station, and on the third wall will be tool cabinets.
I'm probably more excited about it than he is ..... I love building wings from scratch plans.
Last edited by harcosparky; 12-31-2016 at 02:32 PM.
12-31-2016, 03:29 PM
#70
I would assume that all of the other clubs also have their own flying fields?
It's getting tough for clubs these days and that's a shame because hobbyists lost out.
I am also a licensed Amateur Radio Op and even Ham Radio Clubs are struggling. People just are not as social, as they were in generations past.
Of course past generations had to be social IN PERSON and todays generation is social electronically, which really doesn't work.
I know some clubs, in an effort to boost membership are hosting multi-rotor aircraft ( alias " drone " events such as FPV races.
My son is a member of one club, and he at least goes to all of their meetings however he is different from most his age .... he likes to do some of his own building, and there is a lot of builder experience at the clubs.
I am in the process now of emptying out one of our rooms and will be building a 16 foot long, 3 foot deep workbench just for an airplane build area for him.
That will be along one wall, along a second wall is my radio station, and on the third wall will be tool cabinets.
I'm probably more excited about it than he is ..... I love building wings from scratch plans.
It's getting tough for clubs these days and that's a shame because hobbyists lost out.
I am also a licensed Amateur Radio Op and even Ham Radio Clubs are struggling. People just are not as social, as they were in generations past.
Of course past generations had to be social IN PERSON and todays generation is social electronically, which really doesn't work.
I know some clubs, in an effort to boost membership are hosting multi-rotor aircraft ( alias " drone " events such as FPV races.
My son is a member of one club, and he at least goes to all of their meetings however he is different from most his age .... he likes to do some of his own building, and there is a lot of builder experience at the clubs.
I am in the process now of emptying out one of our rooms and will be building a 16 foot long, 3 foot deep workbench just for an airplane build area for him.
That will be along one wall, along a second wall is my radio station, and on the third wall will be tool cabinets.
I'm probably more excited about it than he is ..... I love building wings from scratch plans.
01-01-2017, 05:08 AM
#71
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You could be the gardener ........ what seed? Clubs can merge. ( of course if they were one club in the past and split off, like some ham clubs have done leader personalities may not allow this. )
Or maybe the clubs do not want to merge ........ but the county owned field could be an asset shared among several clubs.
I'm not sure what would work .... but just tossing out ideas to help you keep what sounds like a great resource - the flying field.
01-01-2017, 05:58 AM
#72
Perhaps a seed needs to be planted and see what grows.
You could be the gardener ........ what seed? Clubs can merge. ( of course if they were one club in the past and split off, like some ham clubs have done leader personalities may not allow this. )
Or maybe the clubs do not want to merge ........ but the county owned field could be an asset shared among several clubs.
I'm not sure what would work .... but just tossing out ideas to help you keep what sounds like a great resource - the flying field.
You could be the gardener ........ what seed? Clubs can merge. ( of course if they were one club in the past and split off, like some ham clubs have done leader personalities may not allow this. )
Or maybe the clubs do not want to merge ........ but the county owned field could be an asset shared among several clubs.
I'm not sure what would work .... but just tossing out ideas to help you keep what sounds like a great resource - the flying field.
01-01-2017, 06:22 AM
#73
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RC clubs, might want to think about that.
I know one club that set aside a section of their field for use by multi-rotor, and the tiny " park fliers ". Basically aircraft that could not fly in the normal pattern.
Members would bring their kids, the kids would have an area to fly their " toys " and further develop their interest in RC flying. We even allowed RC trucks and cars in one area, the idea being those people would see all the fun of flying and maybe want to get involved.
I can envision RC Flying clubs, joining forced with RC Car/Truck clubs ...... going to a town/county and proposing a JOINT RC Park .......... Flying on one side, land use track(s) on the other. That would be an amazing facility !!!!!!
Last edited by harcosparky; 01-01-2017 at 06:30 AM.
01-01-2017, 06:37 AM
#74
Well ....... Drone operators are RC fliers, so it makes sense to recruit them as well.
RC clubs, might want to think about that.
I know one club that set aside a section of their field for use by multi-rotor, and the tiny " park fliers ". Basically aircraft that could not fly in the normal pattern.
Members would bring their kids, the kids would have an area to fly their " toys " and further develop their interest in RC flying. We even allowed RC trucks and cars in one area, the idea being those people would see all the fun of flying and maybe want to get involved.
I can envision RC Flying clubs, joining forced with RC Car/Truck clubs ...... going to a town/county and proposing a JOINT RC Park .......... Flying on one side, land use track(s) on the other. That would be an amazing facility !!!!!!
RC clubs, might want to think about that.
I know one club that set aside a section of their field for use by multi-rotor, and the tiny " park fliers ". Basically aircraft that could not fly in the normal pattern.
Members would bring their kids, the kids would have an area to fly their " toys " and further develop their interest in RC flying. We even allowed RC trucks and cars in one area, the idea being those people would see all the fun of flying and maybe want to get involved.
I can envision RC Flying clubs, joining forced with RC Car/Truck clubs ...... going to a town/county and proposing a JOINT RC Park .......... Flying on one side, land use track(s) on the other. That would be an amazing facility !!!!!!
01-01-2017, 06:58 AM
#75
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