stevezero
Posts: 820
Score: 100 Joined: 12/18/2001 Last Login: 12/21/2012 From: Greensboro, NC, USA Status: offline
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I'll add my $.03 (adjusted for inflation and exchange rates). There are many reasons why I dont fly anywhere near as often as i used to. My situation is unique to me, but Im sure many have similar circumstances. I've flown off and on from the 80s, built some, arf'ed alot, rebuilt and modded planes, etc. Everything from micros up to pattern and 3d. I currently fly sailplanes/gliders, indoor electric, and whatever else suits my fancy. I dont fly at the local clubs. Dont knock the foam toy planes, the mylar toy planes (Vapors and such). They have caused more hours of continuous laughter( to the point of crying LOL) in an airconditioned gym in the summer, same heated gym in the winter. 15 vapors attempting carrier landings on tables and flying through hula hoops is a riot. Those indoor events are not affilliated with any club, which seems to bring out the folks like me who just want to hang out and have a good time. noone hesitates to hand a transmitter to a total stranger, kid, etc, because the chances of damage are slim. Weve gotten folks hooked that were just passing by because of that. I dont think there are many folks that would do that with a 50% plane... Club life: I became fed up with the drama at the club field, the cliques that tried to dictate where you parked, and defined you by who you parked next to, pitted next to, and talked to. At the club I'm referring to, those were the same folks that looked down upon new members/younger guys (even though they were more than happy to take the dues money). They were also the same folks that kept shoooting down attempts at funfly events, swap meets, etc. I flew as often as 6 days a week (lunch and after work during the week). A few folks did the meat of the field work, and sadly, that became expected of them, and were chastized when the field wasnt mowed, etc...Quite honestly, i became burned out over all things flying, did it too much, and the guys i hung out with either left the club or moved out of state. When your bad influences leave, it reduces your desire to go. When glow fuel got ridiculously expensive (burning a gallon or two over a weekend), i didnt fly as often. The costs associated with converting to electric were not feasible for me at that time. Real Life: Work had me out of town doing project work....that left weekends to get caught up on all the stuff at home. Family medical issues...taking care of elderly parents in declining health puts things in perspective... Daughter took up playing soccer, so I coached her team. Games on Sat, Practice on Sunday. Kids will take precedence over toy planes. Other hobbies filtered in, kayaking, hiking, shooting, etc. each sliver (like Jester said) took me further away from flying. Sadly, flying isnt the only bastion of cliquey people.... Any other number of little things taking up a saturday here, sunday there, or a weekend. Now i race rc sailboats in 3 classes, fly indoors a few times a month, fly sailplanes at the high school down the road and head over to the mtns for sloping/glider flying on occasion. I'm doing those activities when I WANT to do them, not when someone tells me i have to do them. We have club functions where we expose kids and families to sailing, and hand transmitters to folks that walk up almost every weekend. Most are scared at first, but when you tell them they wont sink it, they take right to it. Real life is still happening...My daughter and I are doing full scale flight school, trying to find her a college, etc. Flying rc is NOT a priority, definitely nowhere near as important as it once was. My daughter's interest in RC as a youngster has contributed to her education and profession choices, so it did serve a very valuable purpose. The one perception that I see from some of the initial posts was that people are looking down on folks that arent at the field every week, if even occasionally, or not at all. The levels of commitment are going to vary from person to person, just appreciate the good ones when they show up, miss them when they dont, and try to tolerate the doodieheads when they make their appearances.
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