Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to fly?  
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> AMA Discussions >> Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to fly?
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Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to fly? - 5/29/2008 11:23:42 AM   
abel_pranger


 

Posts: 2319
Joined: 5/7/2003
From: St Augustine, FL,
Status: offline 		The topic is places to fly a model airplane. The same topic has arisen many times in this AMA Discussions forum. Too frequently the discussion has been quashed, apparently because flying model airplanes outside dominion of AMA is off-topic, or disagreement with the 'AMA or No Way' mentality is read as an ad hom sort of offense. Many people do enjoy the freedom of flying a model airplane sans fealty to AMA. Obtaining and securing flying sites is essential to model aviation, and I recognize and applaud the past contributions of AMA toward that end. OTOH, it seems apparent that many/most modelers/prospective modelers feel they have right to fly a model airplane without first paying homage to AMA for the privilege, and I agree with that perspective.

I will appreciate having your thoughts to consider in preparation to proposing to RCUAdmin that a forum open to discussion of flying sites, not limited to AMA chartered club sites, be established.

Abel

       Post #: 1

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/29/2008 1:22:10 PM   
Hypersprint


 

Posts: 59
Joined: 11/22/2007
From: Colchester, VT or Eustis, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I think it is a good idea to have a forum where we could post and discuss our flying sites.

We can let everyone know the type and size of the field, does everyone have permission to fly there, is it AMA only (most club fields), give an address or GPS coordinates so others may find it. I just recently found a field by accident that others fly at and it is only 4 miles from my house.

Maybe the moderator of this forum (if it happens) could keep a map updated with sites as they are posted. It would be nice to search or lookup an area I may be traveling to to locate any fields I could fly at.

_____________________________

I Love To Fly - - - - - - - With both feet planted firmly on the ground

(in reply to abel_pranger)
       Post #: 2

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/29/2008 1:34:22 PM   
STLPilot


 

Posts: 9216
Joined: 3/12/2003
From: Manhattan, NY, USA
Status: online
quote:

it seems apparent that many/most modelers/prospective modelers
Do you really believe for a second that 150,000 is the number that represents most modelers or prospective modelers? Oh and modelers do include those who do not build at all, just fly, otherwise I'm sure a huge chuck of the AMA wouldn't be considered modelers as well. Personally I don't know a single person who pays homage to the AMA, rather reaps the multitude of benefits the AMA provides at a cheap price and easy entry point. Besides, if the AMA didn't promote the way they did .... who would????

BTW before you say that my post is off subject, I'm responding to the first part of your comments, not the second. Besides AMA doesn't control flying sites in any way shape or form. It's the club's decision to charter themselves, not the AMA's.

_____________________________

Here At The Wall

(in reply to Hypersprint)
       Post #: 3

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/29/2008 2:36:59 PM   
P-51B



Posts: 6173
Joined: 10/11/2002
From: An Iceburg in, ANTARCTICA
Status: offline 		Isn't there a thread in the clubhouse forum for this already?

_____________________________

In order to think "outside the box", one must first accept there IS a box.

(in reply to STLPilot)
       Post #: 4

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to fly? - 5/29/2008 3:21:15 PM   
littlecrankshaf



Posts: 2135
Joined: 12/9/2001
From: here
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: abel_pranger



I will appreciate having your thoughts to consider in preparation to proposing to RCUAdmin that a forum open to discussion of flying sites, not limited to AMA chartered club sites, be established.

Abel




I agree.

Since flying sites is one the most important aspect of our hobby, a forum to discuss flying sites and the particulars of each would be awesome. The clubhouse forum is much to diverse to be of any real benefit for searching and comparing different flying sites. To have a means to find and locate all flying sites, especially non-AMA would be a real asset as there are many of us that would like to visit those while traveling. I know I sure would. I can’t even begin to understand a rational that would oppose such a forum. There is really no reason why not… It would also alleviate some pressures on this AMA forum.

A great idea!


_____________________________

Wow! Another epiphany…that is why the suckups suckup. Super sucking protection power. Yea baby.

(in reply to abel_pranger)
       Post #: 5

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/29/2008 3:26:48 PM   
RCKen



Posts: 14747
Joined: 7/10/2002
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Status: online 		RCU already has the ability for any club to list their flying field, and any information about that field.

RCU Field Locator

Ken

_____________________________

The take off is optional, but the landing is MANDATORY!!
AMA # 712539 www.gettingairborne.com
Moderator- Beginner''s, Sport Flying, Off-Topic, & AMA Discussions
RCU Community Moderator

(in reply to littlecrankshaf)
       Post #: 6

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/29/2008 3:39:57 PM   
littlecrankshaf



Posts: 2135
Joined: 12/9/2001
From: here
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: RCKen

RCU already has the ability for any club to list their flying field, and any information about that field.

RCU Field Locator

Ken

True... but it is very hard to impossible to differentiate non-AMA fields from AMA required fields. BTW The AMA has searchable club site info for AMAers.

_____________________________

Wow! Another epiphany…that is why the suckups suckup. Super sucking protection power. Yea baby.

(in reply to RCKen)
       Post #: 7


RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/29/2008 5:33:45 PM   
KidEpoxy



Posts: 3414
Joined: 10/14/2004
From: San Antonio, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I agree with both RCKen & LSC
RCU already has a searchable club list,
but the search criteria and/or ording makes one wade thru hundreds of AMA clubs - many that you have to go to their web page to find out they req AMA.

An alternative to a seperate forum would be to modify the RCU club search to diferentiate AMA Req or not.

But it should also allow for Unofficial / non-"club" Flying sites as well.
Such as the 20-30 guys that flew off the street over a watershed in the bay area.

If that can be accomplished, then the proposed new forum wouldnt be needed as much.
But if we did get a new forum, it would require some heavy moderation to keep the Crusaders & Outlaws from argueing "right to exist" & "freeloading" rather than just listing sites.

_____________________________

Optional MA is part of AMA history, we can go optional AGAIN if we just say so

(in reply to littlecrankshaf)
       Post #: 9

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/29/2008 6:55:30 PM   
RCKen



Posts: 14747
Joined: 7/10/2002
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Status: online 		I'm going to step in here as the voice of RCU. Right now I don't know that there would be enough traffic to justify a new forum as is recommended here. And that is going to be the first thing that Marc and Nathan will look at. It's a killer to have a forum that has very little traffic and they aren't going to have a forum sit around idle. Now by all means, if it can be shown there will be enough traffic they will definitely look at it.

The other thing that I would bring up about this is that it would be next to impossible to use as a good tool to help people. I say this because as a forum there is no way for somebody to really look and see what they need. Especially when the forum gets multiple page listings of threads. When somebody comes to the forum to find info on a field near them (or anywhere) they would have to search the entire forum listing to see if the town/field they are looking for is listed anywhere. I see this as becoming cumbersome and difficult to use as a practical tool.

In the long run I think that the database I listed above is a much better tool for what the OP is looking for. There is already a field in the database to indicate that AMA, or other memberships/licenses, to use the field. If other info needs to be we can look at adding that to the database if needed. Right now I'm not sure if Marc/Nathan would want to add a new forum for the reasons listed above. But I will most certainly bring this to their attention and see what they say about it.

Ken

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_____________________________

The take off is optional, but the landing is MANDATORY!!
AMA # 712539 www.gettingairborne.com
Moderator- Beginner''s, Sport Flying, Off-Topic, & AMA Discussions
RCU Community Moderator

(in reply to KidEpoxy)
       Post #: 10

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/29/2008 9:04:13 PM   
r2champion



Posts: 355
Joined: 9/5/2006
From: Mayking, KY, USA
Status: offline 		I love this idea. It would be nearly impossible for me to fly considering that the closest AMA chartered club is over an hours drive. If it wasn't for these unchartered fields, and finding out about them by word of mouth I never would have taken up the sport. But since I found the first field, and met a few folks, I have learned about a couple of other unchartered fields in the area. It would have been nice while I was visiting RCU for the first time checking out all of the features including the field search, if I would have found out about them then. I realize now that I can add them, however for the next person this new idea might be helpful. Just my thoughts!

_____________________________

My intials are "RC", I guess it was meant to be!

(in reply to RCKen)
       Post #: 11

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/30/2008 6:43:32 AM   
KidEpoxy



Posts: 3414
Joined: 10/14/2004
From: San Antonio, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I just went to the ole RCU Field Locator,
and entered the following for a serach:

Looking For: Venue
Type: Flying
Where: USA - California
Optional Keyword: No AMA
Display: 20 per page

Well, it came back with a sazzy little slogan along the lines of
"Sorry, no results matched your search. Try clearing your keyword"

Well, I really am looking for the No AMA part, so I'll expand my search area
Where: USA - All States
"Sorry, no results matched your search. Try clearing your keyword"


Fine, lets get the list of CA fields & I'll just skim the list manually looking for No AMA.
Four pages of results, and no mention of AMA or not in the list 
Venue 				Type 	City State/Province Country 
Fallbrook RC Flyers 		Flying      CA   USA 
Fresno radio modelers swap meet Flying      CA   USA 
Spingola-Simi Airpark 		Flying   Alameda   CA   USA 
Singola-Simi Airpark 		Flying   Alameda   CA   USA 
Northern California R/C Unlimited Flyers Flying   Anderson   CA   USA 
IMAA Chapter 679 			Flying   Atwater   CA   USA 
IMAA Chapter 679 			Flying   Atwater   CA   USA 
IMAA Chapter 679 			Flying   Atwater   CA   USA 
Bear Mountain Flyers RC Club 	Flying   Bakersfield   CA   USA 
Wekerle (Rebel) Field 		Flying   Bakersfield   CA   USA 
etc


so I have to click on each link in the list to get their page loaded
to read if they are or arenot,
then go back to the list page to get the next one,
and repeat for 4 pages of list

_____________________________

Optional MA is part of AMA history, we can go optional AGAIN if we just say so

(in reply to RCKen)
       Post #: 12

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/30/2008 11:24:52 AM   
STLPilot


 

Posts: 9216
Joined: 3/12/2003
From: Manhattan, NY, USA
Status: online
quote:

I just went to the ole RCU Field Locator,
and entered the following for a serach:

OK for one thing .... how many clubs are in driving distance are on the list that you need to scrub the list that hard, even if your travelling, they are listed by towns. What's the most in any town? Maybe 3? Why is anyone looking to see how many AMA vs non AMA clubs exist in the first place? Who cares? Are we just doing this for debate ... or does someone actually need this data as a resource? The tools are there if you need to find a club that is not AMA ... use it when you need it.

So many people want these free resources for non AMA flyers and members, insurance, clubs, forums. Sounds to me it could be a big opportunity for a new RC based community. Of course I wouldn't expect any advertisers to advertise there, that would hypocritical, so revenue streams may be hard to find. It's not that hard to put together either, the software they use for that now is like one of those tents that you throw on the ground and pop up themselves, just add a banner and a few plugin's. If you guys want so much, then do so much and your problems should be solved?!?


< Message edited by STLPilot -- 5/30/2008 1:49:52 PM >

_____________________________

Here At The Wall

(in reply to KidEpoxy)
       Post #: 13

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/30/2008 2:19:13 PM   
Red B.


 

Posts: 1022
Joined: 8/29/2002
From: Jonkoping, SWEDEN
Status: offline 		Please excuse a comment from a non-AMA, non-US RCU member.

IMHO, databases are often cumbersome to use. A graphical map interface is much mor intuitive and provides a better overview of the geographical position of the flying sites. If you follow the link below you will find a waypoint list in Google Map that probably provides the easiest to use field locator I know of.

Putt's Flying Sites

The list has been put together by "Putt" and this is the link to his web site: Putt's RC Home Page.

_____________________________

/Red B.

(in reply to KidEpoxy)
       Post #: 14

RE: Do we need another discussion forum Re: places to ... - 5/30/2008 3:16:02 PM