MrCoffee-RCU
Posts: 69
Joined: 5/26/2003
From: Chicago, IL,
Status: offline
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From the looks of it, it is all going to the park flyer. Hobby shops are already full of the simple (what you call SPAD) plastic and/or foam planes that don't really need much assembly. In fact, hobby shops already sell more RTF planes then ARF. These are models like the Firebird, which comes with everything including the radio and runs on the 27 mhz frequency. Most of these models are lighter then kites, and can do little damage when or if they strike something.
At one of the hobby shops, a sales manager told me that they could demonstrate one of those models in the parking lot, and nobody even questions it. It's looked at just like somebody flying a kite!
The larger gas powered models will still be with us, though. But those few who purchase them will be the most dedicated to the hobby. There will be fewer of them made, because there will be fewer places to fly them due to the increase in population density and noise ordinances. Then, of course, there's the liability issue.
The best of times for a kid, really, was the late 1960s and early 1970s where plastic control-line models were common in every school yard. By the time I was 13, they had all but disappeared from the parks and school grounds. This was too bad, because there is less for a kid on a bicycle to see, do, and be curious about. I still look for people to fly models in parks to this day, but never see them. Even the Estes model rockets are extremely rare, if ever seen in action! It didn't help much when model rockets got banned at the park that I was working at over night during a Stockade (similar to boy scouts) camp-out.
Here is what I would hope for: I would hope that model airplanes will be seen as a valuable, and fun tool for recreation. The hobby needs to sepparate its self from aviation and aerospace studies, and focus on fun and pleasure. This thought about somebody learning R/C because "I want to be a pilot" or "I want to learn how to design and build a guided missile" must come to an end. Instead, let us think about: "I want to fly an R/C model airplane because it looks GREAT, is colorful, and the way it streaks across the sky just like that hot-pink Hawian stunt kite being flown in a soccer field on a perfect day!"
The C/L hobby craze back in the '50s through the '70s was inspired by the romance of full-scale aviation, only to eventually sputter due to lack of opportunities for those dreaming of growing up to be a pilot. Take R/C for what it is, a fun sport. Don't worry about "recruiting young minds to inspire them to design the next Boeing 7**". Build the ARF, SPAD, or what ever. Fly it. Tell someone else about it because "it's more fun then skate boarding or Nintendo". Kids will listen!
MrCoffee
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> The Clubhouse >> Prediction for r/c future? 
Prediction for r/c future? - 
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Prediction for r/c future? - 
Prediction for r/c future? - 
