ORIGINAL: 804
ORIGINAL: ES CONTROL
In 1997 A Hobby shop owner in Iowa told me the average age of a RC modeler was like 80+ years old .
What would that age be today ?
Ha, sometimes I feel that old,
but I would guess the average age
of the three clubs (50-60 members each) near me
is around the mid-forties.
I second that.
I'm 45, 46 in July and most pilots I see in clubs in District II is 30-70+. We have a WWII Korea vet still flying and building in our club, he's about 85? There is a club called the JR Hawks and it is for Jr AMA members. I think the oldest is about 17? And I think it has about 15 members? But the average age I have to guess is about 65. This is the reason why I think this. The economy is bad and people that do have good jobs work crazy hours and are doing everything they can to keep their heads above water. The bills are getting higher but the salaries stay the same.
People who turn 65 start to retire and either they join the hobby, or return to it because they don't have to worry so much about income as much, and have more time on their hands. Some of them continue to work part time to make ends meet, but they have more time to give in the hobby.
It's just a theory, not basing it on any fact that I know of, but I just suspect it might be the case.
It's a good topic to ponder on.
Pete