Originally Posted by bogbeagle

JB,

DESPITE all the wailing about falling numbers ... RC gear is cheaper, better and more readily-accessible than ever.

How do you explain that, if RC is dying? "Right now we are enjoying affordability brought on by technology (and to a degree cheap labor costs in Asia) keeping design and production costs down." And, there is a difference between being in decline and dying.



There are, I believe, more modellers than ever before. It's just that, if you are focused on the "club scene" you don't see them. The result is that you acquire a distorted view of the hobby; and you get to thinking that it's dying.

If that were true you'd see individuals flying in every vacant field, school yard and park. I don't see that. I see club's membership dwindling and no mass number of lone wolf flyers taking the place of the club members. It's not because people don't like clubs or the AMA or the UK equivalent, it just changing times.

Many people have moved on from the need for clubs and the requirement to be tied to a flying field and the seemingly-unavoidable hobby-police.

I don't think I am a member of the hobby police, our club is very relaxed and only rules that absolutely pertain to safety are enforced to any degree. In these litigious times, the protection afforded by the AMA or flying at a designated site is more valuable than ever.

I'm convinced that the only things which are dying, are the monolithic organisations which have developed over the past few decades. I'll raise a glass to their passing.

Since I can't answer for clubs I don't belong to, all I can say is to some extent you are correct, clubs that take the fun out of flying will eventually die, those that make an effort to be open, fun and inclusive will thrive.


You ask which once-common hobbies are still thriving today. My answer, "The good ones."

That is a great non answer.

People voted with their feet and the dross has fallen by the way-side. AFAIAC, that is a very good thing.