Originally Posted by franklin_m

IMO, one of the issues that AMA must face sooner or later is access to flying sites. I realize everyone's situation is different, but I did a comparison of the cold hard economics & logistics for my situation:

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: center"]AMA Field[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Local Park[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]RT distance[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]26 miles[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]0.038 miles (100 feet)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Gas cost[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]$6.26[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]zero (load aircraft in wagon and walk)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]RT time[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]39 minutes[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]5 minutes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AMA Fee[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]$75 (req'd)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]$0 (AMA not req'd)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Club Fee[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]$100 (req'd)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]$0 (no club = no fees)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Altitude limit[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]600 feet[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]none[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Nearby Airport notification req'd[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Yes[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Yes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Runway type[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Grass[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Grass[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Types can fly[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Any (as long as meet noise restrictions)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Electric only[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Size aircraft can fly comfortably in space[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Any[/TD]
[TD="align: center"].25 size electric / 500 helo[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Yesterday I went to the park with three helos (2x 450's and a 500). Flew 9 packs through the 450's, and three through the 500. Total time: 80 minutes, with 75 of it spent either flying or changing batteries. Best of all, close proximity meant I went home charged all the batteries (1C on four chargers), and two hours later went back and did it all again!

Contrast that with the logistics getting to/from the "normal" RC field. Not saying it's the same for everyone, but switching to slightly smaller stuff I can fly close to home has meant more flying in one day that I typically got in several trips to the flying field in years past. Economically, I also can save up to $175 a year in club/ama fees plus gas - which buys a lot of batteries and kits!