Originally Posted by
franklin_m
You're kidding right? Move? So you're advocating spending of $30K plus to move, yanking two kids out of school, paying out of state tuition plus room and board for the one left behind, sell a house, buy a house, overturn a social life, just for a hobby? Absolutely ridiculous suggestion. These costs alone would be prohibitive.
So it is obvious then that your lifestyle will not permit you to change at this time. Not a big deal there.
Originally Posted by
franklin_m
On the put in pavement at existing site and/or grind and smooth. Again, all well and good if the airport owner allows it. And they don't. Not enough traffic at airport to support maintenance and upkeep of fully paved runway, and property isn't large enough to put in parallel paved runway next to approved grass runway. What looks like a lot of property to the north is owned by someone else. Area to left (west) is temporary parking area for transient full scale. Area to right and directly behind existing flight line are hangars and / or a home. Another suggestion that sounds good on paper, but next to impossible in implementation at this site. We could buy land somewhere, but that's cost prohibitive - especially when most land in the area is under class E with floor at 700AGL. Have to go thirty plus miles away to get out from under that.
So the board has sat down and investigated the possibilities? That would be a good step forward.
Originally Posted by
franklin_m
So the only real option is to change what I fly. Again, more expense for the member. Larger planes, more expensive equipment (engines), more expensive servos, etc. Additionally, the only planes I've seen do well there are vastly overpowered mid wing tail dragger aerobats. If I had an interest in that, maybe. But I don't.
You seemed to have assumed too much. May be I have as well. I am thinking you are flying a typical 40-60 size bird? You stated that the surface is too rough for your aircraft. With my assumption of that, I would think that hand launch aircraft that belly land is best suited for your field and/Or jumping to 90 size and larger aircraft without wheel pants is better for the area you are launching from. The type and size of aircraft is completely dictated by facilities that are available to you.
Originally Posted by
franklin_m
So, I'm apparently less of an AMA member than you. As I place limits on the amount of money I'll spend on a hobby. I guess that makes you better than me. So be it. But, there's a lot more folks out there like me, folks on a budget, folks that don't eat live and breathe the hobby. If AMA needs folks like me to survive, then I argue they need to change. On the other hand, if they want to be an organization that can survive on folks like you, then that's their choice.
I don't ever recall stating ("So, I'm apparently less of an AMA member than you.") or anything remotely close to that. Sounds to me like you're envious or possibly jealous of people whom have taken the time to migrate to larger aircraft at your field?
You and only you have imposed artificial limits on yourself via a budget limit on your hobby. Your budget is allowing you to fly, which is awesome. So with your limits also come with limits as to the type of facility you fly your aircraft at.
How is it the AMA's responsibility to dictate what facilities are available to you? In what way(s) do you believe the AMA needs to change in order to be more friendly to folks in your state of affairs? May be you can elaborate on your current state of affairs, such as the type, mode and size of aircraft you enjoy with your current budget?
Originally Posted by
franklin_m
Based on yours and BH's comments, it appears that's what the organization wants.
Your local club and the AMA as a whole need dedicated people yes. Your local club, hobby shop and the AMA need people with money to help keep the hobby going. But all of the above also need a consistent flow of people to survive. It doesn't matter if a person chooses to fly a drone or a giant scale turbine warbird. All of these type of people choose the form of flight that interest them with the budget limits they set. If more people show up to your local field with flat foamie 3D aircraft, then you know the field will never be mowed. If the majority of your club fly Sailplanes, then you know your field will be a putting green. If the majority fly mid sized 40-60 size aircraft, there is a good possibility the surface will be paved. So on and so on. The AMA does not dictate the type of people whom join or the form of flight they choose. The people do.