It doesn’t sound condescending to me. He addresses the hobbyist and the start some giants in aviation got as children playing with toy airplanes. He spends more than a few lines about how many other children have fueled their imagination by being able to readily access the hobby. The AMA is struggling to keep it open to all including our children. After all these models like snowmobiles, boats, RVs, ATVs. etc. are not necessities so they too are in a way toys. Many including adults consider them mere toys for entertainment while others can take it to the extreme building very complex and superior grade flying machines. Except for a very few it’s all done in the name of recreation and relaxation. I think that is where the reference to being toys originates from.



More than once he seems to poke fun at the FAA for taking things a bit too serious. One reference that comes to mind is that of an overweight paper airplane having to be registered. I would think not many have built paper airplanes that large though it might be something to see.