Originally Posted by
init4fun
Answer #1 ; Growth of the hobby , period . Not growth of the AMA , not growth of the aspects of the hobby I'm interested in , the raw numbers of people practicing any form of aeromodeling per percentage of the population is smaller today I believe than in years past , and the recent bankruptcy of "Hobbico" (Absorbed by Horizon) is further proof that the numbers just aren't there . When one of the only two big names in the industry fails so spectacularly , the proof of the decline is right there "in your face" as it were . Can you imagine if interest in owning cars fell so far as to see Ford or GM literally disappear overnight ? Think THAT would be indicative of waning public interest ?
Answer #2 , I consider the "Aeromodeling hobby" to be anything that flys through the air for fun , without a human pilot on board . That craft can be a model of an airplane , a helicopter , a multicopter , be the method of control R/C C/L or even no control from the ground at all , F/F . As far as I'm concerned it can be a remotely operated model of a hot air balloon , it's still Aeromodeling ! Are you flying it for fun , without actually being on board the aircraft ? If your answer is yes , then it's aeromodeling .
Any further questions ?????
We agree on #1.
#2 based on your answer I would suggest the hobby has grown with the introduction of the drones or MRs as some call them. After all, the FAA reports some 1 million people have registered as recreational drone pilots. Prior to this one could easily have got the impression that the AMAs claimed 200,000 members constituted the majority of hobbyists.
So I believe the hobby itself, as you described it, is still viable and even healthy to a point. Granted, it's not the same hobby we grew up with. And many of us will no doubt continue to see our favorite parts of the hobby fade and become more difficult to practice.
But maybe what needs to happen is for us to remember what it was like when we first started. And see how we can relate it to today's youth? The hobby will not grow through the AMA. It has to grow at the grass roots level. And that then becomes our job. Us old farts with experience and time.
I have 3 neighborhood kids who are learning to build RC models. 2-3 times a week they come over and I help them work on their planes. We acquired plans and laser kits for 3 basic trainers from the 60's and will maiden them all come spring. The kids realize this takes time and I have rules for them, homework, etc. But they are learning and asking questions. One mother usually shows up too and even she is learning and excited by the prospects of all this.