Back to Jester's original subject...

Some claim that the 1980 rant in RC Model Builder is no different than today. I cannot agree. While the different segments of the hobby (i.e. the RCers vs the freeflighters, vs the controliners vs...) still quibble over superiority or modelbuilding/flying skills, there is little doubt that our hobby is currently having to defend its legitimacy from attack by the government (FAA), airline pilots, police departments, homeland security, the media, and a good half dozen or so other groups who would like to see model aviation be banned in its entirety due to the potential threat of model airplanes being used in a terrorist attack. (The potential and reality of such has has been highlighted by several recent attempts to do just that.) These attempts to legislate and control our hobby weren't even considered a possibility (or probability) in 1980. In 1980, our hobby's only real threat to others was from our noise.

So, while I DO understand and appreciate Jester's post of how little seems to have changed between 1980 and now, I don't believe the 1980 model-flying community was ever forced to defend its continued existence like it has to now!

Harvey