We obviously have different opinions. I agree that if we look at the registration numbers it would appear that there are more UAS in the air. In fact I would agree that outside AMA chartered club fields this very well may be the case as we see videos posted on YouTube etc. Mainly FPV guys. It however am willing to bet that a very high percentage of the people who have regestered with the FAA have lost interest in their toy or camera platform. It's the same scenario when I was working at hobby shops years ago. We knew that at least 50% of what we sold was never going to see the light of day. Guys bought stuff and got bored with it, life happened etc and the airplane never got finished. How many times do we see on social media outlets where somone was given a half built or built but never flown airplane?

As far as full scale, yes much more air travel but is that the issue? Civil GA is shrinking just like our hobby. Growing up in San Jose we were right on the short final approach. In the summer of '79 we would have a light aircraft pass over the house about every 10 minutes going into San Jose international. Far less when I moved 5 years ago. The same applies for Reed Hillveiw on the south side of San Jose.

Now traditional R/C models. As a teenager I would go to the local AMA field ( Pioneer club ) in Santa Clara. On any given Saturday or Sunday there would be at least a couple dozen guys. Working at the hobby shop, on the R/C side our sales supported 3 full time employees and 1 part time. Granted online sales took a huge toll out of the brick and mortar shops but look how even the online retailers are dropping like flies now. IMO just looking at registration numbers and AMA card holders ( a good percentage of card holders are not active ) is not a good indicator of how many UAS are being flown. That is where our opinions differ. IMO to get a good perspective on exactly what is happening you need to get out there and get involved. Sitting at a computer reading what is put out there and only flying in your back yard and /or the park down the street does not give you a complete picture of what is happening. This is one of the reasons most AMA members here on RCU couldn't care less about contributing to this forum, they know that most of what is published here in nonsense. The other reason why others don't participate in this forum is the response this post is going to get. Most guys don't want anything to do with the negativity, sarcasm and overall disrespect that is " business as usual " in this forum.