I've been a member since 1968, and have to agree with every one of the posts I've read here.

Bottom line is that the most important thing is the Insurance, Even if it is secondary to your homeowners.

In the years I've flown RC, I've been lucky and only had some close calls, and never had to use the insurance. But I have heard of incidents where if the insurance wasn't in place, it would have ruined peoples lives. No matter how careful a group may be, this is a hobby with danger involved. Making protection important. The plane that went through the chainlink fence and killed someone in Arizona a few years ago is a good case in point. The club had every thing in place to insure safety and still it was not enough. Without the insurance, in todays legal climate, it would have caused a lot of trouble for everyone there at the time.

I'm wondering what will happen in the local park, when Junior launches his 99 dollar plane and hurts or even kills someone. Who is going to assist when this happens. And the idea that a 99 dollar plane is not as dangerous as a 1000 dollar plane is ludicrous.

I think that under supervision by qualified persons at a club, and for a limited period of time, Junior should be encouraged to fly at the local club field. This will protect us all in the long run. I for one am always willing to help new people when they appear. But I also feel that after a couple of visits, the guest is pushing his limits and should be asked to join or go elsewhere.

I know of a gentleman who came to a club field as a guest, was taught to fly, became very proficient, and still after a year became incensed when told he had to joint the Club and get the AMA license. This is a club that depends on the dues to pay a lease on the field to enable having a place to fly.

Just my opinion.