ORIGINAL: GeneG

I'm sure this is going to rub some people the wrong way but that is not he intent.

<SoapBox ON!>
The way I look at it, ARFS are a great thing. Beofre ARFs got popular going to the local hobby store to find airplanes or parts meant that you had to cram your way into the far back corner behind all the RC Trucks and Cars, Trains etc... And most likely they did not have what you wanted. Running a Hobby Store is a hard business and you can only stock what sells. Today I walk into my LHS and it is crammed with Airplanes. Mostly ARFs. But more Kits as well because the LHS owner says that more people are interested in airplanes lately so he can risk a bigger stock of Kits.

ARFs bring in new people to the Hobby. Not always the kind of people that you think of when you think of modelers. These are the same annoying kids that think Frozen Food takes to long to make and nobody else knows anything but them. But I watch these people walk out with an ARF (which they probably promptly crash and buy another). ARFs are stimulating the Hobby Economy. They are also stimulating genuine progress in the hobby. RC plane technology has lacked FAR behind everything else because it was a niche market. Not a main focus. Look at Battery technology now! It progress so fast you cant keep up.

Here is the part that will ruffle some feathers.... being a Niche is EXACTLY why builders loved it. Just like computers before the era of Windows, model building was a small club. The only people in it were people you knew. And it made you feel special. Now, at the field, the annoying kid down the block is flying to, and HE NEVER WORKED TO GET THERE. Just like old time computer users were upset the Grandmas were using the Internet!! My GOD! The Sky is falling!

ARFs can only be a good thing. Because builders will always build. Only a few SO CALLED builders dropped building and totally went to ARFs. Most (like me) still build because we love it and I always will. Also, a small number of ARF flyers will become builders because they want better planes.

People feel threatened by ARFs because their Niche Hobby is going mainstream. Well brace yourselves because you can't stop it. In the end, the Hobby wil be better than ever.

Building a plane is still an art and it will always be. Its the same thing as comparing an Old Master painting with some print knockoff. Flying a Kit Built plane is an amazing feeling that most ARF pilots will never know. Thats OK. There is room in this hobby for everyone. Just keep buying planes!

<soapbox off!>

my 2cents...