Dave Brown wants to start setting up E-fields all over the place first, and then make efforts to get the parkflyers to fly there, and eventually down the road, actually define parkflyer.
OK...how do you set one up. What types of planes are allowed to fly there. How do you know what types of facilities to put in if you dont know what types of aircraft are going to be flying there? Who's gonna manage it? Who's gonna maintain it?
What? Dave Brown should NOT spend AMA funds (that I contribute to) setting up clubs. That's what we (AMA members) are supposed to do. Parkfliers are defined by what they do. Specifics should be determined at the local level or by a SIG. Each field is different. You can't fly fanjets at our field. Nobody cares if you want to try, but the runway isn't smooth enough or long enough! How do you set one up? That info is already available at the AMA site. Who will manage and maintain it? You, of course. You being the club and it's elected members. See, this is already part of what the AMA offers. Seems you just want more for less.
Here's what I think needs to happen first.
1. Define parkflyer!!!! This has to be done.
2. AMA needs to adopt a specific set of competition rules for indoor electric pattern, indoor electric freestyle.(preferably with design input from current FAI e-competitions)
3. AMA should encourage promoters to hold events with the new rules and sanction as many events as possible.
4. Get as many people into the competitions as possible.
5. If you build it, they will come.
1. already addressed
2. Easy enough. Take a look at the 1/2a pylon rules. They're ridiculously outdated. Do you really want to depend on the AMA for your rules? That's really a double-edged sword. Other forms of competition aren't run directly by the AMA. Take a look at combat. Again, a SIG would be handy right about now.
3. AMA should NOT encourage promoters. That should always be an economic decision by the promoters and sponsors. You want the AMA to back them financially or something? There's already people out there doing it anyway. What more do you want? Local events? Go set one up!
4. That's not done by the AMA. The most they can do is write about it in MA. They certainly can't go around twisting arms.
5. Probably. But you want me to build it for you?
Red, elitism stinks. Maybe we shouldn't let them 1/2a'rs join, right. What small, cheap crap will they bring to the field when you want to fly your IMAA stuff, huh? They just get in the way. I know exactly what the NRA offers me. That's why I chose to join. Why else join?
Is there really an answer? I don't think so. People who don't want to join and fly at clubs have no reason to. Guess what... that's ok with me. I don't think Dave or the EC oughta be bending over to kiss anybodies *** trying to get additional revenue. It's embarrassing. It seems like the people that fly parkfliers just wanna fly in parks anyway. What's up with all these stipulations? None of this will bring in significantly more people to the AMA. Everything you want can be had RIGHT NOW. At the current price. Sorry dude, the rest of us have to work for our fields, clubs, SIG's and events ,so should you.