I'll agree that not many folks have ever heard of Fast RAT, QM 40, 4D with a brushless on lipos, but almost everyone has seen a chuck glider, rubberband free flight, COX or TESTORS rock on a string, Walmart, ToysRus $40 RC offerings by now. Model planes have been seen by millions on the DYI channel and randomly on TV shows and in the movies. Most people who are interested in Hollywood behind the scenes type shows have seen model planes in action. Small town newspapers used to run feature articles on those new fangled toys, quite often. I remember announcements in the paper when so and so plannned on taking his RC plane out to Ft Cronkite to fly, come one, come all. Have I left any examples out?

I think the truth is that most people know of model aviation and most people aren't impressed enough with it to get into it. I have seen countless lookie loos pull off the side of the road just long enough to catch a glimpse of a fast combat match, then drive off. Very rarely would you see an outsider get drawn in enough by such an awesome spectacle [2 circles running, no waiting between matches] to show enough interest to spend some time there and maybe approach the flyers. Just about every guy I've ever talked to in my age category has witnessed or tried Christmas morning .049 control line, [usually with grim results], I think COX and TESTORS are responsible for turning 10 guys away from the sport for every 1 that eneded up sticking with it.