I just got the new Tower Catalog in the mail today. The first fourteen pages were all dedicated to drones or multi rotor aircraft. I know many would like to be separated from drones and have it where we are fixed wing and helicopters covered by the AMA but I don't think that is ever going to happen. Not now. I wonder what price we will pay for the introduction of these to model aviation?

ratshooter: you should know by now that towerhobbies is in the business of getting our money. They don't care a hoot about you or me or any other model aviator.

I have no problem with what Tower or anybody else sales because I don't believe any item should be restricted from the general public because a someone may or has misused said item.

If more of you actually bought new aircraft and helped get more people into the hobby, you would see more airplanes. Right now the trend is drones. The market is dictating what it wants and that is more drones.

TimJ I don't know how many more airplanes I can buy and how that would get more people into the fixed wing aircraft flying. I can only fly one plane at a time. I have people stop and watch me fly and each and every one of them is offered a turn at the sticks if they are interested.

I think the trend for drones is because kids can buy them ready built and with some of the guidance systems on them they can be flown with very little training. Flying a plane takes more skill. I understand that Tower is in the business to supply what the market demands. But the multi rotor drones have caused all of us new, unwanted problems and requirements to register planes that would have never happened without drones. And especially drones and fixed wing planes with FPV that can be flown way beyond line of site and well into the airspace occupied by full size aircraft. You want to see some new laws, just wait until a drone brings down a full sized airplane.

I like to shoot guns. I like traditional black powder rifles. Many years ago states offered primitive muzzle loader season for deer and elk. A real primitive gun weather it was a percussion or flintlock took a little skill and a learning curve to use it. So manufactuers came out with simple to load inline guns with scoped optics and special sabot rounds that let the new guy have instant success. No real skill needed. New guys got burned out because there was no challenge. This pretty much killed the traditional muzzle loader market. And the guys that might have enjoyed and stuck to black powder shooting gave it up pretty quick. They didn't build their guns from kits or make there own shooting supplies. That was all part of the experience but it was already done for them.

This is what I see for the future of fixed wing model aircraft. Now you don't need to build your plane. Most don't know how to repair their ARFs. They don't know how to tune or operate a glow engine. They have all went electric. I am afraid that people will lose interest because there is no challenge. And Tower is feeding what may ultimately be the downfall of model aviation by supplying the very thing that in the end kills it. Just my thoughts. Maybe I am full of beans.

Of course as has been pointed out before. Its not the plane or the drone. It is the irresponsible operator that is ultimately the one to blame. I have seen some cool videos posted by drone and airplane pilots on youtube that flew them in a responsible manner. But it only takes one to screw it up for all the rest of us.

Don't blame me, I have a stack of kits and a couple of ARF's as well. Not many of them from Tower though.

The choice for the manufacturer and newbie is http://www.rc-float-flying.rchomepage.com/RCWeb/Articles/Instructor/instructor.htm or carry something that sells really well because it would be much easier for the newbie to get into the air.

That was a great article on instructors and students. Thank you for sharing that.

One of the clubs that I belong to had an invite for a Fly-In last evening. Thus, my wife and I attended just to see what folks were flying indoors. Naturally it was all electric and even a manufacturer had a booth with charged models that anybody could demo.

But the one thing that I noticed mostly that even though all club members that were attending are primary airplane fliers, most all also had a " Drone / multi rotor " model with them. Most of them stated that they were stable and easy to fly indoors. You have to keep in mind that most of these folks are die hard RC model airplane builders and fliers. But for indoors they wanted something just to have a little fun with.

Guess we can see where the Drone trend is taking us.

P.S. Even my wife mentioned that she would like to have one.

resistance is futile....assimilate with the Borg.

Also, happy wife=happy life!

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh soooooooooooooooooooo TRUE !!

This is true but being a thrifty person the deals you can find on used aircraft are simply irresistible. For example, If you want a new 40 size glow trainer after buying the ARF, engine, and radio you'll easily spend $400. There are complete trainers all the time on Craigslist that were flown maybe once or twice, the guy lost interest, it sat for five years, and now he'll sell it $150. That's how I got into the hobby, I found a Thunder Tiger trainer that was never even fueled for $120. He even included a fuel pump, starter, start battery, and glow driver for that price. It sat in the seller's basement for 15 years. Thanks to the good people here I got the engine loosened up, put in new batteries for the TX and RX and was flying for well under $200.

Some of the folks at the Fly-In I attended were flying NEW Drones/Multi rotors for under $100.00 and that included everything as in READY TO FLY. One fellows was even $60.00, Ready To Fly. Can not get into flying something for less than that.

Check this out:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXEMNPYY&P=0

Yeah, but I'm not into multi-rotors. I guess you can say I'm "old school" and still stuck in the 90's. I'm not even that big into electric fixed wing aircraft.

Can not even say what I am into anymore and I am way more old school than you. Started building stick models when I was eight and will be 73 next week.

Presently finishing up a Balsa USA 90 Eindecker to be powered by a Saito 1.25, but have to admit that I am considering other options just to keep my hand in and get out of the house, if not for anything else, but to socialize.

I have tried a couple of fixed wing electric models and the only one that I was pleased with was a WILDCAT from Horizon Hobby. But Mother Earth took a few bites out of it and it is no longer available.

Never thought I would admit this or be saying it, but I think we all need to keep an open mind as to what comes down the road for RC hobbyists.

The heart wants what it wants, and likes what it likes. To each their own.

Give the T-28 a try....the standard sized one without flaps/retracts. Gotta be one of the best planes around for all types of fun.

You're not old school, you're ancient. Just kidding. My first plane was a control line model powered by a Cox glow motor when I was eight or nine. Never got to fly it just ran the engine many times.

You talking about my heart ? LOL It already has a STENT and an ICD " Implanted Cardiac Device ", which is a combo of pace maker and defibulator.

Cost much more than just about any good RC model ................ LOL ............. Thus, whatever comes my way, I try to appreciate all.

I have looked at that T-28 a couple of times. Also, a friend in another state is flying one and he really likes it. Have heard nothing bad in regards to the T-28. Thanks for reminding me of it.

Your are so correct, NOT ancient. Just older than dirt ! LOL