mikes68charger

My Feedback: (34)

At our feild we have the boy scouts come out 2 times a year, we let them play on the sim, and we put up 4-5 club/ or privit trainers and buddy box them for 5 min at a time and they love it.

But me being the jet guy I bring in my .40 Hanger 9 P51 and the kids love to get in my line as they can do loop and stuff vs the boaring top wing trainers. And I under stand them, I never could and would never fly a cub or a top wing trainer, I dont have the atteion span to fly so slow and not being able to do anything is just no fun.

I know I almost stop flying as into my first year, I had a few crashs and was grouped in with 2 other new guys, and we were called the crash brothers. There were a few older guys who would say ohh oh here comes one of the crash brothers now, get your camras ready....

Then if I was to crash, they would clap and hollar, I was very close to quiting flying, as this behavor made you feel alinanated, and it hurt loseing the money in a crash.

But I like to help the new guys, I even let them buddy box with my Top Flite Gaint P51 as it so easy, and to show them not to be scared.

I guess what Im trying to say, is, every weekend when I fly my turbines there are new peaple who come up to look and see, and I try to be very freindly and helpfull, as I think some peaples attutieds run new members off.

DGM

My, such a discussion. Our field is part of the city park system. THE City requires AMA insurance foe EVERYONE that flys there. No insurance -no fly. In fact if you do not have insurance the park rangers will be glad to escort you off the place. We had som park fluyers flying in some other city parks without insurance and the city threw them out and forbid them to come back. Some of the regular hobby shop owners have told the newbie who bought a plane at Big Five etc that what they had was junk and they would not help them. If you do not think AMA ins should be required where you fly I suggest you contact the guy who owns the land where you fly. DGM

Jim Branaum

My Feedback: (3)

While I agree with you that people's attitudes CAN run potential new members off and floaters are not the only way to train, I also have seen the type that was too ADHD to pay attention to the details of building and flying that avoid the crashes that the peanut gallery cheers about. Or the type that refused to follow the instructors instruction. It is hard to teach someone who knows it all - like rider scale pilots.

Seriously, it makes NO difference WHAT airframe you elect to train another with but the quality of the information transmitted and checked to see if it was properly received and understood by the student is priceless.

I have buddy box trained a guy AND his wife on a sport aerobatic model with symmetrical wings and I have trained lots of folks with flat bottomed stuff. The end results were the same: when I said they were ready they flew alone. Most of my students wreck(ed) fewer airframes than others because I teach FLYING rather than simply controlling this or that airframe which means the move to low wing or tail dragger is simple. All my students all get very slow flight, left and right approaches (some at slow flight), stalls, and other things to teach them how to expect any airframe to respond and what to look for in the next plane and how to avoid airframe eating situation's in addition to common (field and AMA) safety. They all get to make lots of approaches until I like them and allow a touchdown that may or may not convert into a touch and go. The ONLY thing I do not teach is take offs. By the time they are ready to do that, it is natural.

Yes, that may be "old fart" thinking but it is in all parts of aviation - even model flying.

As for the peanut gallery, most of the time they were probably trying to get you to pay attention to the detail that caused you to bend or break something. Mine did. You should not have felt alienated, rather you should have been told (and understood) that you were cared for.

Many 'checkbook modelers' don't come to club fields because they do not comprehend the social aspect of a club and all it entails. Peanut galleries span the nation and in almost all cases actually would do anything reasonable to help the new flyer if the newbie would listen or accept the input. Too many know more than the "old farts" and refuse to accept any guidance. Hence the checkbook guy goes elsewhere and winds up investing lots of cash to prove (s)he has what it takes to do good. Some do actually become good flyers in spite of them selves. I know and have known several.

/end rant

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

Model air planes aren't really that expensive compared to Ipads Tablets, game machines and computers.
Of course if U take a look at the toys in the inner city. The price of a .38 or .40 cal automatic not to mention
the esclating price of an AK-47 or any assault weapon and the really escalating cost of AMMO.
All these toys are far more expensive than TOY AIRPLANES.

Bozarth

My Feedback: (15)

But wait...why does the AMA have to grow????

KURT

aymodeler

My Feedback: (3)

As in all thing ... you grow or you die.

Simply put, there is strenght in numbers and without it you die off. The AMA's growth was originally driven by baby boomers coming of age (and disposable income) in the post WWII years ... as that population (which I am part of) dies off, there needs to be new fresh blood coming in. If the AMA cannot remain relevant and attract new younger members in significant numbers, then within 10 - 15 years it will be gone, period.

We are all missing out on the critical fact that the AMA and its rules has been the nanny that has kept the government from regulating our hobby out of existence. One of the biggest benefits the AMA has brought recently is the intense lobbying it has done on our collective behalf with regards to the FAA rule making process on unmanned aircraft. Without this ongoing effort to educate rule-makers and represent model aviation, it is highly likely that unintended consequences of this legislation would kill off the entire hobby (or at least transform and restrict in such a way that it might as well be dead).

The AMA and the clubs also create a collective community that allows there to be a market. Without this community, there is no "critical mass" of consumers to market products to ... and without industry support, there is no more hobby!

PAY ATTENTION TO THIS PARK FLYERS! Without some sort of collective voice or organization, the next round of FAA rules could have language that ends up requiring all unmanned aircraft conform to a set of GOVERNMENT defined rules and policies that will prevent you from flying anything larger than an ultra-micro helicopter anywhere other than your own living room. Likewise, without some sort of community and/or obvious group of potential consumers, there will be no more industry and no more hobby. Clubs are not the only way to do this, but they are the best platform available now.

PAY ATTENTION TO THIS AMA! Unless you are willing to adapt and get with the times, you will go the way of the corner grocer and the dodo bird. You have a responsibility to the hobby and need to ensure that the current generation leaves behind a legacy that can be embraced and supported by the future. Find a way to remain relevant and attract young members or die as an organization (bringing the hobby down with you).

PAY ATTENTION TO THIS "OLD FARTS"! Myself included in this. You are ambassadors of this hobby and hold its future in your hands. Recognize that younger generations have a grown up in different times with different ides and expectations. If you cannot relish in the innovation and new ideas this generation brings, then at least don't bash those that do (like your grandmother taught you, if your don't have something nice to day then don't say anything at all). Have an open mind, have respect, and have fun (this is a hobby after all!).

PAY ATTENTION TO THIS RC INDUSTRY! If you want to keep selling ARFs and transmitters and servos and lipos and brushless motors, you better help the park flyer market you have helped to create see the value in being part of larger community. You have the opportunity to communicate and market this message to this group. Invest in this now or your industry will die right after the AMA does.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

AY....
This is one of the best explanations I have read (EVER) concerning "Why the AMA Must/Should Grow".
This should be published in the Every Model aviation magazine, and be made Mandatory reading at least
twice a year at club meetings. Great Job man.

aymodeler

My Feedback: (3)

Thanks for the compliment HoundDog.

Hossfly

Houndog has it down pat. Aymodeler, You made excellent points and I, for one, will try to roll with YOUR punches. Great Thinking there on your part.

bradpaul

From the July EC minutes

littlecrankshaf

My Feedback: (58)

Good news! Hopefully the hobby is growing proportionally. I've had a sense that the hobby is growing...especially in some areas. I hope it renders more modelers in the very basic forms of modeling.

bradpaul

from the Presidents Perspective in the current issue of Model Aviation

Quote:

Great news! As I write this in October, the Academy of Model Aeronautics has 175,865 members, surpassing the 2002 number of 173,420. We owe everyone involved a great deal of gratitude. We are a super team!

Bozarth

My Feedback: (15)

"We are a super monopoly"

kamakazi

My Feedback: (1)

The hobby IS growing thanks to all the advances in radios and electric power. Now its cheaper than ever to break into the hobby and not have to be a master builder or electronics expert. I like to fly and build, but for those that just want to fly, then welcome to the AMA.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

[h=2]AMA membership his a historic high[/h]