Hey all,
This thread is to tell stories about how you helped someone learn to fly, or to build their plane. I want you to tell us how you made positive changes in your club, and how you brought somebody new into the hobby/sport. Dont argue about if the hobby needs saving, just tell us positive things going on in your hobby life.
With much respect,
Joe

I left racing full scale motorcycles and cars to have an activity to do with my son. He's six now and enjoys both building and flying. The LHS gives me damaged trainers to put togeather cause he knows if someone new shows up at the field they will without fail get a chance to try it out. There are more than one new club members and AMA members on my account in five short years.

By being in it. In the end that all one can do

Well Joey - maybe you do have a good side after all. Keeping the hobby alive is important, and we should all take part. You asked what do I do? I'm a member of AMA now for 64 years. You should be so lucky as to be a member of our club, because I keep the builders very happy. One reason is that I have a lifetime supply of balsa wood, and in order to use it up in some fashion, I cut kits of airplanes that I design, and give them away free to club members to build. They buy their own hardware, but all of the wood parts are pre-cut and free with no strings attached.

We started with four 1/3 scale J-4E Piper Cubs for Zenoah G-62 engines. One of the four planes never got completely fiinished, but three are still flying today, and this goes back to 1995. See photo below.

The next project was five 1/5 scale Taylorcrafts for Zenoah G-23 engines. We built five of them, and test flew all five on the same day! Do you know anyone else that has ever done that? See photos.

I will continue posting some of the other planes that we have built since moving to Florida. The list is quite impressive.

Got my son involved, and will try my grandson next ( few years).

Remember ... you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

It just may be the next generations move ... if someone wants it ... they will find a way.


by the way ... it's not nice to point !

I fly

I taught the man our flying site here is name after, and many more.
And there is One guy that sloed after 2 days of instruction reading this thread Great job

Of course I have a good side. I didnt mean to offend anyone. In fact, Im sorry for using the terms old people and things of that sort. Poor choice of words on my part. This hobby is great.

I $upport my hobby $hop

Jerry

A North Georgia club is about to lose it's flying site to golf course development. The landowner is extending the club's tenure as long as possible to allow them to conduct a long-standing annual event, but the site will be gone by early Summer.

The club had at one time maintained a flying site on a county landfill, but had to move when the landfill was retrofitted with methane extraction and monitoring systems to be in compliance with current EPA regs.

When the landfill came into compliance the county hired a contractor to operate the monitoring systems and to advise the county on landfill matters. This contractor is advising the county that EPA prohibits using the closed landfill for any activity other than parklands, and that flying model airplanes from the landfill is a definite no-no.

When I met with the club's officers they were not aware of the recently-negotiated partnering agreement between AMA and EPA regarding use of Super Fund sites as model aircraft flying sites. The club was simply out of date on that point, and were convinced that they'd had their last day in court to no avail - they were considering disbanding the club.

I didn't do anything but put the club in contact with Joe Beshar who is the Eastern region flying site assistance guy in Muncie. Erin Dobbs in Muncie also sent the club (and me) a copy of the current list of AMA clubs operating flying sites on landfills.

As a result, this local club now has two "silver bullets" in their pocket and have scheduled another meeting with the county commissioners. I'm betting they get their landfill flying site back.

I didn't do anything special or out of the ordinary - I just passed on a tidbit of information I had.

Of course, that's my job, y'see . . .

I'm a fully qualified BOF, and being an AMA District V Associate Vice President undoubtedly makes me some sort of low-life politician in some quarters.

Alas, I'm no longer young enough to know everything . . .

How many pages is the book limited to? [>:]

As many as we can fill!!! What have you done to help the hobby Hossfly?

A bit late to write that book this season, Joey. You haven't read a lot of the archives in this forum have you?

You dont have to get sarcastic about it buddy[>:]

Joey
Your not going to make any points that way As I stated these people are the ones you have to put up with at the Clubs and the Flying sight

I made a point by saying he was sarcastic? I was just pointing out the obvious.

Today I contacted another local club and will be bringing friends to attend their funfly...thats how I helped the hobby today.

I have three control line trainers. So far about 100 people have flown them.

Jim

Ive seen a few control line planes at the Basin. 100 people... I dont think anyone can top that.

You must be speaking of me as I am the one you called sarcastic. Joey, since I have a 47 year lead on you, it isn't fair to compare notes on what you or I do to help the hobby. However each journey starts with the first step, and you are stepping out, so maybe you will be the one to go far in helping the hobby. That's good. Do not be dismayed. Your perception will increase as you gain experience. There WILL be vacancies for AMA Presidents in the future.

On a day to day thing here is my today's contribution: Due to a possibility of being in a conflict of interests, I cannot be an officer in my main club. I belong to another club just to support them. I seldom go there.
However I can be a newsletter editor. I always wind up doing it AGAIN shortly after the new guys bail out. The latest new guy (late 20s) did 3 newsletters and then quit with short notice. So today I restructured and have put together a 6 page Newsletter. Tomorrow I have to go about 150 miles north on business. I will get it out on Sat. AM. Hopefully the next one will last longer.
Of nine years in the club on this station, I have done it almost 7 years in various times.

Why do they throw in the towel so soon? Why does an old man have to pick up after the mess?[:-]

Joey, if you really set out to accomplish something, you will run into brick wall after brick wall. Just keep a vaulting pole close and leap over as many as you can or find a way around them. The masses cannot tolerate a DOER, They are extremely jealous and will do all in their power knock down anyone that appears to be able to remove that of which they complain about. They cannot live without someone to blame and will do everything to keep that object of blame in front of themselves. When they think that a DOER just may be able to accomplish something the masses will definitely stand against the DOER. They are ready to expend that energy but will sit and cry day after day as long as they have that object of blame.

So hang in there and we will argue a bit now and then.

Here is one of my Help the Hobby projects of nine years ago. It has 130+/- members right now. Keeps growing a few each year. Lose some, gain a few more each year.

Compare Notes? Every little bit helps. Thank you for saying what you do and not responding with one or two sentences.

And I have to disagree with your brick wall theory...I have found with everything that I have done, that if you dont pay attention to the brick wall it wont stop you and the people that watch you will respect it. Now I realize you have 47 years on me, but I always follow through with the job and if I was doing a news letter for you there is no way I wouldnt keep my word. Im sorry that you have to deal with kids like that, but not all "old men" have to pick up after the youngins. Saying the masses cannot tolorate a DOER is not a very good analysis of society.

I do respect you and if I was in your club you and I would be sitting down talking about this over a cup of coffee. I know I push my point, but I respect you nonetheless.

Joey,
Here is a picture of our March class of kids here in Lakeland ,FL> We had classes 5 times a year at a field that don't interfear with the other weekend flyers. Been doing this for several years now.. Many kids get a change to fly R/C.
Jim

Keep the stories coming guys...I'll be out of town untill sunday night...I wish I had a plane that could land on the water!

Age makes no difference as long as you are working for a common goal. Never give up what you believe in.

Your right...RC Hawk, Im not as into the hobby as some other people, but I want the hobby to continue so my kids can enjoy it...when I have kids.

No matter how long you are in the hobby or what you do for it you will always find some one that will dissagree with you.
To bad that we have to see this, but it happens in any thing you are involved within the world today you see it every where and very few try to do anything about it. When you do you are the one that gets the flaque