I recently got into flying model airplanes, and the whole AMA/club thing has me a bit confused. I've been flying my little electric Hobbyzone Super Cub at a local park. The park is about 25 acres and remains 99% empty except during sporting events (soccer, softball, etc), which makes it a pretty good site I think. While reading through the forums here, everyone seems to suggest that new pilots join a club to get instruction before flying. At $60 for the AMA plus $90 for membership/initiation/etc, it would cost more to fly the plane at a club field than to trash it at a park and buy another. Now here's my question... Is it necessary to join the AMA and a club to fly these little "park fliers"? And if not, at what point should a person feel compelled to start jumping through hoops and paying extra fees to fly?

I was hoping to get a small .40 powered sport plane next, and that's sort of why I'm asking. Can those be flown safely at a park? If so, how big is too big for park flying? The local club's field is bordered by a highway, so it doesn't seem much safer...

The park may not like the noise and the size of a 40 could cause damage. As long as you fly small electric look at the AMA Park Flyers membership for insurance. When you move up in size I would recommend a local club. If nothing else you get to share the hobby with like people. Dennis

One that feels "compelled" and that he has to start jumping through hoops to join the AMA is not ready. If you have no personal assets to risk or are adequately covered by home owners insurance and have a place where they will let you fly you do not need to join the AMA. Should you ever decide to move up in modeling and participate in any organized events you will find very few that do not require AMA membership.

As for safely flying in a 25 acre area, only you can answer that question. Are you good enough to control a model that can transverse the whole distance of the park in less than 20 seconds? I have been flying R/C for well over a half century and I would not feel comfortable in such a confined area with anything more than a light foamy.

smokeyser, if you have been reading a number of posts, then you know there are more opinions than there are posters.

As one that has been very active in RC for 38 years, and cl/ff many years prior to RC, I suggest that if you are concerned with the $$ value so much that you simply get the equipment you want, go out and do whatever you want. You will learn both what to do and what NOT to do. Unfortunately, a number of "instructors??" here in these forums have many different ideas about right and wrong. IMO, there are very FEW hard rules and they are more related to common sense safety than actual model equipment.

With one exception, for the past 22 years each RC pilot I soloed out did so with the equipment that he started with. That exception has been "learning" for some 4 years and has difficulty retaining information from flight to flight and more difficulty recognizing the difference between 60* nose down and 60* nose up, plus any sort of bank angle. Solo is rather doubtful, yet the personality is absolute 100% perfect.

It is NEVER necessary to join AMA, a club, or whatever if you find such to be distasteful to you. IMO, being a part of a club, a national association, or some local groups has many benefits. It makes me feel a part of the whole, and allows me to input therein.

You sail your ship. YOU are the Captain. Welcome to aeromodeling. Enjoy!

Therefore you have to decide where you wish to fit in. It is always YOUR choice.

Thanks for the replies. The only reason why joining a club has been a difficult decision for me is a lack of cash. It's pretty much a choice of possibly having a nitro powered plane before snow falls, or joining a club. But I hadn't really thought about the noise. That alone would probably be enough to get me in trouble with the homeowners near the park. And no, I probably wouldn't be able to safely fly a plane that can cross the park in 20 seconds. As depressing as it seems right now, it looks like putting the new plane on hold and getting myself a better place to fly first is the way to go.

Clubs have been known to support deserving members that are financially challenged to the point of giving them a plane and equipment. I have given several away over the years that I had tired of and had not crashed yet.

There is also one other thing to remember in this hobby. Everything you do or I do reflexes on all others in the hobby. The general public lumps us all together. Fly safe and have fun. Maybe one day we'll see you in the jet forum. Dennis

Enjoy your park flyer where you fly now and save up your money. I understand the financial thing, my modeling budget is non existant!! After you get your .40 size trainer, join the AMA, and find a club with a appropriate size field. Most likely after a couple of flights with one of their instructors you'll be soloed without mishap and enjoying the bigger birds! This has worked for many over the years. [8D]

The easiest, safest, cheapest and fastest way to master RC flight is with a RC flight sim.

But you sound like a good candidate for the Park Pilot Program first then upgrade to regular membership at a later date.

I recommend joining the AMA as soon a possible!

Read up about the AMA to understand what it's all about.

What you will be "buying" into, is far more than insurance coverage!

I can tell you from sad experience that 99% of the time the only good place to fly .40+ sized glow planes is at an AMA field. Most of my crashes have been due to me tying to fly at shall we call them discount flying sites; places where you can fly for free like parks. But parks usually have at least one of the following: people, backstops, benches, gopher holes, tall grass, big trees, large wooden signs sticking out of the ground, powerlines, and the list goes on.

The nice thing about jumping through the hoops and joining a club is that you get use of the facilities, namely a decent runway and unobstructed flying space. On the other hand if you have a nice place to fly that does not require hoop jumpage and added expense, it's worth looking into in my opinion. But, until you get some experience with glow planes I can't really recommend you try it. You need to know what your doing first before you decide if the local open field or park is adequate for a glow plane.

Just my two cents.