Hossfly

1. Does JC's position require AMA membership? DUN'NO'. He flies models every so often on the site. Could look it up but ain't gon'na'.

2. Was JC ever a leader member? Dun'No'. Dun'care.

3. was JC ever nominated for any position within AMA?
I remember seeing his story way back before he was hired. Rather impressive but don' 'member if AMA stuff was there or not. He was very experienced as I recall because he never stayed with any one job very long. Yep, very experienced in many areas.

4. Did JC ever win any election within the AMA?
YEP THE BIG ONE. He was elected by the Executive Council to be salaried and bonused Executive Director. More power and control than any 7 EC members. Money and Power: Now HIT jest don' git no better, no way, no how! jes' jokin' of course. [sm=lol.gif]

Jim Thomerson

My MA came today. I read JC's comentary and thought it was well written and thoughtful. His thesis is that clubs, particularly those flying on public land, need to be proactive on PR. He mentioned a couple of things which could be bad for a club. One being a newbie flying in an inappropriate and dangerous manner in some public place, thus giving all of modeling a bad name. Another being a club acting snotty to the wrong people and costing themselves a flying field. Both those kinds of things have happened and will happen again in the future. We need to take care of our public image for our own benefit. Does your club do this?

Kemosobie

Very good reply. Well stated.

littlecrankshaf

My Feedback: (58)

"The development of the park flyer type of aircraft, and the ability of a nontraditional RC pilot (newbie) to go out anywhere space is available, have counteracted the positive public relations efforts of organized clubs. the new flyer has likely never heard of the AMA Safety Code, doesn't think twice about flying in unsuitable areas, and often performs antics that would make any club safety officer's blood boil."

This type of PR will never work.

Muroc1

Drama; at High Noon. Gotta love it.

Frank

KidEpoxy

"... flying in an inappropriate and dangerous manner in some public place, thus giving all of modeling a bad name."

And just who is promoting the idea that the general public modelers are unsafe?
Oh, right, the ED of the AMA is with junk like.

"The development of the park flyer type of aircraft, and the ability of a nontraditional RC pilot (newbie) to go out anywhere space is available, have counteracted the positive public relations efforts of organized clubs. the new flyer has likely never heard of the AMA Safety Code, doesn't think twice about flying in unsuitable areas, and often performs antics that would make any club safety officer's blood boil."

Maybe if the AMA were to stop telling everyone how bad flying model planes is to the public welfare,
we wouldnt see so many places believe the AMA's talk about how bad model fliers likely/often/outright are.

Perhaps the best way to promote all aspects of aeromodeling
would be to NOT go around telling everyone how bad modelfliers are.

As for antics to boil SO's blood-
not too many years ago we were talking about folks safety blood boiling over about the horrors of shooting PaintBalls at RC planes..... and how did that turn out? Or the boilings of TailTouching/No-TainTouching/TailTouching, seems that has an on again off again safety horribleness. And of course lets not forget the pre2008 threat of toy plane fliers thinking they dont need the full $58 insurance of AMA..... and presto, 08 says they dont.
And more recently we see FPV flight that was a blood boiler previous years
be welcome with open arms this past year.
Seems the only antics that Muncie condemns but but doesnt boil blood is breaking the PPP rules
<I guess those rules were meant to be broken, unlike bloodboiling Paintball>



To Recap:
Who says flying model planes is likely a bad thing <with exeception for AMA members>?
AMA is the one promoting the public fear of aeromodeling likely being bad.

804

My Feedback: (1)

If anyone here could point us to some examples (one won't do, it would take a few to make it a trend) of "non-traditional RC pilot"(s) counteracting the "positive public relations efforts of organized clubs", I'm sure we all would pay attention.

Anyone? Mr Cherry?

Muroc1

I recall the guy who flew the plane into one of the University of NM's buildings. It broke a window and injured a girl. He was arrested and went to court.

I'm sure there are many more examples.

Frank

littlecrankshaf

My Feedback: (58)

Actually I have seen the opposite.

Hard to understand how the little parkflyers are so intimidating and damaging to the "real" modelers. It seems our hobby and enthusiasts would jump at a chance to share the fun...not just mess in the mess kit.



Maybe a special incentive for clubs to persuade municipalities to allow other parkflyers and hobbyists to use the public resources without any affiliations other than being a citizen would be a great asset. On second thought, having people enjoying model aviation without paying toll (tax) to AMA is a foreign thought to many...





Denigrating our brothers is definitely not the answer.

littlecrankshaf

My Feedback: (58)

Yea, but he was an AMA member wasn't he?

Muroc1

I don't believe so. At least he said he wasn't. But a guy dumb enough to do that, might not tell the truth anyway.

Frank

littlecrankshaf

My Feedback: (58)

You know what type of game might be a lot of fun?



We could scour the internet and our friends to find as many accounts of Non-AMA flying disasters or near disasters. Then see if we can match those to an equal or greater number of AMA disasters or near disasters.



That should help the hobby out immensely.



Ready...set...GO!

Muroc1

RCG is littered with stories like that. Seems the e-powered crowd likes to "push the limits." Not sure about RCU which is primarily gas/glow. (appears to be anyway)

Frank

rcmiket

I heard it SW a Park Flyer that took out those two satellites a few weeks back. Mike

rcmiket

"Was" sorry computer is having a bad day.

littlecrankshaf

My Feedback: (58)

I heard the pilot was an AMA PP member...is that right?

Muroc1

Found that thread I was talking about.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=660525

Frank

littlecrankshaf

My Feedback: (58)

Thanks. That was a good read. I particularly liked the ignoramus type statement; something to the effect (paraphrased) "Non-AMAers have a much worse record since they care little about safety".

Where do those records exists? BTW rhetorical...



BTW most every AMA flying site I have ever been to had the potential of serious incidents as well...some worse...some better...AMA's insurance can/may protect your financial assets but does not prevent the pain of an injured innocent person if things go wrong. Look around your flying field and hypothesize how things might go wrong...be realistic...I could tell you about many AMA incidents as well...Does that help?

KidEpoxy

What are you saying Frank?
That the guy was being one of those "doesn't think twice about flying in unsuitable areas" kinda guys JC was lamenting,
if he was flying where after a "few seconds" of motor on while out of contriol it hit class room.

Right? Flying that close to classrooms is unsuitable?
Have you guys actually Satalite Googled the school field that Vegas Aces flys at?

Apparently the wrong way to do it is to just fly at schools and parks,
while the right way is to send $29 to indiana and THEN fly at those schools/parks/universties.

You probably passes one on your way to work.

I'm not kidding, gander at the satalite shot of Robert O. Gibson Middle School, Las Vegas, Nevada
Is that where the guys JC was talking about should fly their Strykers or foamie classwindow breaking whatsits?

littlecrankshaf

My Feedback: (58)

Now, now Kid, that is not nice...you know it really is about paying the Tax...we should all pay the AMA toll...or... no hobby for you! Hmmm...reminds me of an eposode on Seinfeld.

Muroc1

Thanks. Later on I asked him about his court case and he said he got off on a technicality. I suspect he was very lucky. I'm sure he could have paid a lot of out of pocket expenses if found negligent. Not to mention giving the hobby a bad name.

He then tried to sell his crashed plane on ebay because it was "famous" from being on TV. He bragged about it in the ebay ad.

Frank

littlecrankshaf

My Feedback: (58)

That's cool.



Accidents happen all the time...you never can tell... you might be riding a motorcycle in a place you had previously and run to a pipe some idiot put up. Gotta be careful as well thoughtful of others. Enough of this silliness already... I think. Don't you?

Bob Mitchell

I read through the first page. It's a textbook example of exactly what Cherry was talking about.

Kemosobie

The actions of one always reflect on the many.

P-51B

My Feedback: (5)

It's certainly good that nothing unfortunate like that ever happens to "traditional" rcpilots, particularly AMA members, or at an AMA events.

Oh wait, maybe it does:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=743851

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=743727