ES CONTROL

I would like to hear from some of those who do not fly at AMA fields.

As for me, I did not want to look stupid or spend the money. Plus, why drive 25min. when the local School soccer field was less than 10 Min. away.
And the Club rules scared me too.

What about you?

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

Because it generally costs most people more in crashes than club dues. Though there are a few clubs that are pretty pricey.

As for looking stupid, everyone out there, pro or newb, started somewhere.

ES CONTROL

Joining saved me $$$$ too.

acdii

I found it is more embarrassing to not join a club that can get you flying than to try it on your own.  If you don't know what you are doing, you most likely will crash it, and also risk injuring someone by not flying at an approved field. 

levram1

My Feedback: (1)

I think it's stupid not to join a club!

Oberst

It's a good topic for the Parkflyers or AMA Forum. Most glow, gas and large electric pilots do belong to the AMA. What do you find so scary about the rules? They are only there to keep us responsible and to keep us safe. Club rules only enforce these rules on top of any additional rules they vote to impose. If you don't like a rule it us up to us as members to let it be known and why. The club will then discuss the problem with the rest and by the next meeting they would vote on it.

Not every club has the same rules, but they do have the same AMA rules as a basic guideline if they are AMA chartered. There are private clubs that are not AMA chartered out there.

But be forwarned- anyone who is not covered by the AMA and gets in a accident with their model airplane and causes property or physical damage is on there own to pay the bill. And in this sue happy environment, it's good to have coverage.

I like flying my planes and all I need to worry about is having a good flight and having a good time, not worrying if my planes are insured or not. Just to let you know, both my planes weigh over 12lbs. Would you want any of them hitting your car, or loose control and hitting you- putting you in the hospital and have no one to pay for it? Car body repairs and or glass is very expensive not to mention, medical bills and ambulance fees.

Because you have chosen not to join a club, it is my understanding there's no way you could know all the benifits that a club and or AMA has. I'm a part of something bigger than I am and it's worth every penny. If I can't afford to fly, I always know my club and the AMA will be there for me when I can afford it.

Little foamies or parkflyers is a different story. But it is up to the individual to make sure they have their school or parks permission to fly there. AMA has a Parkflyer program and they cover topics like this. AMA is there to protect our hobby and the rules are there to help keep a favorable outlook to anyone who is not in the hobby.

Now if you own your land, you can do what ever you want and most could be under your home ownership coverage, but again that doesn't cover everything.


Pete

ES CONTROL

Oberst        I Love my club at Brunnerville Pa.

skeeter_ca

People rationalize all kinds of reason to not join a club.

It's too expensive to join a club.
I don't want people to see me crash.
The experienced flyers will laugh at me.
I don't like to ask for help.
The field is two far away.
I don't know where a club field is.
You have to be sponsered to get into the club and i don't know anyone.
My plane is just a toy compared to those real rc planes.
I'm shy.
I don't like to socialize with people.
I just want to fly and not talk.

Any or all of these reason can really keep a person from enjoying the full aspect of the hobby. I believe that unless a person actually joins and participates in a club the chances of him continuing flying is probably very slim. Just going down to the local park and flying by yourself quickly becomes boring and you lose the passion for flying. If you have a friend join you it becomes alot more enjoyable. And little does that person realize with two people flying together that could very well constitute as being a "Club".

So why not really make the leap and enjoy it with alot of other people with the same passion?

skeeter

goirish

First hand experience here with AMA
I had a plane what was being flown on a buddy box. They lost control and the plane went through a metal roof on a pole barn. It was my plane but I was not flying it. It made about a 6" hole. Imagine if that had been a car windshield. Just my advice, join a club, join AMA and have fun flying.

ES CONTROL

My friend Has his own runway on his farm Scottland Co. Mo.    1/2 a doz. Guys get together and fly.   No AMA.  But its a very healthy club if u want to call it a club. Several guys go together and buy the same plane , TX , Engine and props.  They all share and help each other.

ES CONTROL

OK, I Have AMA  AND A CLUB!   Put down the guns. You will scare the non AMA guys .

skeeter_ca

Just to add a few comments to what i already wrote.

It's too expensive to join a club. (It's alot cheaper because you don't crash as often.)
I don't want people to see me crash. (It happens but the great thing is you get to see other people crash to.)
The experienced flyers will laugh at me. (No they aren't laughing at you but with you.)
I don't like to ask for help. (Most of the times you don't have to ask they will come right up and offer.)
The field is two far away. (It's alot closer that you think and it's having to drive a little gives you the reason to stay and fly longer.)
I don't know where a club field is. (You can find the closest ones on the AMA field locator search function.)
You have to be sponsered to get into the club and i don't know anyone. (Go to the RC field and people will start talking to you and your in. It really is that easy.)
My plane is just a toy compared to those real rc planes. (There all toys no matter what they say or how much they cost.)
I'm shy. (Get over it. It's well worth the chance you take.)
I don't like to socialize with people. (You don't have to talk. Alot of times i just sit and listen.)
I just want to fly and not talk. (See answer above.)

skeeter

da Rock

Have you checked with the school principal for permission to use that property? Most schools nowadays consider it trespassing when anyone sets up to use their property. The cops show up regularly at the elementary school down the block and run off golfers and such.

Did you know the Federal gummit is about to put laws in place to restrict model use (in order to protect us from activities that might threaten the American way of life)? Things like model airplanes can be used by terrorists. Our schools would be especially vulnerable. If you were an AMA member you would have at least read about it. They've been lobbying to keep those new regulations sensible. Think they will be?

billd76

My Feedback: (3)

I belong to two clubs and wouldn't have it any other way! i can learn just as much just by going to the field and not flying as I can flying. Wealth of knowledge and experience at the fields. Guys at our fields fly micros, foamies, and on up to and above 100cc aircraft. It's always like going to an airshow everytime I go. I am not a prefect flyer, but closer to being perfect than I would be had I tried to do it on my own. The instructors at the field are without a doubt, worth their weight in gold!!

jetmech05

A small local non AMA club/place to fly....why in the world would the property owner allow that even if he is one of the flyers....if someone other than the property owner lost a plane...and did some damage to something or someone...the property owner could be held liable...along with the pilot....at least the AMA would protect the property owner insurance wise if it was a sactioned club.....
Flying in a scholl yard.....never thought that was a good idea.....RC airplanes are kid magnets.....you don't want to hit one.....I know a flyer that hit a woman...he was flying an approach....and the woman came up behind him and didn't say anything....stepped up in the runway to see and got it......The AMA helped him out insurance wise.....
This is just for starters.....

ES CONTROL

How does a club get started ?    AMA first, or  a few good men who later go to AMA?

da Rock

Your friend and his friends, do you really think they're a good example of the average modelers around the US? It's almost a fairy tale. Everyone of us wish we had our own runway with a full scale in a hangar beside out house at the end of the strip.

Would it help new guys to join your buddy and his 5 friends? Heck yeah. How much room do they have for parking? Do they have toilet facilities out there? Trash pickup for the field?

Would it help your buddy to have a bunch of people flying on his property?

It would help every one of us if we had enough money to not need liability insurance covering the property owner, could afford to purchase enough property suited for our hobby, and lived where all that was possible. But we don't.

I fly with 3 different clubs. Not a soul in any of them have not benefitted from being a member of those clubs. They've benefitted far more than they would have had they not joined. Two club fields are out in the country. A number of those members are farmers, full or part time, mostly part time with the way the US is going nowadays. They have all benefitted greatly and seem to be members for the advantages they seem to think they get.

This question seems to be motivated by something? Nobody in their right mind would say "no it wouldn't help new guys to join a small member club". It'd help them to join any club.

opjose