Voyager49

Why can't they have club vans for carless menbers who want to learn how to fly thier trainer RC planes?
It's hard to go going flying when you don't have a car.
there must be answer to this problem

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Get with the members of the club on the phone. Undoubtedly someone there can pick you up when they go to fly

Find a club that is friendly

AUX 6 RC FLIERS
Flying Site Details
3.47 miles 1977 34 RICHARD KAUFMAN
Email Contact 929 W TURNEY AVE
PHOENIX AZ 85013
Phone: 602/265-0441
10 No
CENTRAL ARIZONA CL CLUB
Flying Site Details
6.52 miles 4116 40 LEROY BLACK
Email Contact 606 SOUTH 233RD DRIVE
BUCKEYE AZ 85042
Phone: 623-327-9227
Visit Website
10 No
EAST VALLEY AVIATORS INC
Flying Site Details
10.33 miles 4098 228 VERLIN BOEDER
Email Contact 14045 S 40TH ST
PHOENIX AZ 85044
Phone: 602-803-6852
Visit Website
10 Yes
SUN VALLEY FLIERS
Flying Site Details
10.94 miles 921 410 GENE PETERSON
Email Contact PO BOX 31816
PHOENIX AZ 85046
Phone: 480-563-9694
Visit Website
10 Yes
KNIGHT FLYERS ELECTRIC RC CLUB
12.03 miles 4557 8 ROY HOOKEY
Email Contact 15657 N 91ST DR
PEORIA AZ 85339
Phone: 602.903.9130
10 No
PHOENIX MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB
12.08 miles 760 37 ELMER NELSON
Email Contact 16215 S 7TH DR
PHOENIX AZ 85045
Phone: 480-460-1366
Visit Website
10 No
SCOTTSDALE MODEL FLYERS
Flying Site Details
12.73 miles 1961 135 FRANK BIGELOW
Email Contact 1976 E DIVOT DR
TEMPE AZ 85260
Phone: 480-775-6611
10 No
ARIZONA ROTARY MODELERS SOCIETY
13.24 miles 3463 31 ERIC STEVENS
Email Contact PO BOX 6052
GLENDALE AZ 85312
Phone: 480-502-6745
Visit Website
10 No
ARIZONA R/C SOCIETY
Flying Site Details
13.51 miles 773 129 JACK KNUTH
Email Contact 7101 W SUNNYSIDE DR
PEORIA AZ 85345
Phone: 602-878-9140
Visit Website
10 No
ARIZONA MODEL PILOTS SOCIETY AMPS
Flying Site Details
15.47 miles 1546 237 EDWIN CURTIS
Email Contact PO BOX 10843
GLENDALE AZ 85318
Phone: 623.551.3447
Visit Website
10 Yes
ARIZONA MODEL AVIATORS
Flying Site Details
15.86 miles 1600 287 DAVID BALCH
Email Contact 3410 E FOUTAIN ST
MESA AZ 85213
Phone: 480-830-3816
Visit Website
10 Yes
LUKE AFB CONDORS
17.48 miles 2086 15 WILLIAM LEIVIAN 6111 W QUESTA DR
GLENDALE AZ 85310
Phone: 623-780-1102
10 No
CENTRAL AZ SOARING LEAGUE
Flying Site Details
17.48 miles 2133 75 PABLO ROMERO
Email Contact 1924 N 118TH DR
AVONDALE AZ 85323
Phone: 623-374-7469
Visit Website
10 No
WEST VALLEY HELICOPTER CLUB
18.86 miles 4501 14 MICHAEL LAMB
Email Contact 8773 W DESERT TRAILS
PEORIA AZ 85335
Phone: 602-486-5222
Visit Website
10 No
ARIZONA MODEL CROPDUSTERS
Flying Site Details
19.64 miles 3416 12 JOSHUA MCDONALD
Email Contact 8156 N 106TH AVE
PEORIA AZ 85338
Phone: 623-974-2252
Visit Website
10 Yes
ONE EIGHTH AIR FORCE
19.64 miles 373 59 VAL ROQUENI
Email Contact 122 E HELENA DR
PHOENIX AZ 85338
Phone: 602-993-5579
Visit Website
10 No
SUN LAKES MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB
Flying Site Details
20.10 miles 1601 88 THOMAS TILLEY
Email Contact 2432 W FLINT ST
CHANDLER AZ 85248
Phone: 480.963.9517
Visit Website
10 No
GILBERT QUIET FLYERS
Flying Site Details
20.63 miles 4750 193 AARON LICHTENWALNER
Email Contact 14215 N VERN PL
FOUNTAIN HILLS AZ 85268
Phone: 480.816.0154
10 Yes
SPEEDWORLD R.C. FLYERS
Flying Site Details
20.80 miles 3933 213 RANDAL DAUER
Email Contact 16258 N NAEGEL DR
SURPRISE AZ 85374
Phone: 623-546.8410
Visit Website
10 No
ARIZONA WING NUTZ
Flying Site Details
23.50 miles 4702 19 PATRICK GAGNON
Email Contact 7343 E DRUMMER AVE
MESA AZ 85208
Phone: 480.325.9058
10 No
V.D.O. FLYERS
24.04 miles 3928 22 RUSSELL PETERSEN
Email Contact 1452 S ELLSWORTH RD #2042
MESA AZ 85209
Phone: 541.997.3202
10 No

Campgems

Man, if I could stand that heat, I would move there for the clubs.

As to why the clubs don't have a van, it simply a matter of money. Check the cost of vans. Say $25K at a low estimate. That $25K is about 15 years of our clubs expenses and that includes servicing our runway every few years. Add in the cost of insurance, a driver, and operating expenses, and you start to get the picture. It just is possible to provide that service even for a club of a couple hundred memebers. Also, the need for that service isn't there. We have a few guys who car pool to the field. but only a few. A lot of our members could use the bus system to get near to our field, but at best, they would have a mile walk back from the closest bus stop. The great majority want to use their own transportation in order to eliminate damage to their planes and to allow them the flexability to fly when they can, within the hours of our field.

W8ye's suggestion to check out the clubs and see if there is a close by member to assist you is a great idea. Be happy that you are as close as you are to so many clubs. Most places in the US don't have that concertration of clubs. I live on the central coast of California and our club field is 25 miles from my house. The next closest fields are 30 miles an 45 miles away. The closest member to me is five miles away, so car pooling isn't a very good option for us.

I wish you good luck in finding a club and a mentor for learing to fly. Most all clubs place helping new members learn to fly high on their priority list. I'm sure almost all of the clubs the W8ye listed are the same. It's the nature of the hobby to help newcomers. Check them out and I'm sure you will find a solution to your problem. By the way welcome to the hobby/addiction

Don

jetmech05

Just like Wal-Mart doesn't have a van..it isn't their job to provide you a ride...It's not a clubs job to provide you with transportation...the clubs function is to provide you with a nice place to fly....
It's your parents place to provide you a ride, when they can, if your too young to drive....
If there is a physical reason you can't drive you need a better transportation system in your town
Or you can call a cab

Jetdesign

My Feedback: (8)

Haha, I offer to give people rides all the time. Great way to make more friends! Clubs have small income from member dues - not enough to buy a van, pay for insurance, and pay for fuel.

I'm sure I'm not the only one in my club that offers people rides. I love to share as much of this hobby as possible, and I know the guys in my club do, too!

Actually, this is a good topic to bring up at a club meeting - a way to establish an official ride share, or a way for people to get in touch with the club and find a ride.

Voyager49

Well I willing to pay for gas no problem, My car was stolen from me from a sick in head ex land lord.
and the cost of a car new or used will take too long save up for.

smithcreek

My Feedback: (25)

I think they should provide a buffet lunch and massages after a long day of flying too.

draftman1

A little off subject but isnt that what insurance is for? insurance would have at least payed you the value of the car and the land lord if caught would probably be held liable if proven he did it. I feel your pain but its not anybodys responsability to get you to a club. maybe you should sell the fuel panes and get some foamies that you can fly anywhere, just a sugestion

Voyager49

I have a 1 foamy it's called Skypilot
but I have to order new wings but i love my gas planes

bruce88123

I'm sorry but IMO you need to seriously reconsider your priorities. Park the planes and save your money until you can afford a car down payment. But that's just an opinion.

Voyager49

That be some time to do, I find the closest club and find a cab that cost less to use.
when there is will there is a way.

carrellh

If your car was stolen, any you know who did it, the police department should have no problems getting it back.

Voyager49

The Greasy landlord sold it but he facing the court for damages to pay.
of course the greasy slum landlord is a dead beat but the higher court will do some thing about him.
mean I guess I take a taxi to the closest club

draftman1

I didnt mean to sound heartless. I would keep pushing the issue with the car. I do understand about the fuel planes also. when the gas prices shot up I almost parked my planes and went to homebuilt foamies. I can fly those at my house. please next time, get some insurance. here in CA its mandatory, alot of people dont have it and if they are driving without it and get caught, the penalty is severe. whether is mandatory or not, I wouldnt be caught dead without it.

bruce88123

Liability insurance is mandatory but that doesn't help if your car is stolen.

Voyager49

yep i had that kind of insurance
I have $700. for a car but guess what He sold it behind my back
and person lied to me about having a car for sale.
any way I think the AMA clubs could have club vans.

Bob Mitchell

Are the police not involved with this? This is a criminal case.

How could he sell the car "behind your back"? Do you not have a title for the car?

This whole thing sounds a bit odd to me.

-pkh-

My Feedback: (2)

Most clubs are lucky to take in enough money from their members to pay the bills every year (rent, field & building maintenance, etc.). If you can't afford a car, what makes you think a club can?

Jetdesign

My Feedback: (8)

Think about how much you pay for insurance, and how much you will have to pay for a new car. We have 40 club members and our dues are going up to $40 per person. Where will the cost for a new van come from? Who will pay insurance?

Like I said, I'd be happy to pick someone up and take them to the field; I've done it before. I won't be happy spending more money for a van and insurance - how many extra people do you think we'd get if we had a van? One? Two? Not enough to justify me doubling my membership dues.

Adui

I might point out a side no one seems to have touched on yet. Who will drive this van?

Answer: another club member.

The same kind of club member who is willing to volunteer time to drive the van will most likely happily just pick you up in there own vehicle and give you a ride.

Just get in touch with the club and ask around ,explain your situation (EG lack of a ride but really want to fly). Im sure someone will help you out till you can get another car.

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

I think that this thread has gone on long enough. This is really an academic discussion here that really doesn't have much to do with what the Beginner's Forum deals with. Thread closed.


Ken