From my perspective, all is not lost, if I could ever get someone with an open mind and a visionary to accept and to work with me, hopefully a member of the RC aeromodelling industry, I have a proactive, tangible plan to resurrect the hobby/sport.

Is there any member of the RC aeromodelling industry reading this message? I realize that you might find it difficult to comprehend that I have a readily available solution, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. I just need someone to experience how my mass and rapid growth plan will work one-on-one to be convinced. I contacted several industry members, including SIG, DuBro, and NRHSA, and they never replied. AMA showed no interest, even though they are losing over $1 million annually. Here's what they are trying: . Where there's a will, there's a way. AMA begs for help from members, and as a member for over 50 years, I've had to beg to help.

Part of, if not THE issue is younger generations want it now, and wont take the time away from their phones and social media to learn to build. For many, building a plane and then flying it is what makes the hobby. Whats really sad is that technology today makes it possible to do things with our models that was impossible a couple decades ago due to weight. Full on lighting systems, GPS, easy train systems etc. are a few of the things not possible back then. Mini and micro servos for gear doors, bomb bay doors, and rack systems for realistic bomb drops were not possible back then, but look what can be done now. Heck we even have printers to make parts that were hard to get if they were even available like special hinges and such.

Between lack of interest to build and lack of available flying fields, it wont be long before the days of bringing something special to life are gone.

In my city, there are 3 schools that have RC aeromodelling STEM programs where every class is full of kids in the hobby. They designed, built, and flew RC airplanes in every class and then some. If a kid doesn't have a ride out to the field with his parents, he sure can't do much by riding his bicycle. If parents aren't already in the hobby or aren't interested, their kids won't be getting into the hobby. I have no trouble at all getting kids interested and inviting them and their parents out to the field, who are willing to drive them there. I'm ready, willing, and always able to give anyone RC flying experience at their convenience. I'm lucky to have a huge flying field not far from where I live. When I had my hobby shop, I had an RC flight simulator that I would insist that customers allow me to show them how to fly on the RC flight simulator.

Eric Williams
Schenectady, New York

Fellow AMA members,

"It's no secret that model aviation is in challenging times. Overall, club membership is down, hobby shops have closed, few aeromodeling magazines remain, and many iconic hobby brands are now gone. And of course, governmental regulations still persist. Pressures on our hobby are more severe than at any time in history.

The challenges of costs, regulations, and reduced participation in model aviation are upon us. In no time has our hobby been so threatened. These challenges are new, different, and persistent. The good news is that there are ways to address reduced participation in model aviation and to increase our membership!" They are aware of my mass and rapid growth program.

Not really sure, I want to do the forum thing again.

The hobby is fine. Who cares anyways? If it dies, it dies. That won't effect my flying at all. It won't effect yours either. RC isn't a grandchild. If its gone when I die, I couldn't care less.

There's a zillion airplane companies out there. Their stuff is selling faster than it comes in. But your club sees less attendance? Gee, I wonder why.

Omp/Buddy RC, Extreme Flight, RC Skywing, AJ.........all out of stock. Order while the container is in shipment. And small balsa, or cheap foamies outsell those planes 50:1. All those plane sales most be flying somewhere?

Kids and noobs are all over the place flying Umx, Eflight, and Flight Test. When those break or warp, we rebuild them. In the case of Flite Test kits, a simple wood fuse can be made to replace a smashed foam one. So, there's still builders out there. And there's still kids building.

I cant pump gas in my truck anywhere, without someone commenting about the plane in my back seat.

It's your Ama, Faa, gatekeeper nonsense, that we prefer to avoid. In my AO, RC flying is the biggest its been since the early 90's boom. Its just not the way, that you guys want it to be.

Park or free flying > club flying. And will be, forever more. I do both. It's not our fault that a plank of dollar store foam is as much fun in a park, as our 35cc Extra is at a club field.

If the only reason you want new club members, is to reduce your cost, or to reduce your labor. Then your club is doomed. You have to do it for the love of it all. The Ama biz/club model, is crustier than the turkey sandwich at the very back of a Seven Eleven cooler.

I've got no problem with electric crushing nitro. $40/gallon can't be worthwhile. And 30cc+ gas, is more fun than ever.

Kids get dropped off at our field, while mom shops or mountain bikes. FMS Ranger, FMS Pa18, Flight Test Bloody Wonder, are a popular kids choice.

Kid gets a ton of experience hanging out with generally positive random adults. Socially, it seems like a major advantage.