cap10fan

My Feedback: (13)

I'm sure this topic has been covered and I missed it, so I'll re-hash it.

Is this hobby going the way it appears? It seems that there are just too few young people interested any more. Am I the only one that sees it that way?

When I was a kid, I couldn't wait for the weekends to head to the field with my dad. the best memories I have are those times.

I have lots of friends who have teen-aged kids that don't want anything to do with this great hobby. It seems they would rather stay in and play video games or just "hang out" with their friends.


Is it just me?

BTW, I'm 34 yo.

DSJBEAN

My Feedback: (1)

I'm 35 and got into the hobby a year and a half ago.

My 16 year old son flies regulary with me and my 13 year old want to learn again this summer. Hope he is serious. I won't force him if he doesn't want to learn though.

cap10fan

My Feedback: (13)

Happy to hear it! Keep em flying.

I have a 5 year old daughter and I plan on doing everything I can to get her interested. She has been going to the field with me since she was 3. I have her on the sim now and hope to have her flying in the spring. Keeping fingers crossed.

Robby

My Feedback: (18)

Cap10,
Where do you fly.. I used to fly at the old Richmond rd place till
it got closed down a few years ago.. And that was when I lived
on Franklin St in CF... I got a place in Bedford <which I still have>
and do go there some times.. Are you in CF itself..

Robby

Dago Red

My Feedback: (11)

Im 17, and i cant wait till the weekend. I got into this hobbie when I was 15. crashed the 2nd day of training---thought that was the end--thank god it wasnt.
I try to get fiends into it, but they are more interested in R/C cars.
I would rather work on my planes thatn go to a movie with my friends. I dont have a G/F yet--Id rather work on my planes. People at school make fun of me--but they have no idea how fun it is to work on, fly these little planes.

edge_fanatic

My Feedback: (4)

My 14 yr old son flys regularly and has been doing so for two years.

For building, he has one in the bones, waiting on covering, engine.

Roby

In my opinion your observation is for sort of correct.

There are so many programs available for kids today
that model airplanes don't stand much of a chance
in their schedule.

Most ,(but not all)of the new folks that come into the hobby are
of adult age. The people who have been building model
airplanes in one form or another all their lives are becoming
fewer and farther between.

Many years ago the AMA did a survey , I think at that time
the average age was in the 35/40 range. I doubt since then
that then numbers are moving to the low side.

I used to work in a LHS part time for years ,so I saw much
of what went out the door. As far as the kids it's discouraging.
If you can't take it out of the box and play with it "now"forget
it.

I feel that the biggest impact to this hobby in the distant
future will be when many of the baby boomers,(like me)start to go
away.

I could be wrong , but time will tell


Until then ,happy holidays
Roby

Flyfalcons

22 now, started when I was 14. I have noticed that my club has seen a slight increase of younger fliers in the last couple years; most of them are a father/son team, which I think is great. Of course the sons are better pilots than the dads.

m.gramling

My Feedback: (8)

26years old been flying for almost 4 years.

I don't have any children yet.

Unstable

im 25 and have been flying just about a year.

I have been interested in RC for many years but it has only been recently that I had the finances to do this.

my 2yo neice loves airplanes and loves to play on realflight (she likes to crash) and I have a 17yo friend that should be getting into it this coming spring.

I try to encorage as many people I can to get into this hobby but in a "plug and play" world as it is it may be hard.

robert

Chris 540, Welsh 3D, myself, Steve JR, 3DBatix kid, Shortman, Flyboy91, the guy with the moving devil Avatar, Thomas Reva, his friend petter, AdamsBro, 3D Cap 232, aswell as others, are teens on RCU that I know, so in other words, there are 1000s. In Ireland there are alot more kids coming into it now.

Ryan Smith

My Feedback: (25)

MEEEE!!!!

I'm 16 and I have been flying for about 2 1/2 years.

rcspud

My Feedback: (2)

Im 29 and just got started about 6 months ago and wish I started years ago.I raced rc cars for at least 10 years and needed something more challenging.Boy howdy did I find it.

What a great hobby.

Dago Red

My Feedback: (11)

We have about 3 kids at our flying field, Im training one of them, we figure it would be easier for a 17 year old to teach a younger kid. We are having one, very good aerobatic pilot indeed, which plans to retire from flying. but I hope to see more kids get in to flying.

Silvanskii

My Feedback: (17)

I'm 20, been flying off and on my whole life but just really got into it about 5 years ago.

I also belong to 2 good size clubs and both are seeing a fair amount of new blood (not literally literal).

Flying is one of the most fun things you can do with your pants on

AgWings

60 goin' on 15. Been building and flying these things off and on since 1958.

bdphil

My Feedback: (26)

I'm 25 and been flying for about 2 years. My dad and I tried to learn on our own about 10 yrs ago, didn't go that well. I wanted to learn ever since and finally found a club and built a plane. Now I'll never quit.

Ben

Dago Red

My Feedback: (11)

Not as bad as golf ,yet, more addicting than heroin.

rc.hackmaster

My Feedback: (4)

34 and been in to r/c for 10 yrs, mostly cars. got tired of competition and tried planes. started in feb and love it. up to 14 planes of various sizes and want more!!!!!!!!!!

Dago Red

My Feedback: (11)

I own up to 28 planes, in many differ stanges of looking. I want more as well, and im the kid at the flying field that is glad to take that crashed plane off your hand for free.

cap10fan

My Feedback: (13)

I glad my perception is off.

I know most people who try the hobby, and don't have a bad initial experience, get hooked quickly. Just like me. I'm thankful to my dad that he never gave up, even when those trees always seemed out to get him...hehe. Otherwise, who knows how I would spend all that dough.

What can I say, I need at least one bad(?) habit. Right? I Would rather buy another plane than new shoes.....

Keep `em flying guys.

Dago Red

My Feedback: (11)

My mom will spend a good deal of money she like to tell every one, it keeps it out of his nose.
Dad says, it keeps him off the streets and out of trouble.
Dad dosnt fly, but for christmas, Im buying him a small R/C helicopter type thing, hes always wanted something that he could fly and sit in his recliner at the same time.

Live Wire

How many younger people come to our flying sites and are not recognized. They are perspective fliers , they are interested but are afraid to ask for help. Training programs Flight Inst. AND A LITTLE RESPECT. Some are wild fly by nites but most will learn . Proper guidance will improve the youth of tomarrow.
SORRY IM' 65

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

I've been in this madhouse for 60 years. My son about 25 years. My 10 year old grandson two. We are keeping the faith.

With a twin he's bold, and only ten years old.

Bill.

Traxxas_Tech

My Feedback: (22)

I'm 18 in a couple months. As stated previously, it seems that if its not "plug and play", Its not any good.

-Its considered too "nerdy" by most young people- for lack of a better term.. And in some cases seen as reclusive, we sit in the shop for days on end finishing a project.

But also, Alot of kids and teens have the shortest attention spans. My 13 y/o brother included. On several occasions, I have tried to sit him down and help him build something. Out of several sessions, the farthest we've progressed has been less than half a wing panel before he got tired and went in to melt his brain on the playstation.

It seems some people are just not made to "play" airplanes. It takes the kind of "tinker sort" I think.

I dont see many young people at the local airfields, I only know of a handful in my area. I wish there were more!

But man, airplanes sure are fun!