Beyond some of the negative things that have brought attention to the hobby this past year, from here in NW Arkansas, this has been the worst RC year yet. Started out the year with historic record low temps which hung around awhile. Then we had a historic record snowfall. From there we went into almost an entire month of rain and thunderstorms, the result was historic record flooding. (First time I'd ever seen almost 2 weeks of continous thunderstorms, literally non-stop). I think its been 4 times this year that the field has had over 6ft of water on it. That cleared out and the wind howled pretty much the entire month of May. From there it decended into historic record breaking heat all the way into August. We're just now getting some good flying weather, maybe we'll eek out 2-3 more weeks of it before its back into winter. I'm easily down about 75% on the number of flights I can get in for a year.

What about you guys? Just bad luck in this area or have you experienced the same this year?

We didn't get the flooding but did get the rest. Add in a medical issue, with minor surgery, and my 2011 "season" has been 4 trips to the field. Two of the trips were on 100 degree days where we left after less than 1.5 hours at the field. Our club meeting was Saturday. We thought we'd get to fly but the wind was howling.

I got in less stick time this year then in any years past. A lot of it was choice though. Over the winter we had more rain and wind then I have seen. Then it was just wind then we went into real high heat. Heat I don't mind but getting up early enough to get out at sun rise I no longer carre to do. Then we got in early monsoons that lasted for longer then normal. The lake bed has flooded a couple of times. The last few weeks have been great but I was really into building more trhen flying. Now my radio is in need of repair.
As I said, a lot of my lack of flying was my choice but a lot of it was mother nature too.

I agree, this has been one of my worst years. I have a lot of stuff going on in my life which does not help. Our field was flooded from March until the middle of August, we have a field that we can use, but it is not that great of a field. I am so rusty of a pilot, a club member that I don't know, asked someone else while I was flying if I was a rookie, I was flying so bad in the wind. I just need more stick time.

We had a couple bad flood years, or was it three? i feel for you..

Heck , we had club benches and starting stands found in the middle of fields and one bench supposedly got about 20 miles away from the site in 93.

When you mentioned bad years, I thought you meant initially LUCK WISE. One spring a buddy and I had so many projects both experimental, and simple go wrong ..that I told my friend.. do you realize we have become those guys that show up and crash everything..then go home.

Thankfully by the time summer came along we had returned to our normal schedule of less frequent problems !

Those cold streaks make the good times ... better

It seems to be the same here. Seems to be more unsettled weather, especially the wind. I have mainly high wing planes (Cubs, Cessnas, Beavers, etc.) that I have a hard time taxing around in much wind. [>:] [:@]
PLUS, the main thing...working 6-12 hr. shifts a week for over the last year, has made this year a forgettable one [&o]...hopefully 2012 will be better!!!

Oh yeah.. and then there's that side of the year... just hanging on to what you have.. 2012 HAS to be better!!!

It has been a brutal year for RC in Arkansas! Spring storms, flooding and then the heat that settle in in August. I just sucked it in and learned to fly better in the wind and sweltering heat. I made 5 IMACevents this year and except for the one last weekend in OK the heat was a killer. Add that the OK contest was in 25 MPH cross winds. Geez ..........

It looks like it has a lot to do with where you are at. In Central KY we have been lucky. We met our annual rainfall total a few weeks ago, but the flying season has been great all year. All of our rain has been more of the afternoon passing thunderstorm variety and mainly during the week. I can only think of 1 time this summer that I had to leave the field early becasuse the rain had set in. There were a couple of days that we hung out under the pavillion while we had a passing shower, but luckily no washouts. On the other hand the regular rain and nice sunny days has kept the lawnmowers busy all summer. I usually only have to mow my yard once every 7 to 10 days in the summer, but this year has been twice a week the entire time. Thats OK though because next to flying yard work is one of my favorite things to do. I know, I'm crazy.

This was definitely a short flying season up here too, after this week it should be the wettest year on record. We didn't even get our runway cut and ready to fly until after the week after memorial day,,, then the Heat of July,, yikes,,
Now more rain the last few weeks is making it a soggy mess again so who knows when we'll fly again.. Last weekend was spectacular though,, Temps in the 70's and blue sky,, Nice for Oct. in OH.

Looks like building season is starting early and will run long

I was just starting out 33 yrs ago and lost my dad