Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

I've been just wandering recently, that there are increasing number of
fellow jet fliers quitting this hobby, and selling all their stuff. Any ideas
as to why is this happening? Or is the uncertainty of what's going on
with the FAA?


ENT

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

I'd guess the uncertainty.

With this new dictatorship style government that we've had over the last 4 or 5 years it will be no surprise if our hobby is regulated out of existence.

Elections really do have consequences after all, be it in the AMA or the US government.

Rome anyone?

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

I can't really believe someone will quit based ont the FAA situation... there may rationalized it that way, but its more likely they have other reasons...

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

I think it is more based on the economic situation the country is in. Loss of jobs, working for 1/2 of what was once there so on. Going back to the basic essential needs.

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

No where to fly..

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

That's why I ask, in fact we jet flyers have an org. supporting
us 110%, and the AMA by the other hand does also. That's why
I would not be afraid of the new regulations, since most probably
will be most probably in accordance with the AMA turbine rules.
And as long you are a member most probably you'll be safe. As
somebody else said in other thread, there's no way these things will
be allowed to fly over our airspace without inherent danger to the people.
Any other reasons????

ENT

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

LOL,

I always wonder what people who actually live under real dictatorships think of us when we talk like this. Over here, when our 'side' loses an election, we call the other guys dictators and socialists and such. In other places, when their 'side' loses an election, some people have hours to get out of the country before they get disappeared by the new government. This kind of thing happens all over the world, all of the time. Yep, elections do matter. At least we get to have them. Count your blessings and remember that even when legislation you don't like is passed, it's after free and democratic elections (when sometimes people on the other side of the issue win). I've spent some time in countries where this isn't the case, so again...count your blessings.:eek:

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Its easy to benchmark the US against other countries and thats ok. But I prefer to benchmark the US against the US. Benchmarking against others shows that we are still ahead of other countries in many ways. Benchmarking against ourselves shows how we have fallen in many ways. Flame suit on.

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Been around this world of ours twice and all I can say is that the US is the BEST country I've been in and if we have to comply with rules so be it .
Semper Fi
Joe

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Not another degenerate political debate? Fly...build or crawl back under your rock!

George

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Some have just gotten out of Jets, but not out of the hobby. If they ban jets here in USA, we may have to buy small border plots in Mexico and Canada and fly their...:D

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

just invade some country , and put asphalt on it..;)

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Let's stop buying turbines, and see how many engine manufacturers survive. ;)

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Well I'm stocking up on (EP) parkflyers with Flaps...

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Pipe down before we go over there and "liberate" you!

Oh and we'll asphalt you too. ;):)

Raf

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Definitely the economy, I doubt half the jet flyers out there even know what is going on with the FAA:D:D

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Just remember that speed bumps in parking lots are the result of idiots thinking they are at the dragstrip and speeding where they should not be.

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Nice Milk Stool!!!

Beave

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Don't forget the retracts.;)

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Jets are really expensive, with the economy like it is I think people are just chossing between the hobby or pay the rent

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

What we need to do is get the FAA into Jets. No one gets out and stays out... It is just too cool...

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

I think it is the economy (in a way). Not only you have people that have lost income. You have people that now might have an unemployed spouse, and also you have people that have the same income, but are more careful on their spending pattern. And yes (hard to beklive) some peole are actually paying down debt, and even saving.

This affects actually all fields, you name it, sales are down (boating, full size aircraft, tavel (on vacation) etc...

I do not believe people are selling because of a rumor about what the FAA might or not do:-)

And to the "brain" that want to turn this into a political discussion: Remember, this started over 2 years ago. Politicians come and go, the FAA stays forever:-) Getting as new party in DC in 2 years will do nothing to the FAA... Well, yes, there is a moron that want to cut back the funding for the FAA, but I am not going there.

Gerry

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

gENTs

Why make it a problem.
Just put a little propeller on front side axle of the electrical starter motor and tell the officer it is a plane with a main electrical propulsion unit and a small adjustable PTA, especially designed for safety reasons to prevent stall!. He will understand.

(PTA Propeller Thrust Amplifier, kind of ATO)

Cees

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Did you see this RC jet:

http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/x.../?ncid=webmail

I guess is to big for moving around in an SUV. They did a nice video...

Gerry

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Gerry,

I am not interested in jets, only did want to give you a solution for the situation when jets are banned in the USA.
Was engineer for the Nortroph NF5 so did see enough jets.

Cees

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

When I flew FS there was a standing joke among our local pilots. " Hello I'm (insert name) with the FAA. I'm here to help you. I assure you this hobby does not want the FAA's help. But I'm confident that we will get it anyway.

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Why dont you post a blind poll and ask the variable questions of why ? (money, political, boredom, change of priority so on).

I myself was a jet fanatic for 15yrs went to multiple events, had 15-20 jets in the hanger at any given time . Now I have sold off all jets, keeping only the ones I make myself . This comes from two reasons . Closing my two companys ( of 21yrs) so I really do not have the extra funds to play with the high end stuff anymore and second the hight of the Jet arena was in the 90's -early 00's with the development of the modelers jet engine created a craze.

Back then I had more money than time , nowdays I have more time than money. So I have gone back to where I enjoyed the hobby. I build kits make my own and enjoy it . It does not cost me an arm or a second born to to play. But I am still active in the hobby just in a different perspective.

I have watched the jet arena over a couple of decades and my conclusion is it has slowly outpriced itself in todays enviroment.

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

This doesn't have to do with politics, it's just some
-hole in the FAA trying to get "$$" out of some people.
As a matter of fact this most probably was the hysteria
that resulted from 9/11. I know it's a good thing to fly secure,
but everyday is getting more a pain trying to go from one
place to another by plane. Someone is trying to mix things
in the FAA.
But this is not the fact why are you leaving the hobby.
I most surely would think as others- economy-.

ENT

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

luckyflyer,
Northrop F5, Nice small jet with two PTA’s for double safety.
Good luck and keep them in the air!
Cees

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

My .02 cents.

I have a few ideas.

One, economy, face it 5-20k wrapped up in one airplane is a luxury and really does nothing other than entertain. It would never pass any financial litmus test. Sure there is some stress relief but only while building. Flying a jet is not relaxing, going to the field and seeing friends is, but the 5 minutes of flight is far from "mind numbing". If you want that you need a Radian a 2100Mah pack and a lawn recliner and iPod.

Two, Kinetic hobbies and leaving the house have lost appeal. How many young kids do you have at your field that stare at the sky enamored with flight like we did as kids. The prestige and beauty of flight is gone with the younger generation, just buy a commercial ticket on and major and you will see that.

Three, Jets just like helis used to be much more costly and unattainable and more rare. At our field a few years ago flying would stop and everyone would flock to a jet starting up. Now one jet is sometimes seen as a nussiance. The last "everyone paying attention" was when we flew 4 jets at once and two of use were mixing it up fighter style. Part of me knows half the people just wanted to see a midair.

Four, EDF's, this crowd does not know the difference between EDF and Turbine. It is middle ground enough that it is not a prop and 1/20 the cost???

Five, See number ONE.

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Hi,

Yeah, if they do ban jets (which I seriously doubt will ever, ever happen), then I'll just put a free-spinning prop on the front of mine and let it windmill.

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Also don't fully understand the doom and gloom approach to the FAA hoopla, Even if everything went as planned with our efficient government (laugh now). None of this matters till first quarter 2013. So in a nutshell it is 2 years of business as usual so if you have the jet bug or already have it, there is plenty of time to live it up???

The FAA is so bad off they can't even enforce medical certificates in the GA world or keep FBO's from using pencils on books inlieu of wrenches. I have no idea how or who would ever have the time to police the RC community after they have to police all the start up UAS companies.

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

The dollar is weak as hell and we don't hardly make a darn thing here anymore. The jet stuff that is made here is pricey. Now they every right to charge what they want based on the cost of having a domestic enterprise, especially when it is of higher quality most of the time.

The FAA can and will do whatever they want...remember their slogan..."We're not happy until you're not happy"

My opinion is that if our government can't keep foreign drug lords from literally taking over hundreds of square miles of US territory with little intervention other than posting signs to stay out, then how the heck are they going to stop a bunch of guys burning some kero in the desert?

People are gonna do what they want, even if the goverment burns the whole bill of rights!

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Interesting that you are also in the Netherlands. Same as Digitech who suggested that we invade a country, and pave it. We discussed this here, and Monaco was mentioned (we want a small country) but discarded because the casino would compete with the jets, besides it is way too hilly. So we looked at Louxemburg. It was tempting. We want to invade and pave something centrally located in Europe, close to fun places. So, they voted to pave and invade a small country that is all flat. The only problem is that is has a lot of cannals and small dams, and is jam packed with bikes...:-) We will see what happens, it was reported that in spring it is also jampacked with tulips... Your prop solution was duly noted.

Gerry

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Gerry,

That was nice because I did have to think about paving our country but you are all living on the other side of the ocean so I am not afraid and couldn;t make the joke.
BTW Digitech is also clever, don't you think so!

Cees

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

I thought his comment was indeed funny:-) But do not go crazy on us, or we send Halliburton over, and pave whatever is not moving...

Gerry

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Gerry,

We already did build a lot of jet shredders,
Here you see one in the back. These are all historical protected objects.
They will give your "downwind turn" an interesting dimension.

Cees

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Shaun,
Tell that to the citizens of NYC who have a mayor who decided on his own that he could change the law and run for a third term and now that it's coming to an end, he's changing it back to two terms for the next mayor. I could start to list the draconian ways of Bloomberg but then we would be getting into political talk. If you even bothered to read what cowboy said you wouldn't have had to start the whole "my side their side stuff. He said the last four or five years. That would include both sides.

Marty

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Marty,

Don't read more into that than there is. Of course the third term thing is ridiculous. The only thing more ridiculous than that was his explanation as to why it was necessary. Term limits are there for a reason, and they should be left alone...period. The 'sides' thing wasn't in response to what time frame he referred to (although I have a feeling it was referring to '06), it was to the use of the term "dictatorship." I think it's not only silly to think of our country that way, but very insensitive and disrespectful to people who ACTUALLY have to live their lives under that kind of oppression and are not just whining. I hear and read that kind of talk every day and I think it is yet another thing that makes us Americans look really stupid in the eyes of the rest of the world. Flame suit on.

RE: Getting Out Of The Hobby
 

Very interesting perspective. I have been thinking along similar lines for the discipline I am heavily involved in: some of the high end stuff costs an arm and a leg (but not as much as jets) so I have almost always built my own.

On the other hand, guys tie up 10G+ on top level 40% IMAC thoroughbreds all the time and this side of the sport doesn't seem to be slowing much