AMA Rag Mag

[Chuck Feldman]

Are we allowed to talk about this? Somewhere I read there is a small movement towards getting insurance and a new C/L association. ???Anybody hear this???
I bring this up because I cleaned my office this morning and found Model Aviation in a stack. I threw it out. Today the new one came in the mail. I threw it out after a 15 min scan. Does anyone else feel like the Mag is a Rag? That we don't need or want it? As for a new C/L association to replace AMA. Well AMA is very old does very little for us C/L folks. We need Insurance, perhaps we don't need AMA anymore?

Chuck

[Alan Hahn]

I wouldn't hold my breath. These ideas pop up time to time, but I don't think they make real economic sense. If you want to cut down on costs, and provide a service to the CL community, CD a contest and cut the cost in half (I won't cry about the good old days!).
PAMPA is an AMA Special Interest Group, so I doubt they would touch this with a 10 foot pole, and any other ideas fall by the wayside because without the AMA card, you can't compete in AMA sanctioned (read 99.9% of all) contests. If you don't compete, then it doesn't matter except for access to a field. If the field is run by an AMA sanctioned club, then you would have to be an AMA member to fly on it. For other public fields, there probably are other rules.

[john e. holliday]

It has hit me that your are one of those that think CL is the only thing going.  The RC group tried this several years ago.  With all the lawsuits that happened the person that started it is widhing it had never happened.  I read Model Aviation cover to cover as the Free Flight guys can teach about building light and straight.  Some of the RC guys that still build and design teach about finishing.  I think they were the first to use automotive finishes.  Tom Cook noted scale modeler flew CL & RC at one time or another and showed us how to a complete finish in less than a week.  I have been an AMA member most of my life.  The reason they don't recognize us is we don't let them know we are here.  I am just as guilty by not filling out questionairs or polls.  But, look at the contests that are being sanctioned.  How many are control line?  But, for the money, the mag and insurance is best deal around.   My Opinion, DOC Holliday

[the original Steve Smith]

Got my MA today along with Stunt News.  Noticed that in this issue Charlie Bauer covers Allen Brickhaus' contest with pictures!  Actual CLPA planes and pilots in MA - amazing!

[Leroy Heikes]

I too usually read MA cover to cover. Charlie Bowers usually has something about C/L in his column. He has attended all of the scale contests that I have been able to attend in the last two years. The C/L racing, Speed, and C/L Scale columns where all there this month I enjoyed reading them. My complaint with this issue was absolutely no construction article not RC, CL, or FF. I'll have to go through the table of contents again, but I thought I looked hard for one last night.

Leroy

[Bill Little]

To look realistically at the situation, a C/L dedicated association which can give the insurance and actual help (it may not seem like much sometimes) would be incredibly difficult.  I am afraid that the numbers of C/L only who would comprise this organization would make the cost of membership  to far too many, initially.

The other caveat is that the AMA is the only FAI recognized association in the USA, and that would probably never change.    That being the case, any competitors who would wish to represent the USA in International competition would still have to be AMA members.

Bob Hunt, Editor of Model Aviation is making a concerted effort to include as many C/L construction articles as our discipline can justify.

I can't see it happening in the near future if ever.

[Bill Hodges]

I read just about everything in MA.  Lots of good information there, even if it is not CL specific.  I have a complete set of MA going back over 20 years.

Bill Hodges

[Leroy Heikes]

Don't get me wrong. I read my MA and I know there is limited space for articles, but when I said there was no construction Articles I meant for all of types RC,CL, and FF. I also have a collection of MA that go back to the early 80s. I just wish I had them organized so I could find the article I want to reread. It is easier to go to the MA archives on line and do a search. I do not want an organization to replace the AMA I feel they are doing a good job. Then again I can go and fly at the National flying site since it is only about 3 hours away.

Leroy

[Alan Hahn]

Leroy,
I agree it is easier to use the AMA site archive to look innfo from back issues---so that's why I finally tossed my old copies of MA--that and I am simply running out of space in the basement! I just wish they would start updating the archive with issues past 2000 (or whenever the current cutoff is).

[Chuck Feldman]

Interesting points of view.

That is exactly the information I need to change my outlook. I hope there are more replies to this subject. Thank you to those who have responded.

For those of you who are in my age bracket (60+)

Don't you think we have lived in the best of times?

Chuck

[Bill Little]

Interesting points of view.

That is exactly the information I need to change my outlook. I hope there are more replies to this subject. Thank you to those who have responded.

For those of you who are in my age bracket (60+)

Don't you think we have lived in the best of times?

Chuck

Hi Chuck,
As far as society and the C/L experience, I do believe we have lived  in the best of times.  C/L is making a slow comeback, but I'm afraid the best of times are ending for our society.

[Jim Thomerson]

I have a semiorganized collection of MA from the mid 70's on.  There is a fantastic amount of good stuff.  However, if I can manage to break the packrat habit, from now on, MA is going to the recycler.  Simply not enough info of interest to me to justify the storage space. 

The online archive is a very good thing. 

Model aviation is changing very rapidly, and the AMA is scrambling to ride the wave.  The magazine is, I think,  being dumbed down to appeal to the bulk of AMA members who are casual RC fliers with no interest in building, technical stuff, or competion.  I like to fly competitively, and that means  I am an AMA member regardless. People like me are a gimmie for the AMA so long as it sanctions contests and maintains competition rules.

My major problem with the AMA is that I think it does a very poor job of promoting model aviation, and that it could be, and should be, more proactive at the national level.

There is no possibility of a functional national CL organization.  There are too few of us, and we are too diverse in our interests and needs.

[frank carlisle]

Aw man! I just came over here to do some AMA bashing but I see the tone of this thread has changed. So YAY AMA!!

I read Bob Hunt's column and Dave Brown's column. Then i look at the pictures (lots of paint scheme ideas there). The contest calender is good. Then I check the District Seven news. After I've done that I use a magic marker to blot out the mailing label and leave the magazine on the dentist or doctors office waiting room table.

[Ironbomb]

I liked the interview with Burt Rutan. Can you imagine the models he can make after he "retires". It will be very intresting.

Greg

[john e. holliday]

Hey Chuck, today is the best of times.   Anyday we can get up and still put our pants on with out help has got to be the best of times.  Thank GOD,  DOC Holliday

[Chuck Feldman]

Doc,

I did that today.Your right; it is a good day but here in South Florida it is way to windy to fly. Perhaps Tuesday will be calmer.

So my pants are on and I can go to my model shop and continue to build.

Chuck