Flying the kids

[Paul Taylor]

We flew the kids on Ring Rats (and my Flight Streak) this weekend at a fall festival. I don't have the numbers but I was plumb tuckered out.
And the kids walked away with a certificate and a smile.
They are were invited out to our club field next weekend to fly RC and to follow up.
We sometimes pickup new club members with this event.



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[Joseph Patterson]

      That's really great Paul. Hope some of'em keep coming back!
         Doug

[Randy Cuberly]

Hi Paul,
It's great if you can actually get some kids interested that way.

Our Club (The Cholla Choppers) here in Tucson used to do that a couple of times a year.  Boy scout Troops, school kids from local schools, etc.

Usually had good turnouts and flew a LOT of flights.  Kids always seemed to really enjoy it.  However we never got a single kid into the club through that effort.

Most of the parents would drop off the kids and then come later and pick them up.  Good free babysitting is about all most of them were interested in I guess.  Don't remember one single parent ever coming and talking to any of the guys that sweated in the sun taking care of their kids.  Go figure.

I do remember that it was fun and most of the kids were great!  I am of the opinion that there is something wrong with a lot of parents these days!

Randy Cuberly

[Mike Keville]

Forget it.  Those days are gone.  Today's kids have no interest unless it's digital and controlled by a smart phone.

We're the last of the breed.   

[Randy Cuberly]

Forget it.  Those days are gone.  Today's kids have no interest unless it's digital and controlled by a smart phone.

We're the last of the breed.   

I believe kids are mostly influenced by their teachers and friends as to what they do and like.  At one time when parenting was a common thing to do, kids were influenced by their parents.  I don't think most of today's parents have any real interest in what their kids do as long as they are busy!  Soccer mom mentality is to simply keep the kids busy at anything as long as they (the mom) doesn't have to participate.

The average American Family is defunct today!  Everyone in the "Family" goes in different directions and most don't care what the others in the family are doing.

Child rearing is left pretty much up to the schools.  Should we wonder why a lot of today's kids are weird!

A lot of today's Teachers are weird.  Been to a High School or University lately.  I worked at one for many years and it just kept getting weirder, and weirder!  I believe at least half of the college professors today are from another planet!!!

Randy Cuberly

[GERALD WIMMER]

Have my sons (8 and 10 years) flying regularly but they do not know of any other children at their school that flies any sort of model planes. Very different to when I grew up and we flew after school together and had our model club meetings at our school. Regards Gerald

[Randy Cuberly]

Have my sons (8 and 10 years) flying regularly but they do not know of any other children at their school that flies any sort of model planes. Very different to when I grew up and we flew after school together and had our model club meetings at our school. Regards Gerald

You obviously take the time and make the effort to influence you children.  That's wonderful.  There certainly are some parents that still do.  I believe however most do not!  Too easy to just buy them smart phones and video games that keep them busy without interfering with their parents time!

Randy Cuberly

[peabody]

Giving certificates is great.
Better, but more effort, would be to take a picture of the kid and the plane and add it to the certificate.

KEY should be to GET AN EMAIL address! Notify them of contests, meetings and other events....

It's a shame that our AMA does such a pi** poor job with their Intro Pilot program.

Have fun!

[mike londke]

Forget it.  Those days are gone.  Today's kids have no interest unless it's digital and controlled by a smart phone.

We're the last of the breed.   

I disagree Mike. Anytime we've had a fun fly or done something with the school or Scouts the kids are always excited to fly and learn. I believe the problem is the parents. None of them want to take the time and effort to help their child get into CL flying. Believe me, the kids would do it if they just had a parent that would step up and get involved. How is a 10 year old going to buy, build and learn to fly if a parent isn't there to foot the bill, connect with other modelers and get them to a flying field? I do believe CL is in its decline but me and my boy will ride it out as long as possible.

[Terrence Durrill]

I believe kids are mostly influenced by their teachers and friends as to what they do and like.  At one time when parenting was a common thing to do, kids were influenced by their parents.  I don't think most of today's parents have any real interest in what their kids do as long as they are busy!  Soccer mom mentality is to simply keep the kids busy at anything as long as they (the mom) doesn't have to participate.

The average American Family is defunct today!  Everyone in the "Family" goes in different directions and most don't care what the others in the family are doing.

Child rearing is left pretty much up to the schools.  Should we wonder why a lot of today's kids are weird!

A lot of today's Teachers are weird.  Been to a High School or University lately.  I worked at one for many years and it just kept getting weirder, and weirder!  I believe at least half of the college professors today are from another planet!!!

Randy Cuberly


                                I worked in the Missouri Public School System from 1965 to 1996 - (31 years).  I saw the weirdness develop and become dominant over the years.  What we are talking about is the growth of MARXIST LIBERAL PROGRESSIVE SOCIALIST EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY.  It is predominant within the ranks of both the teachers and the administrators in the public schools across this country.  Personally, I fought this trend and was constantly under the gun because of that opposition.  This is a very serious situation we face in the education system.  It is brainwashing the coming generations to accept without question MARXIST SOCIALIST IDEOLOGY.  In short, we are in big trouble in this country today !                   

[Randy Cuberly]

You are of course absolutely right Terrence.  Thanks for having the courage to call it like it is.

I was at the University of Arizona in Tucson for 9 years and saw a totally Progressive Socialist attitude envelope the school during that time.

Progressive Marxist philosophy has taken over the American School System.  It is rapidly taking over the American Political System.  The violence and rioting will increase until Good people stand up and say ENOUGH!  There may very well be a Civil War if it continues.  The only saving grace for we OLD Farts is that most of us probably won't be around to see it or have to live in the remnants!

Randy Cuberly

[john e. holliday]

How many CL planes do we have on the market for kids of today to even make them want one.   I think I read some where that the late and great Jim Walker would pull up to a large area and start flying the Fire Babies.   Get some kids on the handle and get them flying.   Seems some of the kids got the set to take home with them.  Claimed he made his money off the Fire Cat and accessories.   I remember Helping Dale Kirn with the PT-19 planes and getting people in the circle.   Every body that tried to fly got their name put in the box so a name could be drawn and a complete PT 19 set would be awarded to the person.   One young lad hung around all day and put up a flight each hour hoping to win one of the sets.   He even helped at times.  Melvin Schuette knows as was Dale's main helper that year.  At the end of the day the young lad did not ever get his name drawn but Dale and Melvin noticed he was still there.   Talk about a very happy when Dale called him over as we were packing up, thanked the young man for his help and gave him a set of his own.   I now wonder what the young lad did with it as he was pretty good at flying that PT 19 by the end of the day.

[Scott Richlen]

As many of you have noted: we are fighting against culture.  But we don't have to lose the fight.

Flying with the kids is a good point-getter if you are trying to protect or acquire a flying field but it doesn't turn kids into modelers.  It is extremely useful as a PR tool if done well.  But it doesn't generate modelers.  It does generate good will.

Modeling turns kids into modelers.   Until control line people understand that, we won't see growth.  Flying someone on a trainer represents entertainment.  And it is in competition with all kinds of other (and often, more fun) entertainment.  If the child BUILDS the plane, flying becomes more than just entertainment, it becomes achievement and accomplishment and self-satisfaction.

Please (particularly AMA leadership) repeat this a thousand times so they get it: modelers come from modeling.

So, let's understand this:  flight training keeps or gets flying sights; model building generates modelers.

[Randy Cuberly]

Scott,
In general I agree with you!

However, have you ever talked to a bunch of kids about building models...or anything else for that matter.  I've tried it with Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, and a couple of groups of 6th and 10th graders.  Their eyes get glassy after about 3 minutes and the phones come out.  It's like talking to a cave man that's never seen an airplane about building one!

Kids have learned in school for many years that people don't make things, factories in China make things...No I'm not kidding! 

The mindset is just totally different.  No one makes anything they buy it! 

That's what we're really up against!

Not Me actually...I gave up!  I'm nice to kids that come by the flying field but I talk to them about anything but airplanes.  I try real hard to convince them that what we do is simply too hard for them to understand or do.  It's the simple truth!

Randy Cuberly

[GERALD WIMMER]

I taught my wife to fly control line stunt and when my boys see her fly, it really encourages them to try and see if they can do better then mum!.
But my influence does not seem to extend to the public as I found when our club ran a stall for many years at "Model X" a large model Exposition and never gained a new flyer. We sold many ready made chuck gliders and kits and even raffled a new stunt model but not a single new member came of it all! The kids seemed curious but not keen enough to go any further.
Also used to do a weekly control line flying display at an Aviation Museum here in NZ (MOTAT) but again no new members but did get to talk to lots of 'older' people that used to fly years ago.
Even flown display flying for 3 different schools and entertained the kids and teachers but no new modellers out of that either.
The only new flyers seem to be the old ones that reminisce and give it another go again, they get called 'retreads' here but I don't like that term as you certainly don't wont to discourage anyone old or new!
Regards Gerald

[Perry Rose]

I carry a copy of Tower Talk and give it to anyone that stops to look and talk. It's mostly r/c ARF foamy's now but they have to start some place.
 I spent two school years helping Tech. Ed. students build r/c model airplanes from Sig kits. 20 each year. So far not one has joined the local club even though they could keep the plane and motor system. They all got to fly their planes when finished but when the class ended so did their interest. But the seed has been planted.

[Scott Richlen]

Not sure what you guys are doing wrong.  Here are some pictures from our kick-off building session the first week of last October.  15 kids.  In just a few weeks we'll kick off our 5th year.

[Randy Cuberly]

I guess we just live around the WRONG kids!.

My guess is you have a group of kids with pretty good parents!  Do you ever see the parents?  Are they interested.

Where do you live?

Keep doing it.  It doesn't work here!  Best of luck.  Let me know when one actually flies an airplane!

Randy Cuberly

[Larry Renger]

The Knights of the Round Circle has been training kids at several events for at least ten years. Lots of happy kids, no new members....ever! 

And that includes the STEM Fair and AMA expo, both of which should have SOME interest in continuing. 

[Scott Richlen]

The Knights of the Round Circle has been training kids at several events for at least ten years. Lots of happy kids, no new members....ever! 

And that includes the STEM Fair and AMA expo, both of which should have SOME interest in continuing.

That was exactly our experience.  The problem is that we are expecting a result that will never be forthcoming.  What you guys are doing is great PR.  That's why they want you back.  You need to do something different if you want to generate pilots.

Again:
Flying with the kids is a good point-getter if you are trying to protect or acquire a flying field but it doesn't turn kids into modelers.  It is extremely useful as a PR tool if done well.  But it doesn't generate modelers.  It does generate good will.

Modeling turns kids into modelers.   Until control line people understand that, we won't see growth.  Flying someone on a trainer represents entertainment.  And it is in competition with all kinds of other (and often, more fun) entertainment.  If the child BUILDS the plane, flying becomes more than just entertainment, it becomes achievement and accomplishment and self-satisfaction.

Run a building program and then help the kids fly their planes.  See if that doesn't do it for you.  I'm not saying it will be easy.  You are fighting culture.

[Scott Richlen]

Speaking of fighting culture, we are also facing a very different culture.  Todays generation of those little fat-boys who spent time lurking in their basement building model airplanes back when we were young (and we were most likely members of that group) are these days spending time in their basement gaming.  Lucky for us there is also a group of kids playing with Legos.  That may be our target market for growth: kids that are already into doing things with their hands and building all kinds of static models from Legos.  Maybe building model airplanes would appeal to them?  Particularly since they are kinetic.

Sometimes the kids can surprise you when their creative "juices" get flowing.  Just for kicks we had an "egg" contest...