Author Topic: Only 5000 controline flyers in the entire world? (Read 3876 times)

frank mccune · « **on:** January 11, 2016, 06:37:04 AM »

Hello:

Yesterday, I heard that there are 5000 control line flyers in the entire world! Comments regarding this number?

Be well,

Frank McCune

peabody · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2016, 07:07:03 AM »

I wonder......
Control line flying is growing in Europe and the Eastern bloc countries.
It's growing in South America....
Don't know about Asia....

I believe that CL needs to be marketed better.....

GregArdill · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2016, 07:14:56 AM »

Hi Frank,

I'd say that makes us a pretty exclusive group of outstanding individuals.

It's a lot easier for us now since the widespread us of the internet. We are now much less dependent on the whims of LHS operators, and can even source spare or repairs for our favourite motor that may have been made over 50 years ago.
The internet allows us to view plans (mostly for free) of models we've always wanted to build, and of course keep in touch with friends old & new across this tiny blue planet.
I doubt that we'll remain that number for too many years more, but that's going to be ok too, just life's ongoing cycle.

Enjoy it while you can, this is our only go at it.

Motorman · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2016, 07:27:16 AM »

How many Ringmasters is that?

MM

WR Crane aka MrClean · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2016, 07:30:55 AM »

"How many Ringmasters is that? MM""

5000. Those Ringmasters may be flying a whole bunch of different planes but evidently there's 5000 of them, all outstanding in their own fields, spinning around.

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2016, 09:18:22 AM »

The real number would probably be somewhat less. What is the number of combined subscribers to PAMPA and CL World, I believe John mentioned how many mail order customers he had in the last CLW. Maybe a pretty good gustimate could be determined from combining the numbers from all 3 but the duplicates would somehow have to be culled out. Maybe number of users on this forum but again how many are no longer with us that still may have an account.

Guess no good way to come up with an exact number.

Fredvon4 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2016, 12:15:51 PM »

Not sure what if any data base could properly count the number in the "Entire World" like many have already noted the AMA does not really have a true estimate of USA modelers who do C/L or any other discipline

I see a lot of eastern Europe, Asia, Australia, northern Europe, south america and Caribbean islands posters on the various forums so I suppose, in my mind, the 5000 # is much too conservative

Do we have over a million...I doubt it...are we over 100,000 I think easily

The good news is .... ever growing population and folks like us are always finding free time to nostalgically re-live youth experiences....very few of us play with c/l for our entire life...most came back after 20~50 years of real life

My small part.... let my son and grand son and daughters experience the fun and enjoyment I get from this hobby....perhaps when they are 50~60 they too will come back to it...just for the grin of NOSTALGIA

Fondest memories of my youth are dad and I playing with dangerous toys and my mom scolding each of us.....

I think as Star trek becomes a reality 150 years from now, there will still be guys on the holo deck flying the pattern and chasing each other in a semi hemisphere.... Pay of forward...teach a kid to do dangerous stuff out side with cool smells and BLOOD

Pat Chewning · « **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2016, 12:30:35 PM »

Well, it is at least 5001 I think. I don't think I've been counted.

AMA has me as an RC/Sailplane guy. (My main interest, historically)

I don't subscribe to CL World.
Not a member of PAMPA.

I did fly in one C/L contest and am a member of the local C/L club, so if that is how the numbers are generated, then I'm counted.

But what about the guy who flies C/L, not a member of any organization, does not compete ..... how is he counted?

Brett Buck · « **Reply #8 on:** January 11, 2016, 01:11:40 PM »

Quote from: Pat Chewning on January 11, 2016, 12:30:35 PM

But what about the guy who flies C/L, not a member of any organization, does not compete ..... how is he counted?

I don't know of any real effort to count. 5000 could be right. I know it is not 500, and I doubt its 50,000, so the 5000 sounds like about the right order of magnitude. Whether that is adequately accurate depends on what you want to use the count for.

The AMA "interest" survey used on the membership form is conceptually flawed, as noted above.

Brett

RandySmith · « **Reply #9 on:** January 11, 2016, 01:19:22 PM »

Its not 5000, there maybe that many just in the US
There maybe as many as 50,000 or more in the world

Randy

Bob Heywood · « **Reply #10 on:** January 11, 2016, 02:04:16 PM »

Quote from: Ty Marcucci on January 11, 2016, 07:24:34 AM

Just curious as to where this number came from. If it is the AMA then it is wrong. They only let you list ONE choice. I do FF and CL, but list CL. How many others do this as well. Based on our club, three hardly if ever fly, but consider them selves CL modelers.

The 5000 figure came from John Brodak in the January 2016 edition of Control Line World. It's his opinion of the potential market. I don't have my copy handy to give an exact quote.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #11 on:** January 11, 2016, 02:39:12 PM »

Last year John Brodak told me that he has sold over 1000 BiSlobs. While some people have had more than one Slob, that is like saying 1 out of 5 CL people have had a Slob. I can't believe that. Nor can I believe that all CL people in the world purchase Brodak products. While 5000 might be a number he uses for potential business, this certainly doesn't represent all of CL.

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #12 on:** January 11, 2016, 02:51:09 PM »

I agree with Randy Smith. I believe the number world wide to be a lot closer to 50,000 than 5,000.

World wide I think it's likely that 3,000 to 5,000 are active in Competition or have been in the recent past!

I doubt that anyone knows the real number or ever will!

Randy Cuberly

GregArdill · « **Reply #13 on:** January 11, 2016, 04:24:05 PM »

Maybe a way to get close to an accurate figure would be to total the number of participants at the next World Championships and determine the number of non participants that it takes to support those actually taking part. Unfortunately the latest WC Bulletin doesn't give final entry figures (probably because entries are open until 14 January).

If you figure that in any elite sport, the number competing at the highest level are "supported" by many more from very good to basic players. The challenge would be to determine how many control liners it takes to produce a World Champion. In Australian conditions I would think less than 100/WC entrant, but probably more than 50.

In the end what do overall numbers really matter? I know I have a lot of friends and a lot of enjoyment from my participation even though my contest days a behind me now.

George Grossardt · « **Reply #14 on:** January 11, 2016, 06:27:33 PM »

On a related note, I went to my local hobby shop to buy wood and materials for a 1/2a mouse racer. The owner asked me what I was building and I told him. His question was " who around here flys that"? That is the case most places I'd guess. The fact is that there is such a small market for control line that I am surprised that companies like Brodak can make any money.

Say there are 50,000 CL flyers. Each spends $1000 a year on CL stuff. That is $50 million revenue. Assuming a ten percent margin (which I highly doubt), that's $5 million profit for the WHOLE CL market. Divide that by all the producers and there's not much money there. Let's put it this way - I have no money invested in any company involved in the hobby and wouldn't recommend someone invest here.

With that said, I still love messing with this stuff. Maybe it's nostalgia or a creative outlet or something. Nevertheless, as a business, I get it. I will play with my airplanes until I can't get stuff anymore.

BTW, my other major passion is cycling. If you think model airplanes are expensive, well...
I have four bikes with one being a custom built bike. Tires alone for a year cost as much as a CL stunt plane.

George

Bob Hudak · « **Reply #15 on:** January 12, 2016, 03:46:52 PM »

We are the blessed ones.

proparc · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2016, 04:19:27 PM »

Quote from: George Grossardt on January 11, 2016, 06:27:33 PM

BTW, my other major passion is cycling. If you think model airplanes are expensive, well...
I have four bikes with one being a custom built bike. Tires alone for a year cost as much as a CL stunt plane.

George

I build them.

Avaiojet · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2016, 04:34:15 PM »

Quote from: proparc on January 12, 2016, 04:19:27 PM

I build them.

Proparc,

WOW! A hiden talent.

I've actually made graphics for guys that refinish bikes. Well, not lately but in the past.

Nice bike.

My wife and I ride Specialized bikes.

Charles

George Grossardt · « **Reply #18 on:** January 12, 2016, 05:19:02 PM »

Quote from: proparc on January 12, 2016, 04:19:27 PM

I build them.

Proparc,

That's pretty cool. Since you build, you must know who Richard Sachs is then. He built me a bike frame in 2006. It was a show bike at the 2006 North American Handbuilt Bike Show in San Jose. Took 26 months to get it from the time I ordered it until Richard delivered it. His wait list got way over 7 years after that and people still want his stuff and are willing to wait.

George

proparc · « **Reply #19 on:** January 12, 2016, 05:28:19 PM »

Quote from: George Grossardt on January 12, 2016, 05:19:02 PM

Proparc,

That's pretty cool. Since you build, you must know who Richard Sachs is then. He built me a bike frame in 2006. It was a show bike at the 2006 North American Handbuilt Bike Show in San Jose. Took 26 months to get it from the time I ordered it until Richard delivered it. His wait list got way over 7 years after that and people still want his stuff and are willing to wait.

George

Richard Sachs was the one who invited me to join his builders forum. Richard stop taking orders years ago because the wait became obscene.