The Future of Control Line Flying

[Hoss Cain]

But, before we bemoan the lack of interest in anything aviation related, we need to ask ourselves what we're doing to keep the flame burning.  Driving 10 miles out of town to a flying field won't expose many in most cases, nor will a one-time chance at the handle.  Good old one-on-one mentoring will never be replaced.
Dennis
 
"Change is the law of life.  And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." - John F. Kennedy

WOW Dennis, 73 around the corner and a 10 year old son. WAY to GO! I completed my 77th trip around the sun back in Feb.
Lots of grandkids and one great Grandson but he is way too far away like all of them.

For those that have flying site problems, here is maybe something that you can work out with your RC fields and all can benefit. Sometimes a little "Let's do it together" vice "You're too different" can foster a decent relationship between two different groups.
>>>>>>>>>

8/17/2013
 Dayton, TX (C) 1ST ANNUAL NATIONAL MODEL AVIATION DAY FLY IN.

Site: Jetero Flying Field. Mark Woodman CD PH: 2817283864 Email: mark.woodman@gmail.com. Visit: www.jetero.com. An open flying event to celebrate the 1st Annual National Model Aviation Day. All aircraft types allowed. Proceeds to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. 100'x600' grass runway on 50 clear acres. 110 AC available, no RV hook ups. Sponsor: JETERO RC CLUB INC.

This RC Club invites all airplanes. Now not all RC clubs are that benevolent, however you never know until you negotiate. Several years ago, Jetero hosted an FAI CL Combat event over several days. The members that had no idea what it was loved it. So did the rest of us. This event was a Qualifier for the FAI Team positions, or something like that. Folks from South America were here.

I can go out there anytime and mow off an area for CL flying. Several clubs in this area allow CL flying on their fields. Houston has a great CL field on the west side. It doesn't get much use however that is not because of the city/county. 

For any and all model airplane fliers, quit bemoaning things and finding excuses. AMA has a new program that may help big time. Get out there and see what is available.
Check out page 15 of your new -- May 2013 -- MA. The first page has 2 individuals looking at the camera. I was the picture taker.
That is verified in Benny's letter on page 16. We pushed EACH and EVERY form of model aviation. This is, IMO, an excellent program that AMA is pushing. Get behind it and quit P & Ming about ARFs. At first I was not fond of them but now I know that the ARF saved aeromodeling, and so did RC. CL Stunt is the big thing in CL but so is IMAC and 3D in RC. That doesn't mean there is no room for we lesser types, even the Free-Flighters. WE sport/fun/ and every-day fliers support the industry. Get involved.   

[Steve Hines]

Tour De Michigan is this Sat, 5/4/13 in lansing Michigan. Fun Stunt, Beginner Stunt, 15 raceing , 35 rat. This year we have 4 around Michigan. There is different things at different city's. I think we had 4 in beginner at the nats last year. If every state could bring 4 people to beginner every year we would not have a problem. We have had a new kid every year for the last 3 years. It has to fun for the kids. Samantha won 4 of the 5 events at the last one of the year, one was a tie breaker for looks. She has 3 planes going right now, I don't know when she will finish them, but I do not put pressure on her to build. She has a lot going on with school and dance, cheer. She is now writing for PAMPA. She cant wait for this weekend it will be fun. If anyone wants to know how to start one of these I will help as much as I can. It is a lot of work but the guys here in Michigan do a great job.

Steve

[Frank Imbriaco]

I'm a re-tread from the 60s, back at it for the past three years. Enjoying more than ever . Think it has a lot to do with e-power and the greatest bunch of guys on the East Coast-
Hampshire, Hunt, Weider, D'Ottavio, Giacobone, Benedetti, Scarinzi , Ross and many , many more. For me , that's what's keeping the flame.

I , too, lament the waning interest among youth, but they've lost interest in a lot of other things, too. I guess we've batted our collective heads against the wall trying to get them in it( wish my sons were in it, God knows I tried), so it's time for us oldsters to re-direct and enjoy the rest of our lives doing it.

I equally love my 2M R/C pattern ships, fly Advanced . Hope to hit a pattern contest or two this year.

We will be at Joe Nall in a little more than a week at the U/C circles and I hope to meet more folks there.

[Don Jenkins]

I just took up the hobby again last year after a 40 year lay off.  I drifted away from it when I was about 13 years old mainly because I was doing it alone and had no place to fly.  Now that I have returned to the hobby, I found a great field in Hutersville, I have built 5 planes in the past year, I learned the pattern, and have met an awesome group of people.  I would not have progressed so rapidly in this hobby without the mentorship of guys like Ed Ruane.  Some things you just can't learn from reading and you need experienced people to show you how its done.  Nearly everyone I run into I end up talking about building and flying control line planes.  I usually offer to take them flying with me and offer to show them and their children my planes and shop, but I get no takers.  I'm not sure todays youth is interested in long term projects such as spending several weeks or months building a plane then taking a chance on destroying it in blink of an eye at the field.  The "foamy electric" RC planes give instant gratification, but even that doesn't hold their interest too long because you can't do it from the couch.  Anyway, I will continue to attempt to get others interested in the hobby anyway I can, and I will continue to while away the hours in the garage gluing wood together in hopes the next one will fly better than the one before.  See you all at the field!!

[Derek Barry]

I found this forum after seeing Derek Barry's Matrix in the PAMPA mag that a club friend gave me. I had to know more about that beautiful machine. Imagine that, a whole forum dedicated to CL. I joined SSW about the same time since I know so many members over there.

Rusty

Thanks for the compliment. I see you live in SC. There is a contest in Huntersville NC this weekend...

Derek

[Bradley Walker]

You will be happy to know that there are 5 kids on my street that are under the age of 11, three of them are mine.  And they live outside!  When I get home in the evening I usually can hear at least 2 of mine and 2 others from down the street doing something in our backyard.  Ours backyard wraps around to the front so its easy to go back to front and mess around.  Then after dinner its right back outside on the bikes or shooting baskets or playing soccer until sun down.  I am usually out there dominating the third graders on the 8' basketball rim!  It's fun to feel tall!    Or chasing the kids with my RC car.   Brushless Castle Creations motor has made it very fast.

It is a battle to get them outside sometimes, the Wii, Xbox, and DS games have their allure but we only allow a certain amount if screen time each day then it's out you go!!  We are doing our best to keep ours outside using their minds to make up games figure things on their own and have fun!!

That is good news. 

I wasn't actually referring to the children.  I was referring to the 20 somethings... I have never seen a less interesting or motivated group of adults in my life...  Not to mention many of them are very poor and still live with their parents.  The teens behind them are even worse.

I mean heck, the average 20 year old doesn't own a car or have a driver's license now.  Mommy is still driving them around...  I mean I am generalizing, but not completely...

[Steve Riebe]

I am trying to do my part by promoting our hobby. My 31 year old son has taken quite an interest and has been flying for about a year. This young man has taken to CL like a duck to water. He will be flying the beginner and basic pattern at the Rolling Meadows contest later this month, it will be his first. My son does not have the patience to build, but could probably get an arf trimmed and flying quite well. We have already been run off from flying in any of our local parks, but have been flying at schools and so far have not had problems. My take on our demise is there are very few places to fly CL. There are plenty of RC fields and some very active clubs. It is unfortunate most of their members have very little interest in CL. Hopefully my sons interest will continue long after I am gone. In the meantime we really need to promote, promote, promote. Offer up a flying day to Boy Scouts or after school groups. It probably can not happen if it is just one individual doing the program, need to get clubs and groups of folks working on this..

Things I think would help is to get the hobby shops involved with promoting, but when you think about it they would rather promote RC because of more profit. Look at even the big hobby shops like Tower and Horizon, they dont have hardly anything in CL. Just got an e-mail from Sig, a great place to do business with and they still have some CL offerings. They are promoting a "Fun Fly" event in June, no mention of any activities for CL enthusiasts. My take is there are many factors are contributing to our hobbys demise and I dont know how to make things better with concerns about liability and lawsuits in our current society. Until we can make it easy for someone to get involved I dont think much will change.

What about contests?  I really dont think this is a major problem, but why do expert fliers who easily fly the whole pattern participate in the "beginner" stunt events?  Possible there would not be enough contestants if only beginners took part?  It would be nice to see more contests. I believe the Rolling Meadows contest sponsored by Chicago Circle Cutters might be the only CL stunt event in the Chicago area.

In the meantime my son and I will continue to have fun, hopefully others in our area will come out of their closets.

edited for content, had trouble typing earlier from my tablet....

[Hoss Cain]

I am trying to do my part by promoting our hobby. My 31 year old son has taken quite an interest and has been flying for about a year. This young man has taken to CL l ike a duck to water. He will be flying the beginner and basic pattern at the Rolling Meadows contest later this month, it will be his first. My son does not have the patience to build, but could probably get an arf trimmed and flying quite well. We have already been run off from flying in any of our local parks, but have been flying at schools and so far have not had problems. My take on our demise is there are very few places to fly CL. There are plenty of RC fields and some very active clubs. It is unfortunate most of their members have very little interest in CL. Hopefully my sons interest will continue long after I am gone. In the meantime we really need to promote, promote, promote. Offer up a flying day to Boy Scouts or after school groups. It probably can not happen if it is just one individual doing the program, need to get clubs and groups of folks working on this..

Mr. Riebe, there you are!  You are in St. Charles. I know there is a large RC field in that area. Why not check it out with the using Club. Start with just the use of a small area for a CL Fun Fly?   You could have an event or two using very EASY items. Call one Fun Stunt with maybe 2 classes defined by YOU, not necessarily by AMA. Then a FUN Sport Race. Make your own rules as you think will draw sport fliers.  Then reserve some time for OPEN Flying. One item that RC Clubs do for Fly-Ins is Open Flying for 40-45 minutes, then 15-20 minutes for 3D, depending on how many 3-Ders are available. I have been Flight-Line-Boss at a couple clubs and no one complains about such schedules.
If you are not an AMA Contest Director, it is easy to get. Check with AMA and go for it. If not, you can always have a non-sanctioned event and be the Boss Director. BTDT a number of times before becoming an AMA CD in 1963.

Things I think would help is to get the hobby shops involved with promoting, but when you think about it they would rather promote RC because of more profit. Look at even the big hobby shops like Tower and Horizon, they dont have hardly anything in CL. My take is there are many factors are contributing to our hobbys demise and I dont know how to make things better with concerns about liability and lawsuits in our current society. Until we can make it easy for someone to get involved I dont think much will change.

 

Get your event ready to market. Visit the LHSs and ask for maybe Gift Certificates rather than merchandise. Tell the LSH that a gift certificate will bring a modeler to THEIR store. Mdse will not, yet it will bring their name to the modeler. Getting a potential customer into the store is at least 90% of selling him/her something. FYI I founded and owned Aero Sports, in Mt. Prospect, IL on NW Highway. I sold it out to Venture when I got tired of it, and it could no longer be accounted as nonprofitable, I needed tax reductions not more tax. 

Contests? I have to wonder why expert fliers who are capable of flying to full pattern
What about contests?  I really dont think this is a major problem, but why to expert fliers participate in the "beginner" stunt events?  Possible there would not be enough contestants if only beginners took part?  It would be nice to see more contests. I believe the Rolling Meadows contest sponsored by Chicago Circle Cutters might be the only CL stunt event in the Chicago area.

In the meantime my son and I will continue to have fun, hopefully others in our area will come out of their closets.

Then add another Event for the area. Hope is somewhat frigid. MAKE IT HAPPEN!

The better fliers seem to prefer winning in a lower class, than being 2nd - down the line, in a hard core event.
Not my style but to each his own.

Good Luck to you. From an OLD TIMER one generally MAKES his LUCK.

[Steve Riebe]

Mr. Riebe, there you are!  You are in St. Charles. I know there is a large RC field in that area. Why not check it out with the using Club. Start with just the use of a small area for a CL Fun Fly? 

Funny you should mention this field, which belongs to the Fox Valley Aero Club. The club president lives right next door to the school we usually fly at, and has taken a very enthusiastic interest in our activity there. He even brought us a bag of props that he couldn't use because of their small size. It costs a fair amount of money to join that club, because they do have a fair amount of expenses, but I would join if a flying circle would be provided. It certainly does not seem to be out of the question and we have had a little conversation about this. My one fear is it could cause a navigational hazard for those flying their very expensive planes. I think it's only a matter of time before we get run off from the schools as well, so we'll see how this plays  out.

[John Cralley]

I think it's only a matter of time before we get run off from the schools as well, so we'll see how this plays  out.

Steve, Time to go electric (if you have not already done so). Most often the you will get chased off because someone complains about the noise - never mind that they crank up their lawn mower and run it under their neighbor's window Sunday AM!!

There are lots of electric options available and 1/2A electric are whisper quiet as well as not stirring up a lot of fear that these planes are DANGEROUS!

[RknRusty]

Thanks for the compliment. I see you live in SC. There is a contest in Huntersville NC this weekend...

Derek

And the Joe Nall next week too, with some nice new circles. I think that's more for guys like me that like to fun fly wild and freestyle. I can usually draw some oohs, ahhs and an occasional shriek from the spectators(and possibly myself), but I still haven't learned to put it all together into an organized performance. That's just up the road from my home in Columbia. I've never been to a contest before but I'd like to come watch one.

[Peter Ferguson]

There is a fairly large pool of potential flyers at the RC fields. They already have an interest in the hobby, the funds and the time. You just have to get them interested. You can do both you know.