THE most important thing about this hobby....

[Steve Thornton]

With age, I get more aches and they make me grumpier, but then these guys come over and I feel like a kid again!  Hope you have some "tricycle motors" in your life!
Steve

[Will Hinton]

Ya got some pretty handsome young men there!  And it looks like you're raising them right!!!  Mine are all "growed up" except for the great grandkids!

[John Desrosiers]

Thats nice. Real nice photo

[Bob Hudak]

You got it all figured out Steve ! If you want to feel young you gotta do young things.

[Randy Powell]

I work with kids all day. Probably why I never grew up.

[Jim Kraft]

Great picture. When I was a kid I told my mother, "when I grow up I want to be an airplane modeler". She said, "Son, you can't be both. You will have to choose."

[Steve Thornton]

Ya got some pretty handsome young men there!  And it looks like you're raising them right!!!  Mine are all "growed up" except for the great grandkids!

Thanks Will! These are the my grandsons from my youngest daughter, I have 3 more from my oldest daughter plus one very rotten granddaughter. Hoping I get a really good guitar picker out of the bunch.

[Bill Allen]

Hi Steve:  You don't know me at all but your picture really struck a chord.  I started modelling in 1954 when we had just moved to DeKalb, Il.. My mom was a single mom as my dad had recently died.  She was the smartest person on earth (as all moms are) because she knew her 12 year old son was with kids she knew building in the basement or at some school yard trying to fly his newest world beater.  All I knew was that I was having a great time and my mom supported my passion for that fun.  THAT'S THE SECRET FOR BEGINNERS>>>>FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the other stuff that comes later like mentoring, competing, designing etc.   is just that .....later.  Of course a good mentor like your self doesn't hurt.  Stay young and active and try to keep up with your guys.                     Bill Allen, 244 Greenwood North, DeKalb, IL. 60115-1034

[Douglas Ames]

Yup! That's what this hobby is about. Pass it along to the next generation.

[Gene O'Keefe]

With respect,  I envy you.

[Tom Niebuhr]

Steve,
Make sure that you have copy of that picture to hang on the wall. That is a treasure!

[tom hampshire]

     I hate to brag dept...  Grandkids and airplanes go together like ...

[Mark Scarborough]

The kids make it worth it,, I got my daughter to fly when she was 15,, even entered a contest then I took my grandaughter out for her first flights at 3 years old,, she still talks about it two years later,, hopefully this year I can get her out again,, both of them

[proparc]

I have to say, given our demographics problem, this is probably THEE most important thing for ALL of us to be doing right now.

[Joe Just]

One thing that might help is to put your grandkid's name on a plane built just for them.  All Winter my grandson David has been hinting about good weather coming soon followed in a short time when Trout fishing will also come along.  I really believe he is thinking about the plane first.  According to his dad he is.

[Steve Thornton]

What great words and photos.  We are fortunate to belong to a group of folks of high quality, character, and a few of us old knot-heads.  Every time I see a father or grandfather with a grandchild, I almost laugh out loud-it's the greatest of gifts.  I also believe it is in the nature of a Father to share with His kids the things that give us joy. 
Thanks for your kind response-let's see some more!
Steve

[Bill Little]

Hi Steve,

Only two Grandkids here, so far.  12 and 8 y.o.  I built the 12 y.o. a pink baby Nobler when she was about 7, and she never did fly it.  I think she's a bit shy of the spinning props, but  she likes to go and watch her Daddy and I fly.  The 8 y.o. boy is already a mechanical genius.  We have a .15 sized trainer ready for him to fly soon, and he will be building a 1/2A Zero by himself.

It is great to see Dads and kids and Granddads and kids!

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

[tom hampshire]

     Hi Bill - Much the same with mine...  No way they could get past glow noise to try flying.  But electric, similar to their hand held game gadgets, was OK.  I have heard similar anecdotes from others, glow scares off todays kids.  Try a simple RTF power train from Brodaks or others.  It turns into fun pretty easily. 

[john e. holliday]

Well I guess I will chime in as usual.   Great pictures of all the youngsters and the adults.   My son grew up flying my racing planes and navy carrier.  Was a Jr National profile carrier champ his first NATS.   The three daughter have flown a couple of times with the oldest taking a first in a ladies only event.  Five of my grandkids have flown and would still be flying, except for an individual that convinced them they shouldn't be playing with toy airplanes.   How many in Iowa remember my Emmy in her first contest flying in contest up there at Polk City.   Hopefully soon the 6 grandkids from Florida will be close enough I can get them out.   I guess if they start flying again I will do what I always said I will do,  just refuel, start and launch.   But, the last time out I was asked to fly to show the spectators what is possible.