what are we doing wrong???

[Matt Colan]

I was looking through the new model aviation, and I saw a 6 year old flying a 3D pattern with a helicopter at the Joe Nall fly in.  Why can't we get that kind of youth in this sport?  How could we expose other kids to this sport and convince them it is more fun than video games.  I don't play video games that much, maybe an hour or two a month, and I fly maybe 30-40 flights in a month depending on the weather.

How?   

[billbyles]

I was looking through the new model aviation, and I saw a 6 year old flying a 3D pattern with a helicopter at the Joe Nall fly in.  Why can't we get that kind of youth in this sport?  How could we expose other kids to this sport and convince them it is more fun than video games.  I don't play video games that much, maybe an hour or two a month, and I fly maybe 30-40 flights in a month depending on the weather.

How?   

Great post, Matt...

You may be in the best position to tell us how to get young people interested in the hobby.  What could motivate your friends to start flying models?  Do they even know that model airplanes exist?  How can they be exposed to our hobby?  When I was your age I was fully immersed in model airplanes and so were many of my friends.

Bill

[Matt Colan]

Great post, Matt...

You may be in the best position to tell us how to get young people interested in the hobby.  What could motivate your friends to start flying models?  Do they even know that model airplanes exist?  How can they be exposed to our hobby?  When I was your age I was fully immersed in model airplanes and so were many of my friends.

Bill

I've had a couple of friends come over and watch us fly, and when all is said and done they say, that's pretty cool, then the next day they don't care at all.  Steve Everett and I had a conversation about this very thing, and both he and I couldn't come up with an answer.  At that contest there were a bunch of kids that were there as spectators, and when Norm Liversidge's plane was rekitted, I heard ohhs and ahhs from them.  They seemed like they were some what interested as there was a guy giving them tutorials I guess you would call them.

Since school for me started on Tuesday, our Social Studies teacher told us to bring in an artifact that tells him something about me.  Well I brought in the tail of an RC plane that I crashed about 4 years ago, and a girl asked me if these planes actually fly, like really fly.  Some don't even know that these planes actually fly.  Maybe I should get the school to let me and grandpa do a flight demo, that could help a little bit, but I don't think it is enough.

I don't have a clue

[Tom Rounds]

Matt,
If you are like most young folks when you get old enough to drive and then comes girls the control line flying will go to the back burner for sometime. Not a bad thing but it just seems like that's the way it goes.

When I got out of Highschool I started college. Talk about something I was not ready for. In highschool they pretty much made you go to class and do the homework. In my short college career I spent more time in the student union than going to class. Well I ended up getting an all expense paid trip to South Viet Nam. This is what you did in the 60's if you weren't in college. Well got through that part of my life still in one piece. Next got married. Seems to work for me, still with the same gal for 39 years. Not long after I got married the control line bug bit me again. I have done some R/C but I always seem to come back to control line. I guess its that feel of actually having a connection to the plane.

One of the reasons that I enjoy modeling and especially control line is the building part of it. You also seem to be into this . When I flew R/C I found myself doing the arf thing just like a lot of R/C people do. Don't get me wrong, not bashing ARF's cause I am sure that there are some people now flying C/L that would not be if they couldn't buy an arf.

I know that I have two grandkids that are not that far from me getting a handle in their hands. If they want to stay with this I will support them all that I can as it seems that your grandfather does with you. I think you are very lucky to have him as a mentor with your control line flying. I cant say why we don't have more young people coming in to our fine hobby but we sure need to help the ones that do shoe some interest.

Just my 2 cents worth.
Tom

[BillLee]

You're also going to find that every one of those kids you saw in the magazine were there doing their "thing" because Daddy was there doing "his".

And face it: RC, particularly ARFs and helicopters, is little more than a three-dimensional video game. There is no real MODELING involved, more like a real neat toy. Sure, it takes skill and dedication to make them work as well as they do, but the same can be said for defeating the latest game on the game box.

Bill Lee

[Randy Ryan]

I was looking through the new model aviation, and I saw a 6 year old flying a 3D pattern with a helicopter at the Joe Nall fly in.  Why can't we get that kind of youth in this sport?  How could we expose other kids to this sport and convince them it is more fun than video games.  I don't play video games that much, maybe an hour or two a month, and I fly maybe 30-40 flights in a month depending on the weather.

How?   

Well Matt, that's the $1,000,000 question, answer it and we'll be back in business. I can tell you this, guys like you are a rarity these days, airplanes aren't cool anymore. Most of the guys here grew up in a time when people still stopped to watch an airplane fly over, now they hardly get noticed except by the people that complain about the noise after they've bought a house a half mile form the airport. It also used to be that many municipalities encouraged things like modeling and scouting, but these days the emphasis is on scoreless team sports where nobody wins or loses and nobody gets their feelings hurt. You young man are an anomally, an oddity among your peers. That's NOT a bad thing, your competitive spirit and individualism will serve you well in adulthood, but it probably won't make you many friends. Most kids have had everything handed to them, they've been sheltered and pressed into a mold that doesn't allow for the individualist, and that's a rotten shame. Parents thining they're making things better for their kids by doing that, but really, they're robbing them of the opportunity to try, fail, learn and improve. The hand it over syndrome makes it uncool to expect anyone to have to put forth any effort to get what they want. If they put forth no effort to build a model them they will probably quit when they find it take effort to compete if they had any such inclination to begin with. YOu're in a position to influence some of these young people. You may do some of the cool stuff and wear some of the cool clothes, but you (correct me if I'm wrong) don't generally follow the crowd, you do it your way, an I right? If that's true, and I think it is, then you're in a better position then most of us because you can communicate with them where they tend to tune us "old" people out. Still, its an uphill battle, airplanes aren't cool anymore, and that's a simple fact.

One other thing, people, even interested ones, don't tend to see CL flying as "real" flying. One of my old Free Flight buddies used to say to me, "Why do you mess with those things? They don't fly, its like swinging a rock on a string." He was one of the best HLG flyers of the late 60's early 70's, and later a top notch Wakefield flyer. Many RC people see what we do as a lessor to what they do, they look down at it and want to know why we don't, "step up" to RC. Its maddening sometimes, I've flown models all my life of every discipline. I once had an older guy (RC guy) that didn't know me tell me that if I once flew RC I'd never want to play with those "toys" anymore I'd throw rocka at 'em. That guy had been flying about 15 years to my over 40 at the time, he didn't know me, but all the guys around that did laughed hard at his statement and proceded to fill him in. The point is, outside modeling there is little interest and even discouragement of modeling, inside modeling there is prejudice between the diciplines to a fairly large degree.

That's how I see it. By the way, my 14 year old grandson finds himself in the same position as you. One of his freinds even told him the a person would have to be nuts to actually "WANT" to sit and build a model airplane, others see him fly, but the next day its all forgotten.

[Tom Niebuhr]

Matt,

I go along with what Bill Byles wrote.

My mother was born in 1910 and lived to be 94. She often talked about the advancements made in her life time. She also talked about the thrill of seeing that rare airplane flying over head.

When I was growing up I could identify an airplane by sound. (See my "Why I fly Stunt" article in SN.)

Like Bill I have been immersed in airplanes for my whole life. Both models and the many years flying and instructing in full size airplanes.

Today, it seems that computers have been both the best thing to advance us further and faster, and in some ways they have changed our lives negatively. Many people are less athletic, less imaginative, and certainly much less social. I can't understand why text messaging is so big, when it is easier to just talk to someone. This hopefully is an overrated fad, that will in the future reduce to being used for more practical purposes.

A few years ago Model Aviation announced that they were going to concentrate on the basics. The very next issue concentrated on high level RC racing events. Other issues concentrated on Jets, and the author talked about $15,000 to $20,000 setups. This certainly doesn't encourage new people to the sport.

Controline in particular is looked down by many in spite of the fact that to place airplanes repeatedly at 5 ft off the ground is a skill that almost all of the people with their noses in the air would not even attempt.

We are continually asked why we don't fly RC. But we accept a challenge that many don't.

An instant gratification society is part of it, but not all.

The thrill of seeing an airplane is now not there. Even the dangers of flying the Space Shuttle are taken for granted, unless, God forbid, there is an accident.

Life is not as simple as it once was, there are many things to do. There is less exposure to model airplanes than in the past. The news media seems to be only interested in bad news, and doesn't cover our competitions.  Part of this is also our own fault. On one of my trips to the Nats in Muncie, I found when talking to the local people, they don't know what goes on at the AMA site. They didn't know that the National Championships were taking place, and had no idea that the World Championships had been there. So, even the AMA doesn't toot our horn.

I have life long friends with whom I met and competed with, even before I was in my teens. Like you, most of us were very good flyers. Flying in the old age classes, it was very common to have Seniors placing high and winning in Open competition.

Matt, I guess much is left for your generation to wave the banner, and get some of your friends interested in our sport.

[Phil Coopy]

I've flown C/L, RC, and Rubber F/F since I was a kid in the late 40's.  I've flown stunt, pattern, and IMAC over the years. I think the part of getting the young modeler interested in the hobby was of course seeing it done by somebody, but I think that the greater part, getting a modeler actually started in the hobby, has always been done by the advertising either in catalogs, magazines, or the hobby shop window.  It's always been about the success of the industry, the industry is going to try to attract the hobbyist to where the most profit can be made, and that ain't C/L or F/F.  They have neatly adapted themselves to the "flash and trash" culture that we currently embrace.  It is great though, that at least there are a few manufacturers and vendors who are helping to keep the torch burning. I still build all my stuff mostly from scratch and do it for others.  It saddens me to see that the flow of youngsters into our hobby has all but stopped, and that most flyers today just buy and fly.  But as long as I am still allowed to build and fly, I'm gonna be happy, and I am not foolish enough think that somehow we are going to be able to revive what we had, or create a stampede of young folks to our circles, 'cause it ain't gonna happen.  However, I feel that I am very fortunate to know you folks are out there,  like to share what we have, and keep on doing what we do, as long as it lasts.  So to have a place like this site, which brings us together, since we so finely sprinkled about, is probably the best we can hope for in C/L.

Phil

[SteveMoon]

At our local flying field there are way too many soccer fields nearby, but this
does lead to at least a couple of kids sitting and watching Doug and I fly almost
every time we are out there. They usually come talk to us when we are between
flights and the conversation goes something like this:

Kid: "Wow, that's cool"

Us: "Thanks"

Kid: "How much does that cost?"

Us: " Anywhere from $100 and up."

Kid: "Where can I get one?"

Us: "At the local hobby shop."

Kid: "Where's that? Can I buy that one."

Us: "No, we built these. They'd cost as much as $1000."

Kid: "You built those? Oh well, looks cool."

End of conversation. Once cost and building come into the conversation
it pretty much comes to a screeching halt. I'm sure most of these kids don't
even realize that you can build these planes yourself, and then they for
sure don't have any idea how to even get started.

For years and years we have explained the hobby to countless kids, but have
yet to see one come back with even the most rudimentary plane. I think it
just seems to daunting a task to them. That's just the impression I've gotten
over the years.

Steve

[11290]

You're also going to find that every one of those kids you saw in the magazine were there doing their "thing" because Daddy was there doing "his".

Sounds like you consider this a bad thing, that having sons and fathers (Daddy) with common interests and doing things together is not a good thing for your version of "modeling". 

And face it: RC, particularly ARFs and helicopters, is little more than a three-dimensional video game. There is no real MODELING involved, more like a real neat toy. Sure, it takes skill and dedication to make them work as well as they do, but the same can be said for defeating the latest game on the game box.

Would love to hear your definition of "real MODELING".  Personally, I put in just as much work on my RC heli's as I do on my stick built CL models.  They all require trimming, precision construction and coordinated input from the flyer.  And OBTW, I am over 60 years old and have been in the CL world for a long time.  Got my first Firebaby in the early 50's and if I remember correctly, the model was, at least partially prebuilt and prefinished and the wings fit into a metal slot affixed to the fuselage and held with a screw on each side so this might even be considered an ARF.  Did I say that bad word.

[LARRY RICE]

Everytime that i hear this question I swear that i will not get involved...but here I go again.
     Here at Black Hawk Models we are dedicated to bringing kids back into the hobby. We sponsor several programs that go way beyond taking a kid for a test flight. Demos are good but they need pzazz and I am sorry to tell you that the stunt pattern does not have that. Honest the kids do not know a loop from a wing over. Racing or combat, even mock combat gets there interest.
     The program that we are running right now involves the building and flying of three different types of model airplanes. The kids start off with a simple tethered model, you swing it over your head on the end of a string. We start with that because most kids today have never built anything, so this gets their feet wet. The next plane is a throw glider, it enhances their building skills and gives them great flights. The last plane, next weeks project, is a Whip Powered Control Line model. This teaches control line at a low cost and no dizziness. So far the kids are loving it.
     In Michigan they took a group of kids to the air museum, one week, had demo flights the next and then the kids built their own planes to fly. watch for an article in the next Control Line World Mag.
     In each program we sponsor we supply the models and an instructor to assist the kids. Just flying a plane or seeing a plane fly is not enough, they need to build the plane they will be flying. Each year we work with the Boys and Girls Club of America and local schools to promote Control Line abd Free Flight modeling.
Larry

[LARRY RICE]

check this out


[youtube=425,350]6muGBTLZUsc[/youtube]

1/2A is the starting place if for no other reason it is now cheap! Cox engine $6.00 to $10.00 NEW plane under $20.00 and all you need is paint and glue.
Larry

[Brett Buck]

Sounds like you consider this a bad thing, that having sons and fathers (Daddy) with common interests and doing things together is not a good thing for your version of "modeling". 


Would love to hear your definition of "real MODELING".  Personally, I put in just as much work on my RC heli's as I do on my stick built CL models.  They all require trimming, precision construction and coordinated input from the flyer.  And OBTW, I am over 60 years old and have been in the CL world for a long time.  Got my first Firebaby in the early 50's and if I remember correctly, the model was, at least partially prebuilt and prefinished and the wings fit into a metal slot affixed to the fuselage and held with a screw on each side so this might even be considered an ARF.  Did I say that bad word.

    This really boils down to what it is you think you are trying to accomplish - is it merely to get as many people flying some sort of C/L airplane as possible? Why? Not that I think this is possible, but do we really want this to be like RC where there are thousands and thousands of duffers and buy-and-flies?  Fine with me, but why is it that almost immediately this discussion veers to changing obscure competition regulations - when most of the RC duffers aren't even aware that there are competitions, much less care what the rules are? 

   That's the part that starts the argument - when people, in their zeal to create this absurd fantasy world of thousands of CL fliers in every park*, start trying to break, damage, destroy, what have you, a very successful and robust competition event. When the two things (competition and thousands of ARF sport fliers) are completely separate topics; one does not have to take a hit for the other to be successful.

   People have been wringing their hands over the "junior problem" for close to (literally) 100 years now and we have more people flying now than we did 30 years ago.   Model airplanes, beyond dime-store stuff, have *never been about children*, at least not since the 30's.

    Brett

*absurd fantasy for several reasons - two failry obvious reasons being you would get arrested, and  because your target population is already flying models - but they are R/C.

      Brett

   

[Neville Legg]

This was printed in a local village newsletter here in England, is it the same in the US?
Quote "To all the kids who survived the 1930s,40s,50s,60s & 70s:
First,we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank whilst pregnant, they took aspirin,ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.  After that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in cots covered with brightly coloured lead-based paint.
There were no childproof lids on medicine bottles and no secure cupboard doors, when we rode our bikes we had no safety helmets, not to mention the enormous risk we took when hitchhiking as teenagers.  As infants and children we rode in cars with no safety seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.  Riding in the back of a pick-up on warm, sunny days was a special treat.
We drank water from a garden hose, not a bottle.  We shared one bottle of soft drink with 4 friends and no one died from the effects.  We ate cup cakes, white bread, real butter, and, everything was sweetened, if necessary, with real sugar.  Not many of us were overweight because we were always out playing.  We went out in the  morning and no one knew where we were until we arrived home at tea time tired and hungry.
We spent hours building something to ride on, only to find we forgot the brakes, after landing in a few bushes we learned how to cure the problem The local junior football teams had try outs, but not everyone got in, those that didn't had to learn to live with it.  There were no Playstations, Wiis, only (by the 60s) 4 channels on t.v., there were no PC's or mobile phones either BUT...WE HAD FRIENDS! We had FREEDOM, FAILURE,SUCCESS and RESPONSIBILITY and we learned how to deal with it all, so, if YOU are one of them CONGRATULATIONS!"

[Derek Barry]

 I fly some RC, well really I crash a lot of RC. I have met many local people over the last few years because of flying RC. I have been allowed to fly my planes both C/L and RC at their fields. I also have a new field that has to be 300 acres of .5 inch grass, it is a sod farm that the owner has agreed to let me and a few other guys fly on (as long as we keep our fuel off of his grass). All of these things are because I tried something new and fun.
 I always bring an ARF C/L to let anyone who wants to give a try fly. Many of these people have flown before in their childhood. Some of them have kids now and want them to feel the tug of the handle in their hand. Some people say that C/L is dieing but I feel like it is coming back, at least in some places. I think we should all do our part to keep this great sport that has allowed me to do so many things and see so many places and most importantly given me a great relationship with my dad alive!

Derek Barry

[LARRY RICE]

     Competition and kids flying are two different things, all competition should be left alone. The vast number of people flying control line are sport fliersand do not CARE about competing.
     WHY do we want more kids and adults in the control line sport? You may want them because it will mean more manufactures with more model kits, lower prices, more hobby stores and more engines at lower prices BUT I want them in because we are losing another generation of people who to gangs and adults who can not fix or build anything. That is why Black Hawk Models is putting money, resources and time into kids. Yes C/L is growing due to the Baby Boomers coming back to the hobby and then bring their grandkids in too.
Larry

[Matt Colan]

Well Matt, that's the $1,000,000 question, answer it and we'll be back in business. I can tell you this, guys like you are a rarity these days, airplanes aren't cool anymore. Most of the guys here grew up in a time when people still stopped to watch an airplane fly over, now they hardly get noticed except by the people that complain about the noise after they've bought a house a half mile form the airport. It also used to be that many municipalities encouraged things like modeling and scouting, but these days the emphasis is on scoreless team sports where nobody wins or loses and nobody gets their feelings hurt. You young man are an anomally, an oddity among your peers. That's NOT a bad thing, your competitive spirit and individualism will serve you well in adulthood, but it probably won't make you many friends. Most kids have had everything handed to them, they've been sheltered and pressed into a mold that doesn't allow for the individualist, and that's a rotten shame. Parents thining they're making things better for their kids by doing that, but really, they're robbing them of the opportunity to try, fail, learn and improve. The hand it over syndrome makes it uncool to expect anyone to have to put forth any effort to get what they want. If they put forth no effort to build a model them they will probably quit when they find it take effort to compete if they had any such inclination to begin with. YOu're in a position to influence some of these young people. You may do some of the cool stuff and wear some of the cool clothes, but you (correct me if I'm wrong) don't generally follow the crowd, you do it your way, an I right? If that's true, and I think it is, then you're in a better position then most of us because you can communicate with them where they tend to tune us "old" people out. Still, its an uphill battle, airplanes aren't cool anymore, and that's a simple fact.

One other thing, people, even interested ones, don't tend to see CL flying as "real" flying. One of my old Free Flight buddies used to say to me, "Why do you mess with those things? They don't fly, its like swinging a rock on a string." He was one of the best HLG flyers of the late 60's early 70's, and later a top notch Wakefield flyer. Many RC people see what we do as a lessor to what they do, they look down at it and want to know why we don't, "step up" to RC. Its maddening sometimes, I've flown models all my life of every discipline. I once had an older guy (RC guy) that didn't know me tell me that if I once flew RC I'd never want to play with those "toys" anymore I'd throw rocka at 'em. That guy had been flying about 15 years to my over 40 at the time, he didn't know me, but all the guys around that did laughed hard at his statement and proceded to fill him in. The point is, outside modeling there is little interest and even discouragement of modeling, inside modeling there is prejudice between the diciplines to a fairly large degree.

That's how I see it. By the way, my 14 year old grandson finds himself in the same position as you. One of his freinds even told him the a person would have to be nuts to actually "WANT" to sit and build a model airplane, others see him fly, but the next day its all forgotten.

Planes aren't cool anymore.  I was in my pajamas one morning and I heard a couple of F-16s flying over, and I ran out on a beeline for the front door and the front yard to see them, I looked around when they were gone and NOBODY was outside to look.  At my school there is an airport about a 1/2 mile away and there is somebody who has an aerobatic plane.  During baseball season, if he has it flying, I can't play baseball, I have to watch the plane, and everybody is yelling at me to stop watching the plane, and I tell them I just can't help it.

When I shared about CL planes in my Solcial Studies class, somebody asked me how much these cost and I said, anywhere from $100 to $1000 and he said I was nuts, and also I have to build them.

[Matt Colan]

I fly some RC, well really I crash a lot of RC. I have met many local people over the last few years because of flying RC. I have been allowed to fly my planes both C/L and RC at their fields. I also have a new field that has to be 300 acres of .5 inch grass, it is a sod farm that the owner has agreed to let me and a few other guys fly on (as long as we keep our fuel off of his grass). All of these things are because I tried something new and fun.
 I always bring an ARF C/L to let anyone who wants to give a try fly. Many of these people have flown before in their childhood. Some of them have kids now and want them to feel the tug of the handle in their hand. Some people say that C/L is dieing but I feel like it is coming back, at least in some places. I think we should all do our part to keep this great sport that has allowed me to do so many things and see so many places and most importantly given me a great relationship with my dad alive!

Derek Barry

Hi Derek,

I definitely think CL is coming back because I've heard more guys coming back into CL and learning how to fly again then I've ever heard.  I've flown RC before I started with CL and every time I flew or fly RC, my knees shake, and also I don't have the feel of control like I have with CL.  Grandpa and I have even gotten an RC guy back into CL, but we don't know since the last time we saw him he said he was going to give CL a try.

Even RC guys can't really comprehend that we build these planes.  One day there was a little fun fly at the RC field and grandpa brought one of his stunters.  I wasn't there since I was busy buying a new bike, but he said that when he landed, the guys said that was cool and wondering if these planes were ARF's and where he could buy them. Grandpa said he didn't buy, he built it, and according to him, the RC guy said, oh.

Somebody told me that RC guys also can't comprehend that we fly that low and that is where we are supposed to fly, 4-6 feet, not 100-200ft.

[Matt Colan]

Well Matt, that's the $1,000,000 question, answer it and we'll be back in business. I can tell you this, guys like you are a rarity these days, airplanes aren't cool anymore. Most of the guys here grew up in a time when people still stopped to watch an airplane fly over, now they hardly get noticed except by the people that complain about the noise after they've bought a house a half mile form the airport. It also used to be that many municipalities encouraged things like modeling and scouting, but these days the emphasis is on scoreless team sports where nobody wins or loses and nobody gets their feelings hurt. You young man are an anomally, an oddity among your peers. That's NOT a bad thing, your competitive spirit and individualism will serve you well in adulthood, but it probably won't make you many friends. Most kids have had everything handed to them, they've been sheltered and pressed into a mold that doesn't allow for the individualist, and that's a rotten shame. Parents thining they're making things better for their kids by doing that, but really, they're robbing them of the opportunity to try, fail, learn and improve. The hand it over syndrome makes it uncool to expect anyone to have to put forth any effort to get what they want. If they put forth no effort to build a model them they will probably quit when they find it take effort to compete if they had any such inclination to begin with. YOu're in a position to influence some of these young people. You may do some of the cool stuff and wear some of the cool clothes, but you (correct me if I'm wrong) don't generally follow the crowd, you do it your way, an I right? If that's true, and I think it is, then you're in a better position then most of us because you can communicate with them where they tend to tune us "old" people out. Still, its an uphill battle, airplanes aren't cool anymore, and that's a simple fact.

Hi Randy,

I am competitive by nature I guess.  Just yesterday in Math class, there was this game that is kind of like battleship but is about slope and cannons.  Anyway, I lost and I actually told myself to calm down, it was just a game.  I hate losing.

The thing that I really don't like about that everybody wins, nobody loses crap is that in somebody's future in life, they are not going to win all the time, they will lose and those people will get bent out of shape about it.  Last year, when my baseball team lost a game which was a common occorance (2-14 record), guys didn't care that they lost, they continue fooling around and laughing and throwing sunflower seeds at each other.  I would be complaining to my mother that I'm SICK of losing, and everybody else just doesn't care.

If I want something, I buy with my own money, or I ask for it if my birthday or Christmas is rolling around.  I bought a PA 40UL from Randy with my own money, nobody hands me stuff.  Bill Hummel has given me a couple of kits, my Ares and now my Oriental Plus and I can't thank him enough for those kits.  The Ares flies GREAT, and the Oriental Plus should fly even better also.  I'm never handed anything, I either buy it myself or earn it.

[Matt Colan]

I was just thinking I'm an old fashioned person I think.  I was just listening to Dean Martin on the computer here, I love planes, CL, and classic cars from the 50s.  My cousin may someday fly CL since he likes anything with a motor in it, cars, boats, monster trucks, planes, NASCAR, you name it, he has toys of them, all of those things, and uses them on a regular basis.

[Larry Cunningham]

At our local flying field there are way too many soccer fields nearby, but this
does lead to at least a couple of kids sitting and watching Doug and I fly almost
every time we are out there. They usually come talk to us when we are between
flights and the conversation goes something like this:

Kid: "Wow, that's cool"

Us: "Thanks"

Kid: "How much does that cost?"

Us: " Anywhere from $100 and up."

Kid: "Where can I get one?"

Us: "At the local hobby shop."

Kid: "Where's that? Can I buy that one."

Us: "No, we built these. They'd cost as much as $1000."

Kid: "You built those? Oh well, looks cool."

End of conversation. Once cost and building come into the conversation
it pretty much comes to a screeching halt. I'm sure most of these kids don't
even realize that you can build these planes yourself, and then they for
sure don't have any idea how to even get started.

For years and years we have explained the hobby to countless kids, but have
yet to see one come back with even the most rudimentary plane. I think it
just seems to daunting a task to them. That's just the impression I've gotten
over the years.

Steve

I'll repeat a little anecdote here. My good friend Mark Bowen used to get very upset at people
asking how much his model cost and where they could buy it, then suddenly losing interest as soon
as he said we had to build them. Finally, I told Mark to not let it get to him, and just have some
fun with it. So what we started doing was answering the question, "How much did it cost?" with
"$69.95.." and the follow up question "Where do you buy it?" with "they have 'em over at Walmart.."
Mark got a big charge out of that.

Just the sort of sick humor two older CL flyers amused ourselves with. No need getting upset about it.

It's a different age. Most (at least many) kids nowadays are not very fascinated by airplanes at all,
let alone building a model and learning to fly it.. Something that can be bought and run, say an RC car,
may have appeal sometimes, for awhile. Forget the experience of building!

You'll notice that in many cases youngsters can resist even coming over to look at your model airplane.
they simply are not interested. How do you change that?

It's a shame. People who don't find an attachment to hobbies or special interests end up leading dull
lives and missing out.

I'd love nothing more than seeing a surge in youth interest in CL, particularly Stunt. I just don't see it
happening. I've given up.

L.

Carr: "Them clothes got laundry numbers on them. You remember your number and always wear the ones that has your number. Any man forgets his number spends a night in the box. These here spoons you keep with you. Any man loses his spoon spends a night in the box. There's no playing grab-ass or fighting in the building. You got a grudge against another man, you fight him Saturday afternoon. Any man playing grab-ass or fighting in the building spends a night in the box. First bell's at five minutes of eight when you will get in your bunk. Last bell is at eight. Any man not in his bunk at eight spends the night in the box. There is no smoking in the prone position in bed. To smoke you must have both legs over the side of your bunk. Any man caught smoking in the prone position in bed... spends a night in the box. You get two sheets. Every Saturday, you put the clean sheet on the top... the top sheet on the bottom... and the bottom sheet you turn in to the laundry boy. Any man turns in the wrong sheet spends a night in the box. No one'll sit in the bunks with dirty pants on. Any man with dirty pants on sitting on the bunks spends a night in the box. Any man don't bring back his empty pop bottle spends a night in the box. Any man loud talking spends a night in the box. You got questions, you come to me. I'm Carr, the floor walker. I'm responsible for order in here. Any man don't keep order spends a night in..."

Luke: "...the box"

[RC Storick]

Well I am doing my part to keep this alive. Tell your friends about this site. Kids today are not into making anything. When I was a senior in high school I had 5 periods of shop. I don't think schools even have shop now. (someone might get hurt) Kids today want it now and want it cheap. This is the total American philosophy. Look around your house and see whats made in the USA? Not much! We have become a Nation of sellers and buyers not builders.

In order to lead you can't be following someone else. Take a stand! You might go to your local hobby shop and see if your club could do a exhibition and post some flyer's of the dates in the window. You might find your local boy scout troop and talk to them to see if there is interest. It usually takes 10 No's to get a YES so don't be discouraged. Try and try again. Think of a new concept to promote the great hobby.

[Randy Ryan]

Hi Randy,

I am competitive by nature I guess.  Just yesterday in Math class, there was this game that is kind of like battleship but is about slope and cannons.  Anyway, I lost and I actually told myself to calm down, it was just a game.  I hate losing.

The thing that I really don't like about that everybody wins, nobody loses crap is that in somebody's future in life, they are not going to win all the time, they will lose and those people will get bent out of shape about it.  Last year, when my baseball team lost a game which was a common occorance (2-14 record), guys didn't care that they lost, they continue fooling around and laughing and throwing sunflower seeds at each other.  I would be complaining to my mother that I'm SICK of losing, and everybody else just doesn't care.


If I want something, I buy with my own money, or I ask for it if my birthday or Christmas is rolling around.  I bought a PA 40UL from Randy with my own money, nobody hands me stuff.  Bill Hummel has given me a couple of kits, my Ares and now my Oriental Plus and I can't thank him enough for those kits.  The Ares flies GREAT, and the Oriental Plus should fly even better also.  I'm never handed anything, I either buy it myself or earn it.

See Matt, you confirmed my point, most young people now are not wired for individual competition, and their team competition is a joke as you related. What would be their motivation for wanting to fly model airplanes since 1, airplanes are not cool, 2. you might have to build one and that's not cool and 3. competition is not what they've been taught, why would they want to do that. YOu're in the dirvers seat, most of us older guys can't communicate with them like you can. I don't know what you could do to make a difference, I'm afraid the whole mentality we've created in our country is counter ot model airplanes as a hobby. By the way, its not just model airplanes as I'm sure you know, allot of buy it drive it goes on in Hot Rods now where it used to be if you wanted one, you pretty much had to build it.

[Larry Cunningham]

Brett, did RC duffers hold you down and make you eat a bug or something? 

I don't think many of us are harboring fantasies of thousands of CL Stunt flying youngsters
crowding every flying site. We'd just like to see some new blood (true blood?) entering the
hobby.

We may indeed have more fliers than 30 years ago, but wasn't it in the 1970s that Stunt
nearly died off? When PAMPA got started, wasn't CL Stunt interest and participation
pretty constrained, maybe minimal?

As much as I love all you guys, I know that we are primarily Old Farts, with limited time left.
How many of us will be around in 20 years? Who will be flying CL in 20 years (don't answer
that Brett, you're still a young man by CL Stunt standards)? How's our Nats CL participation
numbers nowadays? Spot any trends? Any POSITIVE trends?

I'm always delighted to see younger folks getting seriously into CL. Some important evolutionary
changes (say, electric power) may depend on it. Few of the older, established fliers are interested
in changes. It's only natural - I'm not criticizing, I just acknowledge how we are as human beings.

For all our scorn of RC and its "duffers", that large market has generated demand enough to make some
significant leaps in the technology, and at least some of what we find as new technology is simply applied
from the world of RC. By comparison to the RC market, the CL market is miniscule. A larger CL market
would be a Good Thing for our hobby.

Remember too that only a minor subset of CL flyers are ever serious competitors. And for those who enter
the hobby and would be groomed for competition, some workable path has to exist. Similar comments for
even entering the "sport flyer" category.

L.

"Keith Richards, 61, wears a tattered scarf around his head, and random charms - an eagle head, a cross, a Chinese coin - hanging from his matted quasi-dreads. He says he has no idea what-all is in his hair: his kids and friends like to decorate him while he's passed out." -August 15, 2005 issue of Newsweek magazine.

[john e. holliday]

Matt, you are a rarity also one of the few.  The problem I see and have seen is Dad,s and grandparents sent the kids off to the playground so the kids could play while the adults played with their toys.
When someone shows an interest and asks the cost I tell them it depends on how much you want to spend.  The coroplast flying platter does not cost that much and is almost indestructable.  Having a plane set up to train or let them try is a help.  But, don't forget the lessons on the ground first.
The AJ Firebaby is what got me hooked even tho it lasted only 9 laps.  The next plane was the Scientific Sport Racer which had a built up box fuselage.  
Blackhawk Models is a good site to refer them to.  But, the biggest problem is a young adult having someone to back them or support to encourage them.  Then most have missed the ball on the previous posts.  Competition is not the thing to talk about until they are hooked.  Promote the fun flying and the friends they will meet when they fly with other people.  My grandkids have flown in contests, but, state they would rather go to the field and fly just for fun.  It is fun for me cause all I have to do is refuel and start.  They will learn to start in time.
I have often stated that if I had a half dozen or so young adults to fly I would be sitting on the side lines encouraging them. Have fun,  DOC Holliday

[Matt Colan]

Well I am doing my part to keep this alive. Tell your friends about this site. Kids today are not into making anything. When I was a senior in high school I had 5 periods of shop. I don't think schools even have shop now. (someone might get hurt) Kids today want it now and want it cheap. This is the total American philosophy. Look around your house and see whats made in the USA? Not much! We have become a Nation of sellers and buyers not builders.

In order to lead you can't be following someone else. Take a stand! You might go to your local hobby shop and see if your club could do a exhibition and post some flyer's of the dates in the window. You might find your local boy scout troop and talk to them to see if there is interest. It usually takes 10 No's to get a YES so don't be discouraged. Try and try again. Think of a new concept to promote the great hobby.

We still have shop class, and I took it last year.  I couldn't take it this year because of I couldn't fit it in my schedule.  Half the guys in there fooled around and didn't make anything, me, I built an adirondack chair and is now on my deck.  we don't have a hobby shop around here, and the best closest hobby shop we have is the internet.  I used to be in the boy scouts but dropped out since i just couldn't do it, too many other things going on.  I have always thought of getting a CD license and hold a contest in my schools parking lot, which is big enough for two circles I think and then we got like 100 acres of grass field.  Too bad I wouldn't be able to do that until I'm 21.

One thing I did do in woods was drop about a 5 pound tool of some kind on my toe, couldn't bend it a whole lot for a week.

[john e. holliday]

Grandpa is old enough to get a CD license.  DOC Holliday

[RC Storick]

This was printed in a local village newsletter here in England, is it the same in the US?
Quote "To all the kids who survived the 1930s,40s,50s,60s & 70s:
First,we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank whilst pregnant, they took aspirin,ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.  After that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in cots covered with brightly coloured lead-based paint.
There were no childproof lids on medicine bottles and no secure cupboard doors, when we rode our bikes we had no safety helmets, not to mention the enormous risk we took when hitchhiking as teenagers.  As infants and children we rode in cars with no safety seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.  Riding in the back of a pick-up on warm, sunny days was a special treat.
We drank water from a garden hose, not a bottle.  We shared one bottle of soft drink with 4 friends and no one died from the effects.  We ate cup cakes, white bread, real butter, and, everything was sweetened, if necessary, with real sugar.  Not many of us were overweight because we were always out playing.  We went out in the  morning and no one knew where we were until we arrived home at tea time tired and hungry.
We spent hours building something to ride on, only to find we forgot the brakes, after landing in a few bushes we learned how to cure the problem The local junior football teams had try outs, but not everyone got in, those that didn't had to learn to live with it.  There were no Playstations, Wiis, only (by the 60s) 4 channels on t.v., there were no PC's or mobile phones either BUT...WE HAD FRIENDS! We had FREEDOM, FAILURE,SUCCESS and RESPONSIBILITY and we learned how to deal with it all, so, if YOU are one of them CONGRATULATIONS!"

I really like this and it is so true. Too many wackos (and they are us) Have put an end to anything that works, Just remember if its non-toxic and environmentally safe, bio degradable it probably does not work.. Because its water LOL

[Matt Colan]

I really like this and it is so true. Too many wackos (and they are us) Have put an end to anything that works, Just remember if its non-toxic and environmentally safe, bio degradable it probably does not work.. Because its water LOL

I loved that too.  We have joked around about that during family dinners and they turned out ok.  Now everything is purified and germ free. Now some health people are telling us if we drop a chip on the floor, pick it up and eat it, because it will help strengthen our immune system.  Call me disgusting but I do because I want a strong immune system, and in order to have one, you have to expose yourself to things, and I don't get sick often, a couple of colds a month and that's all I've gotten (knock on wood).

[Matt Colan]

Grandpa is old enough to get a CD license.  DOC Holliday

He is and I've told him of my thought, but he really doesn't have interest in becoming a CD, too much work he says.

[LARRY RICE]

This is it for me.
     This is a quote from Walter Musciano about himself and John Frisoli, founder of Scientific Models:
     "Our aviation objective; attract youngsters to this fine hobby, thereby producing imaginative, wholesome young people who will learn to think creatively and objectively, as well as to put their ideas into practice, We also agree that through model plane building the youngster learns the ability to create with the hands a dynamic thing of beauty and produce a three dimensional object from two dimensional drawings. By this act the youngster will acquire an excellent foundation for a future education and career in engineering, architecture and allied creative professions. Further, it will steer the builder clear of juvenile delinquency and a subsequent life of crime."
     All of this said it pretty well sums what we are all about. One last thing you need to start with real young kids, 6 or 7 years old, with simple building projects. Starting later is a up hill battle that can not be won.
Larry

[George]

I built plastic model cars, solid wood airplanes, balsa/plastic nin-flyers, etc. before I knew about flying models. I admired the engines and kits in my LHS until I finally took the plunge into flying models. The first flying model I built was Red Rinehardt's Roger Dodger from magazine plans I scaled up as I built by using the scale on the plans. Someone had given me the mag. It had warp issues and didn't fly well...hey, I was a beginner! 

I then built a few Scientific Musciano kits which did fly, although I should have done much more sanding and hollowing. I flew for a year or so before meeting anyone else who flew. My friends launched for me, but did not develop an interest in building or flying.

Once I met others who flew, my interest increased, especially since they were older and had cars so we could get to our flying fields...local school yards.

I think modeling is one of those things you are either interested in or not.

BTW, my son is a "Technology" teacher which, at least around here, replaced shop. Students are taught computer drafting then plan a project and make it.

George

[Alan Hahn]

Matt,

What are we doing wrong---nothing. 

Reading the entire list of posts, most of you sound like an angry group of old geezers (sorry Matt!). Just because other people like to do different hobbies than you, they must somehow be deficient in some way. I also assume most of you were Dad's, and so I would argue where are your kids?? (ok, I know some of you do have CL flying kids). 

Hey, I say enjoy the competition or flying or whatever floats your boat, but stop this incessant complaining about other people. 

[Juan Valentin]

Hello Matt
              When I was a kid nobody taught or helped me. I lived by an Air Force Base and fell in love with airplanes. My first flight on a C/L model was on a Cox P-40 with about 20 feet of lines that my cousin had.From there I went to balsa wood models. Since there was nobody around flying I learned to pull down for up and up for down and that`s the way I still fly. I tried to get my kids interested in the hobby but they didn`t have the desire and that is the crux of the matter. Now days kids don`t seem to have the patience to work on a model. My little boy would fly but only if I built and repaired his models. I have gone flying but the only guy that has aproached me is my cousins son but he is not fully into it. If any other kid would have shown interest I would helped. I have a collection of plans,kits,Engines and books but nobody to fly with. I drive 100 miles on sundays to be with like minded fellows and at the field the youngest is about 35 years old. People come by and ask questions and we have an all wood trainer with a Fox.35 to let them try their hand at C/L but they don`t come back. I wish I could find a sure fire way to get somebody in this hobby.The first guy`s I would try it on would be my kids.
                                                                                   Juan

[Frank Sheridan]

That 6 year old kid flying the helicopter has been flying for several years now. I believe there are youtube videos of him flying when he was three or four years old. His father would start the helicopter for him and hand him the transmitter. The child never chose his hobby - he was just emulating his father. My guess is that he has never paid for or built his own helicopter. When he crashes, his dad picks up the pieces (and the tab). But he is fun to watch - he manipulates all the levers and dual rate switches on his transmitter like a pro. A human child is capable of many things at the age of three or four, but they are usually not that focused or dedicated without parental input. I have taught several people how to fly C/L, but none were under the age of 16. There is a misconception about C/L being simple and boring. In fact I have known a few folks that did not realize that a C/L plane could fly inverted. Most consider it to be boring and redundant until they stumble onto a combat match or see a pulsejet flying at 200mph. Additionally, it's a hobby that is hardly ever seen on TV, and that's where most kids get the R/C bug.

[Doug Moon]

That 6 year old kid flying the helicopter has been flying for several years now. I believe there are youtube videos of him flying when he was three or four years old. His father would start the helicopter for him and hand him the transmitter. The child never chose his hobby - he was just emulating his father. My guess is that he has never paid for or built his own helicopter. When he crashes, his dad picks up the pieces (and the tab). But he is fun to watch - he manipulates all the levers and dual rate switches on his transmitter like a pro. A human child is capable of many things at the age of three or four, but they are usually not that focused or dedicated without parental input....

He is 6.  His dad has to pick up the tab.  Unless he has some cool job that 6 year olds can get that would pay for high level helo rigs...  I am sure the little one helps pick up the pieces, they all love that part.   

I think it is great his dad/parents are getting him involved at such a young and age.  Many people involved in model aviation today are brought in by their parents or siblings be it young or old. It is very good.  It creates a good relationship between parent and child.  And one day when that little guy can manipulate tools he will be working on his own rigs plenty.  I know a few helo pilots and they buy their rigs partially built then tear down to nothing and then put them back together in tip top souped up shape.  Helos need constant attention at high levels of competition,,,,,,sound familiar?  CLPA planes are no different.  I have met many rc guys who have never seen CL and once they get a up close and personal with it they find it very interesting and comment on the difficulties of it right away.  Do they go away from what they enjoy?  No.  I fly sail planes from time to time and really like it, ALOT.  I can "feel" it as I try to find a thermal and catch it just right.  The plane does give feedback even through a transmitter.  You can feel it by how much input you have to give.  It is just different than that of a CLPA handle.  Will I leave control line to do it?  HELL NO.  To each his own. 

We arent doing anything wrong.  In the late 80s early 90s CL was all but dead and now it has surged.  Granted it is a large number of retreads but those retreads all usually have grand kids that can get exposed and keep it going.  In FTW there was a TAG event (Takeoff And Grow) that puts the handle in the hands of kids for the day.  Exposure.  EAA kid venture puts the handle in the kids hands 100s maybe 1000s every year.  When I started in CLPA 19 years ago none of that stuff was happening.  That kind of stuff is on the rise. 

In the end is all about numbers.  There are around 150000 AMA members about 3-5K are full on CL FIRST guys.  With that small a % I think we are doing about as best we can.  I know I will expose my kids to it and many others will but the truth is we are just small in numbers.  The only way to grow it is to keep exposing people to it the best way you know how.  Many many will look and say neat and never think of it again some will try it and then even fewer more will pursue it.  I bet there are 1000s upon 1000s who have spent 450 to get an RC trainer up and running and then chuncked it early on only to never touch it again.  I bet the % in RC fall out is WAY higher than in CL.  oh well...my .02.

[LARRY RICE]

My trip to a trade show.
     Many years a go when I first started Black Hawk models and R/C helicopters were only about 2 years old I went to a Hobby Trade show in Long Beach, Ca. at the show the R/C crowd were lined at the Helicopter Manufactures booth all day everyday. I knew how hard it was to fly an R/C helicopter but at a demo held out side there was a kid about 10 flying the he.. out of one, amazing the crowd. Sound familiar? At this venue the crowd stood on a bridge watching the flight on the east side of the bridge in total amazement. I eased over to the west side of the bridge and looked down, there stood an old fart with a radio and the antenna up, out of the crowds sight.
     Flying helicopters has become easier than it was in those early days and I have seen a 4 year old fly control line and win a contest, so all I am saying is sometimes it is just hype.
Larry

[Matt Colan]

My first flight of CL was when I was 4 years old.  Grandpa eased me around the circle and I had my first flight.  And I did fly RC, but dropped that for CL, more fun in my opinion.  My brother does not like CL at all, he says it is boring, all we do is go around in circles and do a few maneuvers that's it.  I keep telling him that it is more than that.  He has flown once, and that was it, we built half a wing for him, he put a couple of cap strips on and that was it.  He wants to fly RC, but we don't fly RC, we fly CL My Dad tried his hand at CL, and he immediately said it wasn't for him.

One of my neighbors keeps telling us that he is going to buy a CL plane, and I've given him Brodak's website, a good plane to buy, but he hasn't bought anything, yet...

[Neville Legg]

Matt,
If you want to encourage some of your school mates to have ago at aeromodelling, try building a couple of simple profile .15 powered combat models! Keep them quick and cheap to build. Maybe shaped on a Hellcat and Zero, find someone else that can fly well, fit some streamers and give a demonstration! you'll be surprised at the reaction of those watching! Keep it aggressive fast and furious, all over the sky! Whenever I've flown public displays with C/L models, and I've flown quite a few, a bit of combat really pulls the crowd, you can hear the OOh's and AAh's as you chase each other. I've even flown a combat display with a couple of full size stunt models! bit slow, but fun for the crowd watching. We normally get a few people asking questions afterwards. It should appeal to the younger generation, as it is somewhat aggressive and fast, maybe like a 'shoot 'em up smash 'em 'up video game? Dunno! never played one! LOL    


Cheers       Neville

[John Miller]

Interestingly, we had an experience over the weekend on this very issue.

We had been flying for a couple of hours, taking turns, and generally having a good time. Gordy had to go home and get ready for some guests who were expected that afternoon. He'd been gone about ten minutes, when it appeared that he was pulling back into the parking lot.

It wasn't Gordy, but a mother with her three kids, in an identicle vehicle to Gordy's.

They pulled in and parked where they could see us, but it seemed they would be staying in their car.

Well, we gave a friendly wave to them, and they exited their car, and walked over to where we were.

It turned out that they had been watching us for several weekends as they drove by. It was her oldest, a son, who was interested in aircraft. His Dad is in the Air Force with an F-16 squadron, and another relative had a full scale that used to take him up for rides. He seemed well primed for entry into the hobby.

The inevitable questions were asked. "Can you buy one of those?" Where can I buy one?" "How much do they cost?"

Having had these questions posed before, and seeing the result of giving a wrong, or discouraging answer, like, "No, you have to build them your self", Or "A top competition plane like that could cost you nearly $1000.00", we took a different tack, and started talking about how easy it is to get started with a 1/2A trainer. How easy and simple they are to build, and how inexpensive it can be to start that way. Then we talked about moving up as interest, and skills improved.

When told that a simple 1/2A plane and the simple equipment needed, would cost about $50.00, The Mom said to her son, " Hey, you could earn that pretty easily."

We gave them contact information, and told her to give us a call when Dad ot back, or they were ready, and we'd help out all we could.

We're sure hoping that this bears fruit.

[Matt Colan]

Interestingly, we had an experience over the weekend on this very issue.

We had been flying for a couple of hours, taking turns, and generally having a good time. Gordy had to go home and get ready for some guests who were expected that afternoon. He'd been gone about ten minutes, when it appeared that he was pulling back into the parking lot.

It wasn't Gordy, but a mother with her three kids, in an identicle vehicle to Gordy's.

They pulled in and parked where they could see us, but it seemed they would be staying in their car.

Well, we gave a friendly wave to them, and they exited their car, and walked over to where we were.

It turned out that they had been watching us for several weekends as they drove by. It was her oldest, a son, who was interested in aircraft. His Dad is in the Air Force with an F-16 squadron, and another relative had a full scale that used to take him up for rides. He seemed well primed for entry into the hobby.

The inevitable questions were asked. "Can you buy one of those?" Where can I buy one?" "How much do they cost?"

Having had these questions posed before, and seeing the result of giving a wrong, or discouraging answer, like, "No, you have to build them your self", Or "A top competition plane like that could cost you nearly $1000.00", we took a different tack, and started talking about how easy it is to get started with a 1/2A trainer. How easy and simple they are to build, and how inexpensive it can be to start that way. Then we talked about moving up as interest, and skills improved.

When told that a simple 1/2A plane and the simple equipment needed, would cost about $50.00, The Mom said to her son, " Hey, you could earn that pretty easily."

We gave them contact information, and told her to give us a call when Dad ot back, or they were ready, and we'd help out all we could.

We're sure hoping that this bears fruit.

Hey that's great John, maybe I should try that approach if any of my friends ask that question

[LARRY RICE]

coming out next month for Christmas a PT-19 kit with handle, lines, engine, prop, fuel tank, fuel line, wheels and all hardware in one box $50.00. All that is needed to finish and fly is Paint, fuel and batteries. From Black Hawk Models.

[Steve Scott]

Matt,
If you are like most young folks when you get old enough to drive and then comes girls the control line flying will go to the back burner for sometime. Not a bad thing but it just seems like that's the way it goes.

More likely just the cars.

My son is now 17 and used to jump and the chance to go flying CL with Dad and the gang.  He got pretty good at it, winning the Beginner class at the 2005 Sig Contest but now professes he doesn't have the slightest interest in it.

He's fully involved in HS sports, has started driving, does airsoft gaming with his buddies and nearing his BSA eagle project.

He'll probably get back into it in another 10-15 years.  Not many of us started out as a mere kid and not had any periods of inactivity hit us from time to time.  I'm back in it for the 3rd time now but starting to dwindle once again...

[Zuriel Armstrong]

Matt,

Yesterday evening I went out for a few flights.  A young fella of about 12 or so road up on his bicycle.  I was encouraged at first and he was asking questions and seemed genuinely interested, then it happened....his cell phone rang and he was off  

Most kids today have too much technology at their disposal and do not have to create things to have fun.

Keep building and keep asking questions.  The kids that bought the technology will most likely never gain the skills to develop technology themselves!!!

[Scott Jenkins]

Matt,
You are the exception to the rule when it comes to model aviation. First of all you have a mechanical mindset that helps you understand what is going on and without a doubt the hands on skill to build your own airplanes. My son is 15 years old and started flying I think so he could spend more time with me. Slowly but surely he is turning into a very good racing pilot and once he gets over what I call the three up hump, its a matter of confidence. He will be able to race with the best of them at todays F2C speeds.
If you can find among your peers other individuals with the same mechanical aptitude as yourself. You may well find a partner for flying. For some the interest of what makes it work will be the spark that brings them in. Keep at it I see a Walker Cup in your future.

Scott Jenkins

[Matt Colan]

Matt,
You are the exception to the rule when it comes to model aviation. First of all you have a mechanical mindset that helps you understand what is going on and without a doubt the hands on skill to build your own airplanes. My son is 15 years old and started flying I think so he could spend more time with me. Slowly but surely he is turning into a very good racing pilot and once he gets over what I call the three up hump, its a matter of confidence. He will be able to race with the best of them at todays F2C speeds.
If you can find among your peers other individuals with the same mechanical aptitude as yourself. You may well find a partner for flying. For some the interest of what makes it work will be the spark that brings them in. Keep at it I see a Walker Cup in your future.

Scott Jenkins

I do have a couple of friends that seem like they have a "mechanical" mind, but they also have technology (cell phones, Xbox's etc.).  It seems like you have to start them young.

I'd love to have a walker cup in my future.  Earlier today grandpa and I were talking and we cannot believe how far I've come in such a short time.  2 years ago I was a beginner, and now I'm up there in advanced.

[john e. holliday]

Matt, I am glad you have the Walker Cup as your goal.  Don't ever get discouraged, just don't look at how many have tried and never got one.  Then there are the ones like Walker and Werage that make it look easy until you dig into how they got there.

I think the one company did great trying to come up with a package for people to start out with.  But, I think Black Hawk Models has one better by going the 1/2A route.  Kids don't have that much money for the so called toys.  And in my opinion the teenage years is the hardest time in life to get youngsters started.  The other time is when they get married and start a family as well as a job.  Just stay with it and I will be looking for a young Matt Colen up on the pedestal holding the Walker Cup.  DOC Holliday

[Matt Colan]

Matt, I am glad you have the Walker Cup as your goal.  Don't ever get discouraged, just don't look at how many have tried and never got one.  Then there are the ones like Walker and Werage that make it look easy until you dig into how they got there.

I think the one company did great trying to come up with a package for people to start out with.  But, I think Black Hawk Models has one better by going the 1/2A route.  Kids don't have that much money for the so called toys.  And in my opinion the teenage years is the hardest time in life to get youngsters started.  The other time is when they get married and start a family as well as a job.  Just stay with it and I will be looking for a young Matt Colen up on the pedestal holding the Walker Cup.  DOC Holliday

Hey thanks DOC, I appreciate that 

[Bryan Higgins]

Matt

I feel the same way..... BUT.......This is a very touchy subject.

And i can't express what i have to say on this site.  And that is
why i like this site.  There is more help here than you will get
anywhere else at the moment.

This site is lucky to have a young youth like you doing so well.
nice job Matt.

[Matt Colan]

Matt

I feel the same way..... BUT.......This is a very touchy subject.

And i can't express what i have to say on this site.  And that is
why i like this site.  There is more help here than you will get
anywhere else at the moment.

This site is lucky to have a young youth like you doing so well.
nice job Matt.

Thanks Bryan!  Earlier today, I just saw a picture of a youth flying for the first time it looked like.  I think it was one of the pictures Elwyn took from over the labor day weekend.  Rick Campbell and I briefly talked about this over the weekend, and we also couldn't really come to a good consensus.