The Haught Corner

The philosophical difference between two immense fact close impossible explain difference some RC modelers use aircraft same way might use tennis racket golf club race car take issue comment [October 1995 column] about perhaps 1500 competition FFers AMA membership 100000 [actually 160000plus] AMA RC fliers competitors would valid statement Most AMA members whatever flying preference sport fliers count RC fliers actually compete comparison would lopsided Similarly add up AMA members fly free flight fun total RC sport fliers fair comparison about putting statistics together future Haught Corner have stats Mike wants nearly demographic survey done about hobby reveals overwhelming majority participants fly RC sport fact some 93% respondents last demographic survey active some phase RC FF figure 207% 594 persons Important distinction between number AMA members number survey respondentssort mileage may vary Keep mind tremendous amount crossover potential herequite few FF modelers fly RC-assist Old-Timer events example check National Free flight Society president Bob Beecroft reveals NFFS membership currently about 1800 persons submit overwhelming majority NFFS members competition-oriented modelers FF basically competition activity days would estimate least 90% fliers given EF contest NFFS members would put us close 1500 figure mentioned above drop proverbial bucket compared overall AMA membership comparison nearly lopsided look overall percentage competition modelers RC has largest number competitors CL smallest competitors together small percentage AMA Perhaps blow self-esteem perceived importance somewhere along line sheer force numbers must realized accounted As mentioned before space no way intended slam competition vital part hobby believe competition ramrod pun technological development eventually benefits modelersand perhaps sport fliers Almost competition requires unusual amounts dedication intense effort Its probably natural want rewarded effort should conscious decision participate non-mainstream activity automatically bring about fame/wealthlstatus real perceived successful As Mikes discussion philosophical differences think elimination Builder Model rule some classes has narrowed gap somewhat number FFers have bought models So much what modeling based emotions . have whole part aided efforts gain place World Championships team Thus its like golfer tennis playeror Pattern flier Pylon racergetting some new equipment Whats missing scenarios what Jeff Troy calls Emotional Debt Factor EDFthe attachment have model because time effort went its construction long ago engine better models suffered broken rod flight rod took chunk out piston cracked shaft near crankpina total loss first reaction Oh %$# theres $100 down drain Now suppose engine stayed intact crashed good model reaction would have intenseanguish losing good airplane time involved create new model might good old Now thats emotional debt thats big part modeling us model $20 worth materials may have hundreds hours labor involved its creation flight trimming Can same said something requires writing check Look Scale modeling real EDF situation its greatest appeals spectators idea youre really going fly after work put C still Reston early 19931 remember Bob Underwood Jay Mealy going out 0 lunch test Bobs new RC Scale model Disaster struck model crashed after few impossible R seconds flight feel anything genuine sorrow could have happened give-and-take N usual bantering absent workplace day we do modeling E So much what based emotions like What model will fly fly Will fly R best time allis worth risk dont think can make modeling better hobby AMA better organization letting emotions rule day need calm rational realistic assessment hobby membership carefully reasoned wellthought-out plan success future separation church state will never easy think its necessary favorite activity prosper long term being calm rational lets take look out window Daydream little bit See young kid fascinated flying model Does look familiar thought might recognize him bet theres little bit him locked up inside us ever forget him what feeling about might well hang up boys playing toys childlike fascination flight can does last long time Haught Managing Editor 184 Model Aviation ived interesting letter longtime FF modeler Mike Cook might remember Mikes /2A A-Go-Go Nats winner /2A Gas 1960s has some rather definite ideas about differences between FF RC modelers