Now you're Talking: Soap box

U Stephen Scotto Mci w r II inw g MODEL AVIATION June 1996 page 56 Juniors have heard question repeated thousand times along breast-beating about video games complex models lack free time no access field decline Western society lack family values sunspots etc references gray angels retirement diminishing ranks know hobhy model aviation along participants dying off surely passenger pigeon Except just aint Hard believe Well conventional wisdom might wrong got some numbers think about am membership secretary Miniature Aircraft Association Westchester radio control club located just north New York City membership hovers around 200-220 have keeping club membership records since 1993 5 decided check numbers took names last 100 members joined Since Junior members pay reduced dues application form asks age new member open club everyone applied admitted club membership Between 12/1/93 5/1/96 initiated 100 new members 21 under 18 Most Junior members between 11 14 years old Only five new members listed themselves retired So 21% new members under 18 No question kids want fly Interesting sure everyone knows kid joins year never seen again club took same list 63 still members 14 Juniors percentage Juniors showed small increase 22% Now getting interesting So whats going club different rest see old-timers everywhere kids invisible Whats happening behind numbers fact club different others Most significantly maintain open membership Everyone including interested kid admitted membership least two other clubs area club has limited membership 50 other requires sponsorship membership vote admitted requirements like easy see few Junior members want Junior members As adult have turned away three different clubs maintain closed membership wonder kids discouraged seems pretty simple As long turn away prospective members wont see kids open up clubs fields just might come few other observations successful aircraft new members regardless age ARF trainer 40-size engine four-channel control buddy-box buddy-box probably important part package Sadly enough still economy radios out cant accept ARF models seem work out very well fewer mistakes make during assembly instructors know trouble spots 40-size airplanes fly longer Electric hA models giving lots stick time flight Handlaunched planes discouraged because cant give takeoff training fit poorly traffic pattern busy fieldtoo much time standing around runway Buying used trainer almost always bad bargain time someone willing sell trainer engine combo airplane probably end its useful life parents Junior members make commitment hobby kids pick up flight skills unbelievably quickly kid gets field around four times month usually soloing few months have few new members have given flight instruction same year joined Im jealousit took lot longer know kids have something proud think club proud too Stephen Scotto 824 Bronx River Rd Bronxville NY 10708 s whats coming October Model Aviation RC Windsport Fred Ewing Tsunami CL Stunt model Windy U rtnowski Turbine America coverage Ellis/Usher How-Tos aileron servos Schnuerle engines Fred Lehmberg profile Joe Nail Fly-In coverage Jerry Smith September 1996 67