this hobby needs more young blood

[The Wright Stuff]

We need to be careful about comparing age distributions in the hobby over the years, because the definitions have been blurred by the advent of RTF technology.

20 or 30 years ago, it was relatively clear cut. To be an aeromodeller one pretty much had to build a trainer from a kit (there might be pre-assembled foam wings if you were posh) and then learn to fly it down at the club field. Easy to count.

Now, I absolutely agree that if that is still the metric, then the numbers will have fallen dramatically. But there are a heck of a lot more young people who fly small parkfliers, out of the club environment, who go uncounted. If you take this to the extreme and include anyone who has ever bought and flown a £10 toy helicopter, then you would have concluded that the numbers have skyrocketed.

So if you want to quantify how many young people are coming into the hobby. You first have to define what 'the hobby' is. My suspicion is that there are plenty of interested young people, they just do not tend to join clubs. While the clubs are predominently old people, it's kind of a self-fulfilling prophesy. The best way to 'capture' this potential interest into the club environment would probably be initiatives to forge better links between flying clubs and schools, colleges, and scout groups. Easier said than done, I'm sure.

[Tim C]

There is plenty of 'new blood' entering the hobby, not 'young blood' its the over 50's that have the time (and cash) to enjoy the hobby, lack of youngsters is no barrier to growth as we have a growing ageing population.

From where I sit, I have a club which is growing year on year with membership now well over 100, the club had access to a dedicated Electric Only flat field on a PAYG basis, access to two other Council sports fields with flying rights, ready access to Cliff and hill Slope sites, dedicated rights to a Lake for Water Flying and if your IC you have can access a Non club site for a tenner a year, concrete runways as well!. Indoor is catered for in a local Sport Hall in the winter on a PAYG basis, club meetings at least monthly in a local pub, all this for Club dues of £15 a year.

I think some people loose site of the fact that these are members clubs that exist for the benefit of the members not for the wider public, working with children legislation has effectively excluded youngsters, and while there is an open access policy to the club, the reality is that its geared towards the older generation, with members getting out of it only what they put in, and very successfully at that

[Cuban8]

Posted by The Wright Stuff on 19/06/2015 10:23:02:

Now, I absolutely agree that if that is still the metric, then the numbers will have fallen dramatically. But there are a heck of a lot more young people who fly small parkfliers, out of the club environment, who go uncounted. If you take this to the extreme and include anyone who has ever bought and flown a £10 toy helicopter, then you would have concluded that the numbers have skyrocketed.

I often wonder where all these 'independent' flyers are. We live close to several large public parks and hundreds, possibly thousands of acres of other open space. I have only ever seen one person flying a multirotor in some fields, presumably close to where he lived, and apart from the odd kite here and there that's about it.

[john stones 1 - Moderator]

Youngsters do enjoy it when they have a go, and club/bmfa costs are not that big a deal, the start up kit is a bit off a put off but getting to the field means tying a parent up after school or at weekends, that for me is the biggest problem youngsters have.

John

[Dave Bran]

Posted by Tim @ ModelMarkings.com on 19/06/2015 10:57:36:

working with children legislation has effectively excluded youngsters

That is just plain wrong, it's the direct effect of the "wringing hands" brigade at work, the same ones who use H&S as an excuse for inaction, only too ready to "give up", when the reality could be so different.

Its not difficult to develop a Safeguarding Policy, nor to get people through DBS (formerly CRB). It's the WILL thats lacking, don't blame the legislation.

**LINK**

[ben goodfellow 1]

when i was a youngun i was left with some right queer people. the were all spot on though, it would be frowned upon now i bet

[Dave Bran]

Posted by The Wright Stuff on 19/06/2015 10:23:02

The best way to 'capture' this potential interest into the club environment would probably be initiatives to forge better links between flying clubs and schools, colleges, and scout groups. Easier said than done, I'm sure.

No, not really given the enthusiasm to do it from within the club/pilots. I broke that barrier as an individual in 2007, still there, and have kept numbers of kids interested and engaged from 11 through to "adult" upper 6th.

Problem is, you have clubs that recoil at the very thought of meeting the requirements, through to the sad clubs that (as one example of the thinking) demand a sit down interview with several Committee that'll take many months to arrange before graciously allowing you to join. How's an interested 13 year old going to act when faced with that??

Edited By Dave Bran on 19/06/2015 11:56:14

[Owdlad]

I'm rather suprised no one has picked up on my previous post.

I think there's an element of blaming everything and everybody when we should first of all look at ourselves.

The most obvious new blood comes from the son/daughter of the modeling enthusiast.

All encouragement should start with the parent /modeler with their primary objective to pass on and encourage the youngster in learning how to build & fly.

Yes unfortunately your planned projects are put on hold while you do this.

On the plus side the joy in spending time encouraging your off-spring to achieve success in learning to build & fly and to become proficient far outweighs the feeling of your modeling taking the back seat & bieng put on hold.

Selflessness by the modeler is the key element to atracting and sustaining new blood to this wondrous Hobby

Owdlad 

Edited By Owdlad on 19/06/2015 12:12:50

[john stones 1 - Moderator]

Posted by Owdlad on 19/06/2015 12:11:38:

I'm rather suprised no one has picked up on my previous post.

I think there's an element of blaming everything and everybody when we should first of all look at ourselves.

The most obvious new blood comes from the son/daughter of the modeling enthusiast.

All encouragement should start with the parent /modeler with their primary objective to pass on and encourage the youngster in learning how to build & fly.

Yes unfortunately your planned projects are put on hold while you do this.

On the plus side the joy in spending time encouraging your off-spring to achieve success in learning to build & fly and to become proficient far outweighs the feeling of your modeling taking the back seat & bieng put on hold.

Selflessness by the modeler is the key element to atracting and sustaining new blood to this wondrous Hobby

Owdlad

Edited By Owdlad on 19/06/2015 12:12:50

I noted it Owdlad, my 3 lads prefer to fish play golf or work nonstop, kids today eh

John

[Craig Carr]

Posted by john melia 1 on 18/06/2015 22:08:30:

Over the past year and a bit i have been a member of four different clubs , and each one seems to be the same , ie , turn up at the field and more times than not its old timers setting up deck chairs and wind breaks , bringing a model that rarely sees any airtime , while they congregate and basically moan , about club politics , and shake their heads at anyone who can fly more than a flat circuit.

No wonder the young ones steer clear , and no wonder a lot of clubs are struggling to keep/find members .

Posted by ben goodfellow 1 on 19/06/2015 08:46:46:

john you really need to join our club CADMAC great bunch , it will renew your passion ,,,,,100%

Ben, im sure John is already a member of CADMAC.

[ben goodfellow 1]

is he ....are you john ?

[ben goodfellow 1]

is he ....are you john ?

[john melia 1]

no i'm not ben !! dont know what made craig say that

[ben goodfellow 1]

Posted by Craig Carr on 19/06/2015 12:46:0

Ben, im sure John is already a member of CADMAC.

didnt think he was.....

[Andy Symons - BMFA]

Posted by ted hughes on 19/06/2015 10:21:18:

I think it is the cost.

£70 or so to join a club to start a hobby you may not keep up is a lot of money.

For the same money you can buy a RTF foamie and try out the hobby in a park.

Most people fail, because rc flying is not as simple as it looks.

BMFA insurance. Don't get me started! The chance of being injured by a model plane in this country is considerably less than the chance of being injured in a tsunami or earthquake, and that chance is zero. They can offer £2million indemnity because the chance of collecting it is zero.

I fly outside a town, not in a club, with a 2.4 radio and take all proper precaution and fly a drone weighing less than 1.5 kgs with FPV.

If I lose control and become in legal conflict with someone, they have to prove I have not taken reasonable precautions to fly my plane safely-which is impossible because I have taken all reasonable precautions with regard to my hobby.

The cost of joining a club varies, I am aware of some where the subs are as little as £10 for seniors. There are also clubs where its free for juniors.

Facts do not support your agrument that the chance of being injured by a model aircraft is zero. I find that statement incredible and it should, perhaps, be withdrawn. People have been injured by model aircraft therefore the chance is not zero. There are 20 - 30 claims a year on the BMFA insurance. Thankfully most is damage to property.

Edited By Andy Symons - BMFA on 19/06/2015 15:29:56

[Martyn K]

Our club offers free membership to Juniors. We also offer tuition if required. However, it would be nice if the BMFA offered a (nominal) low cost 1st year membership incentive for Junior members - say £5.00. I can't imagine that would actually cost very much - the hobby is not flooded with Juniors but it may be one less barrier for a Junior to climb over to get started

Martyn

[GrahamWh]

I have an 11 year old son who sometimes comes to our club with me (no junior membership charge and the £18 junior BMFA is reasonable). What he finds boring is any time he is not actually flying. The problem being that there is no one else there of the same age group for him to talk with. Kids attract kids I reckon. In reality we all spend more time standing around and chatting then we do flying and he's just not into that with people several decades older than himself. I wouldn't have been when I was 11.

Also he doesn't like the noise of nitro engines and for a youngster who still has proper healthy hearing that is a concern - they are horribly noisy, demented, screaming mad things. (though I prefer them to electric myself). He still wants a four stroke in the biplane we are building of course, lets not get carried away! I expect he will have a go at glider flying in a few years (full size) but I'm not sure he'll stay in modelling. When I was a lad modelling was it, unless you stuck at the ATC long enough to fly, but other experiences are easier to get at these days I think.

I don't think this hobby will be around in 50 years. I think flying stuff will be mass produced computer controlled plastic things needing very little actual flying skill or building skills. Kids wanting to try flying stuff will just get a disposable quad~droney thing.

Edited By GrahamWh on 19/06/2015 16:14:34

[Dave Hopkin]

Posted by ted hughes on 19/06/2015 10:21:18:

BMFA insurance. Don't get me started! The chance of being injured by a model plane in this country is considerably less than the chance of being injured in a tsunami or earthquake, and that chance is zero. They can offer £2million indemnity because the chance of collecting it is zero.

I fly outside a town, not in a club, with a 2.4 radio and take all proper precaution and fly a drone weighing less than 1.5 kgs with FPV.

If I lose control and become in legal conflict with someone, they have to prove I have not taken reasonable precautions to fly my plane safely-which is impossible because I have taken all reasonable precautions with regard to my hobby.

Proof that you didn't take "all reasonable precautions" would render you liable to prosecution under the Air Navigation Order - no matter how many precautions you take has no bearing whatsoever on your liability for damage which would be a civil court matter - so I hope you have a very very very fat wallet because I have insurance because I cant afford to pay out tens of thousands should I be unfortunate to have an accident where a third party was involved

[john stones 1 - Moderator]

Noisy horrible, demented screaming mad things you've met my lads then

Young people will learn new skills at work and they'll get bored and have money to spend, so they'll take up hobbies like ours, then they'll get old and moan same as we did, aye when I wor a lad.

John

[Dave Hopkin]

Posted by john stones 1 on 19/06/2015 16:30:06:

Noisy horrible, demented screaming mad things you've met my lads then

Young people will learn new skills at work and they'll get bored and have money to spend, so they'll take up hobbies like ours, then they'll get old and moan same as we did, aye when I wor a lad.

John

Plus its pretty natural the lads kinda get distracted from all hobbies after about 16 when that "girl chasing" thing kicks in

[Fatscoleymo]

I remember this same discussion going on in my UK club 10-12 years ago, and 10 years before that, and 10 years before that. Club is still thriving.

We have a handful of youngsters in the club here in France, but I have noticed that they seem to be very active for a while (maybe a year or 2) and then seem to dissapear. As has been suggested I think other things become more important. Hopefully they will return to the club environment later. That's what I did, probably many others as well.

The introduction of 2.4gz and off the shelf planes has meant that the old way of having to build your own aircraft and fly at the club ( to avoid being shot down) no longer is necessary. I now fly an electric foamy from a field nx to my house, thats something I would have not been able to do a few years ago. Maybe there are youngsters just doing there own thing out there.

When I 1st started RC flying about 40 years ago, I was in my early 20's, and I thought then that the majority of the members were 'old timers' ! Maybe it's always been that way.

Just my twopenneth.

Fats

[Craig Carr]

Posted by john melia 1 on 19/06/2015 14:59:10:

no i'm not ben !! dont know what made craig say that

 

Sorry John, my mistake, I thought I had seen a post by you saying you had joined, but when Ive found it again it said you were going to join

On this thread here

 

Edited By Craig Carr on 19/06/2015 17:29:14

[..]

The hobby needs more young blood ? Yes I agree But due to the expense of equipment , transportation issues etc the hobby doesn't really offer the ease of access that other hobbies such as fishing do.

Last weekend our club held an open morning for the local scouts and it went very well , a session on a sim followed up by some buddy box flights seemed to go down a treat with the boys.

My own son who is four and a half loves a go on the sim and loves to help with the planes , I'm not sure if he will continue this fascination but I hope he does. In his case access to the hobby will be easy but for other kids it's going to be really tough without a family member or friend to help them.

[GONZO]

This issue of cost and expense is a complete red herring. Its dirt cheap now days, the RC gear is as 'cheap as chips', compared to the 60's, 70's and 80's. I use the comparison of wages then to now as it gives the amount you had to work to obtain something, Therefore, how expensive it felt to buy things. Example; my second trainer, a Galaxy Models Escort, cost £12 plus a bit in the late 70's. That would be £80 - £90 now, plus you had to build it and buy the covering. You can buy an ARTF trainer now for the same. RC gear was even more expensive proportionately and the majority of modellers only had one set up which moved from plane to plane, if they had more than one. I remember in the early 80's when you were first able to buy a servo for £10 (then money). It was a Futaba standard size 33M I think(about the size of a 3001 but without the bb o/p). That equates to £45 - £50 in todays money. My first engine, bought in 1960, a Frog 349 RC water cooled motor cost £4-19s-6d and it took me nearly 18 months to get by saving most of my pocket money along with birthday and christmas money. That cost today would equate to more than £200. It was an expensive hobby in the past, more so the further back you go (who remembers having to buy a licence for RC). There are many more examples that can be given. But, take my word for it as some one who has been involved since before the start of RCM&E, it is cheaper now in all respects than it has ever been.

[Stevo]

Some great points on here.

However I'll approach this from an engineering perspective. Who wants to make one, shape all that balsa, spend hours in a workshop, use glue and solvents, pore over plans every night, when you can go and buy one ready built.

As you know me on here, that's not my perspective. Engineering has always had a dirty name .. Unfortunately in this age of buy 'n' fly it's a dying art... sad. The art of scale building is in real danger I'm afraid!