Former Member Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Posted by Andy Symons - BMFA on 19/06/2015 15:29:31: 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. And I am the treasurer of a club that does both. £10 for new senior (over 18) members and free for the under-18s. Renewing seniors even get a £3 discount. I don't buy in to the 'doom and gloom' scenarios portrayed by some. It's always been a hobby where people come and go as different priorities take over their lives. We do have a small number of junior members, often - though not all - children or grandchildren of other members. As a proportion of the club it is very small though. New members come from a broad spectrum of ages and experience. Many are former fliers who now, whether in their late-30's, 40's, 50's or 60's and beyond, have a bit more time on their hands to get back into flying again. Others - in similar age ranges - find they now have time to take up for the first time a hobby that they've been considering for a while. In my own case I flew as a teenager - c/l at first then r/c. Then along came university, getting a job, getting married etc. etc. and I was in my 30s before I returned to the hobby. Sure, the types of models we fly will change a bit with time, but not as much as some may think. After all, people still fly free-flight and control-line models... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hopkin Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 I'm going to look at this from a different angle... Given that there are a huge number of RTF/ARTF/PNP/BNF/XYZ coming out of China, there must be a good and vibrant market for them all - so, to me that means there are lots of people buying them, yes a (probably) large percentage will but one RFT crash is and throw it away, but the remainder must be flying them somewhere, I dont thing the numbers of BMFA members has seen a commensurate increase so they are not joining (affiliated) clubs - so do we have a pool of flyers outside the club scene? If that is the case how does the club scene engage with them? the traditional route - the Local Model Shop is a fast vanishing asset in the cities as more and more purchasing goes on line To me thats the question clubs and the BMFA have to address and answer for the club organisation of the hobby to thrive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Goule Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Our club has quite a few "youngsters" and like graham has said we attract more youngsters as there are more and more joining every month and most of them seem to be quite promising pilots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Here's another angle. I have not used Facebook at all really, but, targetted with teaching Social media for business I thought I'd better. I 'friended' some old flyers who I knew a few years back - not the Sunday lot but dedicated guys into scale building, B certificate men or instructors. I won't name them. They had all left the hobby! No one was more suprised than I. Like any other hobby we can drift in and out, mine in the 80s and 90s was being a drummer, but financially it was not viable and tours of Europe beckoned, not great for a then married father of two on a salary! Hence Aeromodelling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 I think I've changed my mind on this - what the hobby needs is not necessarily more young blood (it isn't a volcano in the rain forest of Central America) - it's just new blood, irrespective of age. The largest area of "new" modellers in my experience has been middle aged guys returning to the hobby, often with families, having departed from the hobby after variable levels of success when they were younger. With success virtually guaranteed by advances in modelling technology, those folks who might have dabbled and then dropped out are going to be a continued source of new modellers. Once they are in the hobby it's going to be much easier to get them to broaden their horizons and try new things. many of those new things will be the "old" things so enamoured of traditional aeromodellers, including building from kits, plans and scratch. The introduction to the hobby, with models that are practically guaranteed to work properly, is several orders of magnitudes easier than it was thirty years ago, where many folks first experiences were 10 seconds of flight, followed by a bag of bits, after a couple of months putting those bits together in the first place. Those days are gone - thankfully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Well I disagree with the last paragraph... That's a typical cycle - for me !!! Seriously yes you are right Leccy, broadening of horizons is now so wide with the advent of modern electronics (Gyros, accelerometers... Motor control , cameras etc. etc), our new club members are all of that 'middle' age.It has so much to offer, although my interest is quite limited to glow powered scale looking stuff. Getting anyone into the hobby is a bonus and one I will strive towards. Or do they hit middle age and decide that they need to get away from SWMBO and build a workshop for that purpose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott cuppello Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 What the "baby boomer" generation have in common with their now middle-aged offspring is growing up in a post war/cold war 20th century when aviation was the fastest developing technology, we were brought up on a national pride of the achievements of our aero industry & our airforce and a staple of war movies on Sunday afternoons.....but that is mere nostalgia......fast forward to the 21st century. What would I expect a youngster to identify with, my 1/4 scale Tiger Moth or my 250 FPV Racers?....not a difficult one to answer really. Given some of the hostility I have recieved (and that is a middle aged bloke talking) for the latter from the some of the older modellers.....I'm getting down with the kids.....because it's a hobby and I just want to have fun......if that fun is held at an indoor meet or in local woodland......so be it. Some traditional clubs won't benefit from the fast growing new scenes (although some of the more progressive clubs are in on the act......good for them) and therefore the new blood that goes with it, not without a big shift in attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Down here in Bodmin, an Air scouts group has been set up over the last 14 months. They are based at Cardinham Airfield and are in the process of building a scout hut......but I digress Our club have invited the Airscouts to our flying field. Now, wether that will entice a few to join or their parents, I have no idea. But it might put a seed of interest in their heads, in a few years or longer it may germinate and flower. Until then that's all we can do for the next generation. What I'm trying to say, after rambling , is that keep pressing on. Think of novel freash ideas. If nothing comes of them, so be it. Sooner or later new faces will join. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erfolg Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 The hey day of aeromodelling was for many before the days of RC. Others have made the most important points, televisions for those who had one was initially a single channel, then just the two, often not broadcasting the full day. Toys few and far between and expensive. Aviation was still one of the last frontiers, not available to all. Yet airfix plastic kits were cheaper in real terms than today and the balsa kits were just financially accessible for a 12-30 inch model. Contrast the post war years with today, totally different. Not least access to places to actually fly a FF model. RC models are far more accessible to all ages, yet put into context, they are just another toy amongst many others. Will there still be RC aeromdolling in 50 years, possibly not. Part of our trouble is the sudden upsurge in housing developments, every where in England around the large conurbations. The spare land such as derelict airfields are now worth in one case £100 million, before the first house and factory unit has been built on it. Many RC clubs are now on the fringes, and even there, many have their futures threatened, now or tomorrow. It seems there is a price to pay when the population increases from 50 to +62 million. On this basis it is not just the lack of youths, or older people entering aeromodelling, it will increasingly be places to fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eflightray Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 A few years back, (probably about 8 to 10 years), I found I needed to reduce the number of models I had with no gear in. I contacted the local ATC, (Air Training Cadets), and ask do they want them, free. The reply was no thanks, as they don't do model aircraft. A very long time ago, back when I was at school, we actually had a model plane club, and even built models during a craft period, flew control line in the play ground, and free flight at the rugby field. I fly RC not far from a senior school, and can probably be seen from the upper windows, maybe even heard from the play ground. Not once in the past 8 years of flying there has anyone from the school ever shown any interest. It would seem now that unless a 'hobby' can involve a smart phone, many youngsters just wouldn't be interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott cuppello Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 My local club tried the ATC....unsurprisingly (for me) they were not interested......as I said, youngsters simply do not relate to aviation in the way we did. I worked for a decade with youngsters in Motor Sport and there is plenty of interest and plenty of good kids, same can be said right not for plenty of hobbies and sports (so no point blaming smart phones and computer games).......the point is that none of these have the image issues that aermodelling has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott cuppello Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Sorry for the nonsense....distracted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 ATC spoke to us at our last local display about us putting something together for them, best chance/time is probably our open weekend as there's more for them to see and do. It's no problem if non take it up as a hobby as long as they enjoy the day. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Symons - BMFA Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Hopefully you have all read about the "flying for all" initiative in the Yorkshire Coast Model Flyers club profile in the last edition of BMFA News. an excellent initiative that has been very successful. Find out more at **LINK** Edited By Andy Symons - BMFA on 21/06/2015 20:25:32 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john melia 1 Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 what i have noticed from the young uns that happen to pass when i am flying with a few others , is the fact they are all attracted to the fast moving , aerobatic/3d models , they just do not seem to be interested in gliders , warbirds, or high wing flying shoe boxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott cuppello Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Posted by Andy Symons - BMFA on 21/06/2015 20:09:25: Hopefully you have all read about the "flying for all" initiative in the Yorkshire Coast Model Flyers club profile in the last edition of BMFA News. an excellent initiative that has been very successful. Find out more at **LINK** Edited By Andy Symons - BMFA on 21/06/2015 20:25:32 That link has had 66 views!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Symons - BMFA Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Not sure what your point is Scott.Simply posted it to show that not all ATC groups are disinterested and that clubs can encourage youngsters if they have a few volunteers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The real Ron Truth Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 For me the problem lies mostly with some clubs attitudes to kids in general. Like many who have kids, i always got a lot of comments about bringing my son to the club even though he was supervised at all times. Partly its older members simply not wanting kids anywhere near them and partly jealousy at seeing them pick up the hobby and be quite good at it . A change of clubs saw a totally different attitude and now my son comes with me and even socialises with the other members. They enjoy his commentary and lambasting of my flying. Some suggestions based on what i see at other clubs in the UK and europe. - Have family days or hours where you are encouraged to bring a kid/ family along. Designate a play area. - Give ALL kids under 16 free membership ( most clubs run at a health surplus anyway) - Run regular open or fun days with kids entertainment . A empty and clean old caravan is ideal. Maybe have a series of Dads and Lads events to help. - if a club is flush with funds doing nothing, buy and use some kid friendly drones or similar. Whoever in the BMFA though kids want to bugger about with crappy chuck gliders is beyond me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Posted by Andy Symons - BMFA on 21/06/2015 20:09:25: Hopefully you have all read about the "flying for all" initiative in the Yorkshire Coast Model Flyers club profile in the last edition of BMFA News. an excellent initiative that has been very successful. Find out more at **LINK** Edited By Andy Symons - BMFA on 21/06/2015 20:25:32 Good effort, although the Luftwaffe March music (?) and John Prescott look-alike presenter made me laugh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Symons - BMFA Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Isnt it the Battle of Britain March?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Posted by Andy Symons - BMFA on 22/06/2015 07:31:53: Isnt it the Battle of Britain March?? Nope............**LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouncebounce crunch Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 How are lawn bowls clubs getting juniors? what about golf or tennis? they seem to get juniors interested somehow, even with modern technology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Fledermaus Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 I'm wondering if part of the problem is that youngsters don't have either the interest or the skills to build or make anything and they're probably not aware that there is such a thing as ARTF. I think it's a shame that subjects involving practical skills are not taught in schools these days. That's not to point the finger at teachers, but I guess the syllabus moves on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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