RCM&E Do I need new glasses?

[Bill Wood]

The March 2025 edition of RCM&E arrived through my letterbox a few days ago but I have only just picked it up today.  Starting as I usually do with the 'Welcome' page by Kevin Crozier I realised that I was struggling to read it.  The font seemed to have shrunk or could it be my specs?  I checked against the February edition and yes the font has shrunk so perhaps my eyesight has not suddenly got worse.  Maybe the reason is to force us to go for an electronic version where we can expand the font on screen. Is the printed magazine due to become extinct any time soon? I hope not.

[john stones 1 - Moderator]

Looks like Kevin had more to say, maybe a tad smaller to fit the alloted space ?

[Jonathan M]

There's no grand strategy to force us to do anything... just that they gave that job to some kid straight off a theory-heavy typography/graphics degree with perfect vision, stupid ideas and no idea how functional the past actually was.

[Engine Doctor]

Have you cintacted the BMFA  to let them know ? No good talking about it on here unless they know and can do something about it.

Same thing happens on our vilage website . When somthing needs the attention of the local authority or police the first action it seems is for many is to post on the websitecor on FB !

Do let BMFA know or give them a call you still grt a real llive person on their phones 

Edited February 20 by Engine Doctor

[Learner]

1 hour ago, Engine Doctor said:

Have you cintacted the BMFA  to let them know ? No good talking about it on here unless they know and can do something about it.

Same thing happens on our vilage website . When somthing needs the attention of the local authority or police the first action it seems is for many is to post on the websitecor on FB !

Do let BMFA know or give them a call you still grt a real llive person on their phones 

Didn't realise the Bmfa published Rcme.

[Martin Dilly 1]

1 hour ago, Engine Doctor said:

Have you cintacted the BMFA  to let them know ? No good talking about it on here unless they know and can do something about it.

Same thing happens on our vilage website . When somthing needs the attention of the local authority or police the first action it seems is for many is to post on the websitecor on FB !

Do let BMFA know or give them a call you still grt a real llive person on their phones 

 

[Martin Dilly 1]

 

1 hour ago, Engine Doctor said:

Have you cintacted the BMFA  to let them know ?

 

Do let BMFA know or give them a call you still grt a real llive person on their phones 

Not sure what the point of that would be. RCM&E has nothing to do with the BMFA, which has its own magazine, BMFA News.

 

Regarding font size, if you look at Aeromodeller magazines from the 1950s or '60s most of the text was in 10pt and is perfectly legible. A page from then was far more 'text dense' than most of today's mags are, with text now looking more like 12pt to me. Looks as if there's a lot of padding, trying to fill the pages when there's not actually a lot of interesting new material to do it with. As Jonathan M implies, leaving page design to some kid with a media studies degree and a 'style over content' mindset doesn't cut it when we have a magazine dealing with a technical subject.

[Jonathan M]

The same happened a few years ago with Yachting Monthly, i.e. exactly the sort of magazine read by middle-aged to older people!  Just when the internet had started to seriously maim magazine publishers, they decided to make them even harder to read!

[Engine Doctor]

Whoops had just been reading the BMFA mag and went onto auto pilot 😶 Note to self , must get out more and take the pills 😊.

[kevin b]

I wear prescription reading glasses and am having no difficulty reading the latest magazine.

Yes, some of the print is smaller but my specsaver prescription works fine.

As we get older none of our senses get any sharper, so I would suggest the answer to the question lies within my response.

I would also be concerned that if my close vision is deteriorating, then what of my distance sight ?

I often wonder how many of us kid ourselves about the quality of our eyesight.

As they say, pride comes before a fall.

I am all in favour of regular mandatory eye tests for all drivers over the age of 70 (my age group) and think that it might be a good idea for the BMFA to look into it as it could be another requirement by the CAA for model fliers. It could also potentially assist in reducing BMFA insurance cost.

Isn't there something similar already in place for full size aviation, or is that just medical checks ?

 

I have now put on my tin hat in readiness for any response.

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."     😉

 

Edited February 20 by kevin b

[john stones 1 - Moderator]

Mag is fine for me, and been Specsavers today for eye test, left my current glasses in shop, back tomorrow for memory test. 🥴

[i12fly]

2 hours ago, kevin b said:

I wear prescription reading glasses and am having no difficulty reading the latest magazine.

Yes, some of the print is smaller but my specsaver prescription works fine.

As we get older none of our senses get any sharper, so I would suggest the answer to the question lies within my response.

I would also be concerned that if my close vision is deteriorating, then what of my distance sight ?

I often wonder how many of us kid ourselves about the quality of our eyesight.

As they say, pride comes before a fall.

I am all in favour of regular mandatory eye tests for all drivers over the age of 70 (my age group) and think that it might be a good idea for the BMFA to look into it as it could be another requirement by the CAA for model fliers. It could also potentially assist in reducing BMFA insurance cost.

Isn't there something similar already in place for full size aviation, or is that just medical checks ?

 

I have now put on my tin hat in readiness for any response.

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."     😉

 

I have to disagree, one sense that does seem to improve with age is common sense.

The only problem with that is that everybody's common sense is often different......  😃

[leccyflyer]

It doesn't really help to have folks suggesting mandatory eye tests for model flyers, with the bogus benefit of potentially lower insurance costs. The costs are already extremely low and it just might be that some non-flyer might see that as a good idea to impose restrictions on model flyers.

[GrumpyGnome]

Please don't 

7 hours ago, leccyflyer said:

It doesn't really help to have folks suggesting mandatory eye tests for model flyers, with the bogus benefit of potentially lower insurance costs. The costs are already extremely low and it just might be that some non-flyer might see that as a good idea to impose restrictions on model flyers.

100% agree.

 

That'd just be another perceived barrier, and extra cost. Never, in a million years, would that even lead to a momentary thought of insurers lowering their costs.... 

[Futura57]

7 hours ago, leccyflyer said:

It doesn't really help to have folks suggesting mandatory eye tests for model flyers, with the bogus benefit of potentially lower insurance costs. The costs are already extremely low and it just might be that some non-flyer might see that as a good idea to impose restrictions on model flyers.

My thoughts exactly. Feet and shooting comes to mind.

 

Perhaps we should complete a mandatory psych eval prior to every flight too. No thanks 🤪

 

How about we have to wear a covid style face mask as well.

 

Oh, don't forget to qualify for extra cheap insurance by switching off your phone or putting it in a Faraday cage wallet prior to switching on your tx.

 

Clean underpants prior to a maiden should be a mandatory requirement though.

 

But now I'm being silly, and I digress from the topic. Now where are my pills and morning coffee. 😱

 

Ps the site is dog slow this morning 

Edited February 21 by Futura57

[John Lee]

13 hours ago, kevin b said:

 

Isn't there something similar already in place for full size aviation, or is that just medical checks ?

 

 

No there is not.

 

Since 2016 recreational pilots need only self declare that they meet the standards for a car driving licence, known as a Pilots Medical Declaration or PMD. An initial PMD is required that is valid up to the age of 70, thereafter you need to re-declare every 3 years. There are no tests. The move away from regular testing has been very successful and has not led to any material increased risk. The PMD system is presently under review which should further simplify and clarify the application process.

 

To suggest more restrictions for model flyers when the CAA is moving in the opposite direction for full size flying is shameful in my opinion.

[RedBaron]

Not only is the text smaller, they are still printing small black text on dark coloured backgrounds!! See Page 35.

This does not add readability or have any artistic benefit. it has been known for centuries that the maximum contrast is best (ie black on white of a sensible size)

The only purpose of magazines, newspapers etc is to be comfortably read

Look at magazines from the 70s through early 2010 for readability.

Perhaps the graphic artists or whatever are not taught that the customer wants to read it. The only purpose of the layout/design people is to allow the story to reach the customer in the clearest possible way,. Anything else is deliberate, purposeful obscuration.

 

 

[Cuban8]

Eye testing for ALL drivers of any age, say every five years, seems to me to be an idea worth considering.

Younger people are not immune from eye problems that affect vision, and even plain old short sightedness and astigmatism is known to creep up on people at any time. 

In our forties, most of us develop presbyopia and need reading/TV/computer glasses and hence go to the optician to fix it where we're also tested for other conditions and sight problems that might not have been previously noticed. Cataracts being the common problem for us oldies or younger folks on certain medications.

Mixing model flying in to all this is over the top. We all need to ensure that we can make our flights safely and good vision in order to safely operate a model goes without saying. 

Several of my flying buddies have noticed problems with their eyes when flying that have not necessarily been that problematic when doing other activities. I think we're pretty sensible, so as has been said, I really think we've enough regs to go on with for the time being.

 

Three weeks ago my wife noticed a sudden change to her vision in one eye. She booked  a next day urgent optician exam which revealed a tear in her retina! Described to us as like a bit of torn wallpaper in the corner of a wall. 

The Specsavers optician phoned the local hospital ophthalmology department while we waited, and an appointment was arranged there and then to see an ophthalmic surgeon that very afternoon...........by 1500 she'd been examined and had Argon laser treatment to 'spot weld' around the damage to prevent any further deterioration.

A follow up last week showed that the damage has been stemmed and was scarring over correctly as it should. She still has the floaters in her vision that rang the alarm bells originally but these will  be reabsorbed naturally over the next few months. Her sight is otherwise unaffected.

A lot of negative NHS stories around - thought I share a good and positive one with you.

BTW.....never ignore any sudden change in your vision, either model flying, reading or driving (especially at night) - get it checked pronto.

 

[kevin b]

More, or less the response I expected really.

Some really good positive comments as well though.

Going back to the beginning I ask the question, If you cannot read small black print on a white background that is less than 600mm away (or black print against a shaded / coloured background) what chance have you of controlling a small aircraft travelling at 40kph approximately 200m away, particularly if it is below the skyline ?

Many of us wear glasses, both for close and distance vision. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are currently fit for purpose.

[GrumpyGnome]

Exactly. It is OUR responsibility, and it should stay that way... 🙂

[Don Fry]

I agree with Kevin’s sentiments.
My life has revolved round shooting, and building / flying model aircraft. The sight discipline needed is similar, an ability to lock onto what you are looking at. Difficult to describe, but concentrate on what you see, not what you hope to see. And I know it makes your brain ache level of concentration. I know my eyes. 
As I got older, I increasingly got from opticians, when they have nowhere near optimised my vision, from my simple statement,” I can see better than that”, to “you have good vision for your age”. The more curious find I am right. Less curious  get a politely exited chair.

I believe this skill is common on this forum, the feeling of reaching across space to the model, locking on. Back your feeling, a letter on a board is just a target. 
Last time out, after the second cataract operation, a nice young lady, bribed by marmalade, was happy to be patient (very good marmalade), parting remark “ your eyesight is better than mine”.

Do not do the “I’m old” option. Healthy eyes see well. 
 

small aside, I used to be the Secretary of Torfaen Rifle Club. Premier league standard Club. One of our members was an optician. We all went to him for eye stuff. His “Saturday boy” was a professor at Cardiff uni, keeping his hand in at my mates shop. He used to use us as guinea pigs in departmental reasearch. Reason, we could describe what we saw.

 

 

[Zflyer]

I manage ok and i have lost most of my vision in my right eye due to a knock on the head and high blood pressure. It could have been saved, or at least not so severe if my Doctors had reacted to the letter sent from the opticians, which I handed in. Took three weeks to reply by which time I had visited the eye hospital. Oh well at least I have the all clear to drive and have flown about three times since the condition and have made the appropriate adjustments.

But the mag is ok, its the occasional colour combination which can be an issue. (Noted here on earlier thread)

[john stones 1 - Moderator]

We've gone off on a tangent then, many of us require glasses as we age, dunno about your Optician but mine always asks "Do you drive" and they're the ones who'll know if you're fit for purpose, depends on you being honest though.

 

Right eye a tad foggy when I read of late, early stages of a cataract, not bad enough to require surgery though, distance I'm fine so I shall holds books further away for now. 😊

[Richard Ashworth]

When you fly model planes isn’t it easy. When you spend more time looking for lost planes and doing repairs it’s time for a visit to an optician.

They may get bad press but Specsavers got me referred for cataracts early on (pre restarting the hobby) and I have not in 30 years had a problem with new glasses (varifocal).

[Cuban8]

1 hour ago, Richard Ashworth said:

When you fly model planes isn’t it easy. When you spend more time looking for lost planes and doing repairs it’s time for a visit to an optician.

They may get bad press but Specsavers got me referred for cataracts early on (pre restarting the hobby) and I have not in 30 years had a problem with new glasses (varifocal).

I had to Google 'bad press for Specsavers' because over the last fifteen years, we've used them exclusively and find them perfectly satisfactory. Comments from that Google search I made  are rubbish, as is a lot of what is knocking around on the web regarding all sorts of stuff. You can find any opinion that you want to find to suit yourself TBH.

Having had glasses since 17 I've had some pretty indifferent service from some of the old style and expensive opticians over the years - bigger chains have shaken up the market and given the others a run for their money and made them raise their game in a lot of cases.

I would agree that when they first appeared, the new chains of opticians could be a bit enthusiatic on the selling side, but my experience now that they are established on our high streets is one of zero pressure in terms of sales - and as I buy my glasses on-line, just asking for the prescription has never been a problem - why should it be?

The competition from on-line has created competition, and the range of glasses that most opticians carry now include much more pocket friendly options on both frames and lenses, so unless one is particularly fashion or brand conscious it doesn't need to be particularly expensive as it once was.

 

I haven't bought a proper print magazine of any type for ages (the weekly Motorcycle News, now and again doesn't count) so I can't comment on whether print size is being messed around with. Maybe 'shrinkflation' is at work in a few cases........smaller print, so fewer pages hence lower cost etc. So much less in the way of magazine choice in the shops anyway. Supermarket mag stands all seem very bare lately I notice, and I seem to recall hearing that WHS is struggling somewhat lately.

Change of demographic in the market maybe? My younger family members never buy a newspaper or magazine.

Edited February 22 by Cuban8