RE: Re: The Problems with Indoor FF

From: John Barker <john.barker783_at_ntlworld.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 18:57:36 +0100

Thank you for the tolerant replies to my earlier posting. They make me
think a few further words may be useful.

First, although no one has mentioned this, please don’t think of me as a
Limey telling the Americans how to run their indoor flying. To me the
Indoor List is International and in this country we have the same question
of where Free Flight is going, and as far as I can see the decline in
participation is a world wide problem.

At no time have I talked of ‘throwing in the towel’. On the contrary, I do
think it is necessary to make changes but primarily for the benefit of the
existing body of Indoor flyers. It would be nice to attract newcomers but
to my mind it is more important to look after the people we have.

I served on our Ruling Body a few years ago and saw at first hand something
of the time and money that went into attracting newcomers. I think I am
right in saying that the number of ‘Delta Dart’ kits produced went into the
hundreds of thousands, many schools used them, the children enjoyed doing
the projects, but that is what they were – projects. When the project was
finished it was finished. What are we doing next term Miss – is it pond
life? I have never known anyone who knows of any aeromodeller who took up
the hobby from handling a ‘Delta Dart’.

What to do for the present flyers I don’t know but perhaps some of the
following will raise some thoughts;
Prune the classes, particularly the beginners models that never have been.
Introduce a new class each year and get rid of it in two years. (These need
some novelty aspect like tailless or two motor sticks. The first year is a
feast of experimentation, the second year the experts might be getting on
top but then you all start again. Great Fun)
Think in terms of flying in smaller sites which are more readily available.
Consider if some area centralized competition could be arranged (Competitors
fly at their nearest venue all on the same day and post results. We do this
with outdoor FF but I do realize the problem of ceiling heights.)
Would there be any interest in flying competitions with part motors and
ballast rods so that more competitions could be flown on the same day.

John Barker - England
Received on Sat Jun 06 2009 - 10:58:00 CEST