Re: Beginner events and why they're hard for beginners

From: Bob Clemens <rclemens2_at_rochester.rr.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2012 12:35:46 -0400

For what it’s worth, I believe for a beginner competition event to be viable there needs to be a category that experienced indoor fliers cannot enter and whose model specifications will not daunt the beginner, for instance an EZB size model using A6 rules. Such a model would fly at least several minutes even when built by a newcomer. IMO even a basic Penny Plane is too complex a leap for someone who’s never built an indoor model before.

Also we need more public exposure via flight demos at schools, scout troops, and science fairs with handouts to pass out to spectators and leaders. Just about no one in the general population has ever even heard of, much less seen in action, a rubber-powered model plane designed for indoor flying. Perhaps starting and mentoring a model club or model building class in a local grade or high school would work to some extent. Has anyone ever tried a flight demo between halves of a school basketball game using robust models that could successfully ride the turbulence?

Even with the above, expect interest and awe but few recruits.


Bob Clemens
Received on Sun Sep 09 2012 - 09:36:32 CEST