The SO opportunity was never to be the be-all to end-all in growing indoor freeflight (or freeflight in general). It was originally intended as a way to possibly gain some new indoor flying sites through old fashioned bartering.
Very few connections are made between SO airplanes and AMA indoor. As I have stated before, I can't imagine what kid knows where to look to see a contest schedule and why they would show up for only one event (why another, P-18 makes sense). We have a better chances to see them fly if there are two events.
The expectation was that possibly in the future when they have stable lifestyles and disposable incomes that they may venture back to see if indoor still exists.
We do have a bit of "secret society" reputation. It wasn't until I was 30 yrs old did a hobby shop owner happen to suggest that there were people flying indoor models in Bryn Athyn, PA. My bet is that now with so few hobby shops, those that are left are completely clueless that indoor freeflight happens.
Bob is right in that we need to be more proactive as a flying community to get ourselves in the limelight. There is no silver bullet on this. If you have a club, press releases do work. As a non-profit, a club can even get their contests advertised in the paper (who reads those anymore?). Organize an indoor air show, etc, etc.
Could it simply be that when we talk about indoor to civilians, that they simply look at us like we are crazy and we just quit talking about it?
Tom
Received on Sun Jun 19 2016 - 05:50:29 CEST
This archive was generated by Yannick on Sat Dec 14 2019 - 19:13:48 CET