Weight Limit problem long

[Bill Glaze]

Cost? Interesting to contemplate.  When I started in competition, (not called
pattern at that time) the best radio you could buy was $150, the materials to
build a competitive airplane were $15 or less, servos were ~ $15 each, (4 req.)
and the engine that everyone used was $14.95 NIB from your friendly dealer.
However, I was making less than $10,000 per year.  (and living very well,
thanks.)
It's my belief that folks are either interested in competing in a hobby activity,
or they aren't interested.  Many feel that their work is competitive enough to
match their overall lifestyle; they feel they don't need it in their hobby.  I
also feel that you need to know someone as more than just a casual acquaintance
before you find out the real reason they aren't competing.  If you can get past
their own personal fence, then maybe--just maybe--you can get them interested.
And then again, maybe not.
After all, it's a huge hobby.

Bill Glaze

John Gausby wrote:

> I have to agree with Anthony on this one. I don't think cost is the major
> stopping point for the newcomer.
>
> >From what i see...It's the fear of competition thing. The fear of experts
> judging your flying. That FIRST contest often softens that fear , but getting
> a newbie to try that first contest is a big hurdle.
>
> I don't ever remember pattern being inexpensive. Even back in the 60's and
> 70's a new radio was 300 to 500 bucks. A good .60 was 100 to 200. Rhom
> retracts were $125.....It was not uncommon to have a $1000 or more tied up in
> one plane.....JG
>
> On Mon, 11 Nov 2002 10:17:35 -0500 Anthony Romano <anthonyr105 at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Buddy,
> > Here is my view. Just finished a new plane
> > around $2000. Now, being a
> > competitor, I build a new more complicated,
> > larger, more expensive plane to
> > take advantage of the rule change and replace
> > my now obsolete plane.
> > Ignoring issue of gas such as smell, which now
> > means I can't store planes in
> > the house and the wife won't come to the field,
> > struggle with the sound
> > rule, can't fly at local field, etc.
> > Now I am just a mediocre competitor and if I
> > get a lot of time I fly my
> > pattern plane 200 times a year. Using your
> > figures, maybe luck but I never
> > pay that much for fuel, I save $350 dollars. My
> > new plane will be paid for
> > in around FIVE years on the savings. Add in the
> > cost of new field supplies,
> > fire extinguisher, radio upgrade to run two
> > elevator servos, farther drive
> > to field without noise limit, etc. Where is the
> > savings?
> > If this is the direction of pattern I am not
> > interested and don't see how
> > bigger more expensive planes will help
> > anything. You guys are all killing me
> > with the cost issue. The average guy at my
> > local club has three or four 1.20
> > size arfs with $1000 to $1200 dollars in each
> > one. Look around on some of
> > the message boards and see the number of people
> > that are flying and entering
> > giant scale. The number of people looking to
> > spend $3000 and up on a bigger
> > planes is astounding.
> >
> > Anthony
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: "Buddy Brammer"
> > >Reply-To: discussion at nsrca.org
> > >To: discussion at nsrca.org
> > >Subject: Re: Weight Limit
> > >Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 10:53:03 -0600
> > >
> >
> >
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