Weight Limit

[Thomas C. Weedon]

Bill,
IMAC had a growth spurt a few years ago, due to a lot of factors that would
take too long to mention here, but the sport flyer who joined during the
excitement of a new venue like IMAC, soon discovered what Pattern flyers
have always known, and that is; Aerobatic Competition is Hard Work; Period!
After a few contests flying IMAC Basic, many of them just could not see
themselves investing the time and money to fly serious IMAC competition.
Therefore their membership has leveled out, maybe dropped a little, and they
find themselves having the same argument that the Pattern guys do, and that
is; "How do you get the local Sport Flyer to try IMAC (or Pattern for that
matter)"; and the answer is, you don't!  So don't worry, just keep flying
and those that are really interested will want to follow what you are doing.

I've developed a theory a few years back and that is, "Flying remote
controlled aircraft is not easy and can not be mastered by the majority of
the general public". I've spent some time talking to local club instructors,
and I always get the same answer, there are some people that have tried to
learn how to fly RC with a competent instructor and have given up, after a
year or more with little success. Further, I have worked with some sport
flyers that will never be able to do anything more than a simple loop of
roll (my opinion). Flying an RC plane in aerobatic competition takes much of
the same skills that an athlete has to have. Years ago, I was a serious
golfer. I got my game down to the mid 80's on a par 72 course. But no matter
how hard I tried, I never could break 80. I took some lessons from several
club pros, and the final decision was that I would never be that good of a
golfer. I just wasn't born with the skill capability. However, I was pleased
to know that shooting in the mid 80's put me above better that 90% of your
average duffers, but nothing short of a miracle would ever get my gave much
better. So the final answer is;

"A Man Has to Know His Limitations"

-----Original Message-----
From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
[mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Bill Glaze
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 9:49 PM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Re: Weight Limit


Tom:
Just wondered about the membership.  Probably about right.
I warned them that the deal with R/C Excellence is a very bad and
shortsighted
idea.  We defeated it when it was brought up before; this time they followed
the
siren song.  I predict they'll be sorry.  I've got my copy (electronic) at
my
side, and the quality already shows down from when Dave Arndt was
publishing.
The new people feel that the exposure to "thousands of people" (I'm not so
sure
that is truly the case); that "thousands of people" will even be interested.
But, I'm always suspicious when somebody says they'll "do me a favor" and I
may
be wrong, but I believe it's a mistake to turn such an important organ over
to
someone who probably doesn't have your interest at heart the way you do.
Sort
of like "outsourcing" except with only a single source.  Always risky.
Anyway: No longer my problem.
I dropped out when they put the airplanes on steroids.  I have limited my
modeling to airplanes with an 80" w.s.  I've got a couple of really good
flying
80" CAP 232's, and some CGB Sukhois or 74" wingspan.  Any of these will in
the
proper hands fly just as precision as the huge stuff; but they just won't
score
as well.
I've decided to let them go their own way.

Bill Glaze

"Thomas C. Weedon" wrote:

> Bill,
> The latest that I have heard is that they have experienced some drop outs
> after the orginal excitment a few years ago which leaves them around 800
> members. The IMAC contests up here have been down on attendance over this
> last year. Tom Wheeler told me that they were tight on money and could not
> afford to publish a magazine without a loss. That's why they were pushing
> their on-line issue. Now that they have joined with RC Excellance
magazine,
> their publishing problems my go away. Just my observations. I still want
to
> fly IMAC when I have the time. I have 2 good planes (only 80"w.s. though)
> Tom W.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
> [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Bill Glaze
> Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 1:10 PM
> To: discussion at nsrca.org
> Subject: Re: Weight Limit
>
> Tom:
> Last I heard, IMAC has a larger membership than NSRCA.  where did you get
> your
> figures?  I happened to be RD for the SE when we first broke 1K.
> Bill Glaze
>
> "Thomas C. Weedon" wrote:
>
> > GeorgeF,
> > You are WAAAAY off base with your membership in IMAC. IMAC has less
> members
> > than we do. IMAA, repeat, IMAA has about 10,000 members. IMAA is NOT,
> repeat
> > NOT the same as IMAC!!!!
> >

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