new concepts

[GeorgeF.]

At 02:00 PM 7/29/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>The only way you could effectively lower the cost is by going to a one 
>design concept and engine size.  Then we would all be flying 
>Q-400's.   Then the advances in technologies would slow down or just go 
>away.  I dont like paying and paying so I have become an I.S. (Indentured 
>Servant) to be able to afford it. I love the hobby so I find ways.
>
>Wayne


The majority of your hobbyist aren't going to be "indentured servants", 
they'll simply fly 40 or 60 sized sport planes or call it quits.

In the early 1990's the hot pattern plane setup (including full radio 
setup) would cost about $2500.00 and the average family income of the 
typical high end hobbyist was about $40,000/year.   The top fliers only had 
to invest an average of 6.25% of their annual income in order to have the 
top plane.

Today the hot pattern plane setup (including full radio setup) will cost 
about $4000.00 and the average family income for the typical high-end 
hobbyist is about $55,000/year.  Today in order to have the top setup it 
will mean that you would have to invest 8.00% of your annual income.   With 
other hobbies and expenses we have today that didn’t exist in the 1990’s 
(i.e.: cellphone bills, Internet bills, computers) the average hobbyist 
doesn’t have 8.00% of his income to invest in the model aircraft hobby.

Now you’re going to see some responses to the above statements say “You 
don’t need the best airplane in order to compete, you can compete with a 
lessor airplane”.   This statement might be true however that is NOT how 
our hobby is perceived to be.   In general people don’t compete strictly 
for fun, people compete in order to have pride in themselves and to win, 
its human nature and in order to do that its perceived that you need to 
have equipment which is as good as the top fliers.

Lets face it, the people within the demographics who can afford and/or 
interested in pattern are shrinking. Here’s my suggest.  However before 
giving my suggest I already know that 90% of you will think I’m full of 
crap but so be it.   Set a cap on the price of a plane which you can use in 
competition.   Lets say a top value of $3500.00, or pick a number.   That 
would allow nearly every sport fliers plane to qualify even larger planes 
with larger engines, that takes care of the new guy not having a 
plane.   It would also put the top guys on a more even footing with the 
newer guy.

After all most of you people on here say it doesn’t take a high dollar 
plane and top equipment in order to win.  Let put your money where you 
mouth is and prove it



George

==================# To be removed from this list, send a message to 
# discussion-request at nsrca.org
# and put leave discussion on the first line of the body.
#