new concepts

[Terry Terrenoire]

George, I sure don't know where you are getting your numbers.
I just finished a Synergy, now has 4 flights and I am heading to a
contest this weekend with it.

Kit, very well prepared $1150
YS 1.40L with header and carbon fiber pipe $750
4 Digital servos $400
1 standard servo $40
Cost of "Concept" paint to finish $50
Cost of 3 rolls of Monokote $50

Grand total $2440. And for that I do have a top of the line competetive
set up.
Yes, I did all the work myself, so if you want someone else to build it
for you, you can add another $1500-$2000, but that will not get you a
"better" plane.

For the past 2 years I have been flying a pair of Elans with YS 120NCs. I
don't think I have over $3000 in the pair, let alone $4000 in one!

Terry T.

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 16:05:27 -0400 "GeorgeF." <av8tor at flash.net> writes:
> 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.
> #
> 
> 
> 
=====================================
# 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.
#