new concepts

[Terry Terrenoire]

I did not include the radio or battery because they are already in the
posession of the potential flier.
I am using the new 9C, but i also have the 6XA that will do anything the
average newcomer will have to do.
And no, I don't believe the new comers are concerned with the high end
radios, since at any contest I have gone to, there are plenty of the
lower end radios in use, and to the uninitiated, once you add a few
switches, they all look the same.

The soft mount I am using comes from Canada and costs me about $40.

It is still VERY possible to get a top of the line ship in the air for
well under $3000

You failed to address the cost of the 2 Elans. These are very competitive
planes, are still available, and it is EASY to get one of them in the air
for under $2000. 

Terry T.

On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 09:12:05 -0400 "GeorgeF." <av8tor at flash.net> writes:
> Terry,
> You seem to be missing a few parts on your plane.  As I clearly 
> stated I 
> did say FULL RADIO.  I see no mention of a transmitter, receiver and 
> 
> battery pack.  Lets see since most of the TOP guys (remember its the 
> TOP 
> guys a new commer is going to look at) you just added about another 
> $1000 
> to your number.  What do you know, that brings you up to $3440.  Ops 
> I see 
> you for got those expensive Hyde motor mounts, what another $150?
> 
> Granted, you may not use the Hyde mount, you may not use a Futaba 
> 9ZAPs 
> however you're not the one the new commer is looking at when he 
> attends his 
> first contest.  He's going to be looking at the equipment of the top 
> dogs....
> 
> Thanks Terry, your numbers pretty much proved what I was 
> saying.....
> 
> George
> 
> 
> At 10:50 PM 7/29/2003 -0400, you wrote:
> >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
> > >
> 
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