[NSRCA-dist7] Contest attendance..

[Jon Bruml]

AMA membership could be driven by drones??

Jonathan Bruml
Techstyles
________________________________
From: NSRCA-dist7 <nsrca-dist7-bounces at lists.nsrca.org> on behalf of Olstinske Dale via NSRCA-dist7 <nsrca-dist7 at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2017 1:59:40 PM
To: Daniel Lipton
Cc: CA, AZ, HI, NV, UT
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-dist7] Contest attendance..

I don't think that's the case, even lower class guys are flying 135 in. planes with 170-200 engines.  Then you need a trailer to haul it!

Dale

On Sep 14, 2017, at 1:27 PM, Daniel Lipton <dlipton at me.com<mailto:dlipton at me.com>> wrote:

 Interesting though, I don't think IMAC isn't seeing the drop in attendance that pattern is. Not sure why.

I think the cost of entry to imac equipment wise is perceived to be lower.  Whether that’s it or not, I don’t know.

On Sep 14, 2017, at 12:51 PM, Olstinske Dale via NSRCA-dist7 <nsrca-dist7 at lists.nsrca.org<mailto:nsrca-dist7 at lists.nsrca.org>> wrote:

I was talking with Larry Tougas about this. He said AMA membership is NOT down. That is surprising to me. Over the past few years, I have belonged to 5 different clubs. None of them has any younger people joining the hobby. So simply by attrition, I assume that RC as a hobby is declining, which says the same for pattern. Interesting though, I don't think IMAC isn't seeing the drop in attendance that pattern is. Not sure why.

Dale

On Sep 14, 2017, at 11:26 AM, atwooddon--- via NSRCA-dist7 <nsrca-dist7 at lists.nsrca.org<mailto:nsrca-dist7 at lists.nsrca.org>> wrote:

Dan

As a D7 pattern flyer who has not been flying this year, a couple thoughts.

My reasons are simple.  I usually take a break from pattern flying every 7-8 years.  Just get kinda burned out and a year off rekindles the 'bug'. So, in my case it's purely coincidental.

Comments I have heard from others have to do with time restraints particularly with travel, expense of travel, family commitments, etc.  These have been heard for several years now.

I believe there is a kind of 'cycle' pattern goes through.  An ebb and flow of interest for existing pattern pilots.  I have no data to support this, just observation thru the years.

Other causes of declining participation, a couple simple reasons.  Number 1 Older flyers are not getting replaced by new pattern pilots. Not a new situation but it has become more pronounced as other forms of competition or even sport flying become popular.  Helicopters, quads (racing), etc.

These forms of flying are easier to find a place to fly (legal or not), They are more exciting to do, easier to get into (and out of) with less expense, don't require significant transportation commitments from parents for the younger pilots. And neither 'appear' to require up front commitment to significant amounts of time practicing.  Yes, both those examples require time to be competitive but initially they don't appear to require as much time commitment to a new participant.  None of this new information but cumulatively it has an impact on participation in pattern.

Just my 2 cents worth....

Don Atwood





-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Lipton via NSRCA-dist7 <nsrca-dist7 at lists.nsrca.org<mailto:nsrca-dist7 at lists.nsrca.org>>
To: CA, AZ, HI, NV, UT, HI, NV, UT <nsrca-dist7 at lists.nsrca.org<mailto:nsrca-dist7 at lists.nsrca.org>>
Sent: Thu, Sep 14, 2017 11:01 am
Subject: [NSRCA-dist7] Contest attendance..

Hello d7ers..

Recently a fellow member raised to me the issue of diminishing contest attendance.  I decided to take a look at the data (based on www.patternscoring.com<http://www.patternscoring.com/>),

choosing the April contest at Bear Mountain fliers, as that is a popular destination for the district.

2017:  30
2016: 37
2015: 39

And Another popular D7 contest is the Orange country event.
2017: 21
2016: 27

Desert pattern challenge: (Arizona)
2017: 21
2016: 29

If anybody has any thoughts on this, I'd love to hear them.
Thanks
 Dan.

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