What do you like/dislike about your RC club?

[goosekiller1]

I don't belong to any club I am blessed to fly with some awesome guys lots of knowledge I soak it up like a sponge. so what I really like is come and fly with our group learn from some of the best my opinion only. no good or bad about clubs from me. Goose

[F22trainer]

Only 2.5 hours and 700lbs. of fuel in one of these
:)

[BluesDragon]

I was gonna suggest a road trip, but dayum!, ya got me beat there! LOL

[Pauly]

Grossman, NC is a long way! I so would love to make it your way! It's been a long time since I've been out that way. I wish I could make you guys flying.

[Pauly]

Beautiful country

[Grossman56]

It's a small club, we usually get about 20 pilots from Billings, Riverton and the surrounding area as well as our own members. Great bunch of guys to hang with.
The scenery is great, a lot like BD's pics. I'd like to check out Arizona some time as well.

Grossman56

[F22trainer]

I flew a EMB-120 for SkyWest into Cody a few times, but never long enough to get away from the plane, and in fact it was too cold to spend any time away from the plane. can you say 'quick-turn'?
But I have been through WY in summer months and always wanted to spend some time to see the countryside.

[BluesDragon]

It's a small club, we usually get about 20 pilots from Billings, Riverton and the surrounding area as well as our own members. Great bunch of guys to hang with.
The scenery is great, a lot like BD's pics. I'd like to check out Arizona some time as well.

Grossman56

We do get some beautiful sunsets now and then...

[boomer108]

I would love to talk the wife into moving to Arizona and get the he'll out of the cold Chicago weather's and fly more of the year.

[F22trainer]

I would love to talk the wife into moving to Arizona and get the he'll out of the cold Chicago weather's and fly more of the year.

Just call it a vacation and come on down...
when you have to go back to that cold Windy City, she'll be ready.
This would be a perfect time -

[Grossman56]

There is nothing like the wild west, Wyoming or Arizona, the Dakotas, you name it. We're heading for Monument Valley this year to see where all the John Wayne movies were made.
Of course, I'll be sneaking in the Pandora to possibly fly while there.
That field in Sun City looks very tempting!!

Grossman56

[DrDeath]

Clubs or people who do not use common sense. People who get a strange hair up their butt about certain things. People who buy and crash a lot of planes. Yes, I know it's there money, but Planes Lives Matter.

[Hoomi]

When I first bought my Calypso back around October of last year, I did a Google search of flying clubs in the Tucson area. Since we pretty much have flying weather year 'round, we have several to choose from. After looking at the various websites, I decided to visit Southern Arizona Gliders and Electrics. The group is friendly, helpful, has reasonable safety rules, very reasonable dues, and so far, I've seen no evidence of club politics. From what I've seen in the few months I've been going there, everyone just wants to enjoy flying. They have members who are skilled at instructing and helping new pilots gain skills, and while there is some good-natured teasing going on, I've never heard anyone being nasty to any other members. One of the adjoining properties asked the club to not overfly their place, as their animals get a bit panicky at the planes flying over, and the club puts in the effort to be good neighbors, even sending out an email this week to all members, letting us know the neighbor has having a wedding and reception on Saturday, and asked if we could refrain from flying during the festivities. I didn't hear anyone complaining about the temporary restriction.

The drawbacks of the club are that the flying field is 30 miles from where I live, and the runway is dirt with scattered rocks. It's not always conducive to smooth landings. Because the field is not too far from Marana Regional Airport, the club had to assure the airport that we would not be flying drones at the field (not totally sure why drones are any different than RC airplanes or helicopters, in that regard), so can't put the Spark up to try and capture in-flight images of the planes, but as opposed to dealing with the likelihood that the airport would object to our flying field otherwise? It's a rather minor concession.

The club has regular events, such as last weekend's "Farewell to the Snowbirds" picnic, to bid adieu to our seasonal members who are heading north before Tucson's summer hits in earnest, light-hearted competitions such as their "Chicken Flights," etc. The low dues is offset by the expectation that members will show up to periodic workdays, to help maintain the field, and a "feed the kitty" jar for donations to help with some of the recurring costs at the field (mostly, the monthly fees for servicing the porta-potty on the property, which gets cleaned and emptied each Monday).

All in all, it's a good club, and worth the drive.

[crankestein]

They want people to pay their club fees but the field is abandoned, tall grass, humps of dirt from moles all over the place.

I argued w one of them that am not gonna throw money away for the love of art.

[F16Jeff]

I like to see clubs be inviting and visionary with recruiting young members to keep the hobby alive. My local club was established back in the 60s if not earlier. I helped them build a new field in the mid 80s and I remained a member for several years until I moved out of state. Upon returning I was welcomed back into the club and a couple years later I had to drop again due to other commitments. Fast forward to now and I was invited to visit and see about joining again.

I attended a meeting and was shocked by the lack of members there, club currently has 97 members and only about 8 people were at the meeting. The meeting was lackluster and filled with politics. there was a show and tell and that was it. I went to fly at the field last Sunday with a fellow modeler and friend. We were there most of morning hours and it was a beautiful day. There were 6 members there plus myself as a guest. I asked where everyone is? I was told it has been like this quite often. It is like having a private field to ourselves.

Now back to me joining back up. The club officers informed me the onetime runway fee $$$ is no longer and I would have to pay the fee again plus membership for the year. Another reasons I left last time was they do not like helicopters at the club since it grounds the rest until the heli pilot is finished. Now I fly a mix of different aircraft including turbines of which I would not be able to fly at the field due to runway constraints and fire danger. If they want another dues paying club member, I would join again as long as do not have to pay runway fee again.

Clubs should do things to get young people interested. Host events and get the word out to the public, scouts, youth groups. We used to have fun flys and would build inexpensive two channel models with the kids and fly them the same day. At meetings we had raffles, construction lessons, new techniques shared, as well as modeler of the month. These events helped keep people involved and our meetings filled the room usually with 30 to 40 members and during that time we probably had 60 members.

Glad to see others do not have the same issues.

Cheers,

Jeff

[OV10]

Glad to see others do not have the same issues.

Cheers,

Jeff

Unfortunately Jeff a lot of clubs do have those same/similar issues. The key word that you used which crushes enthusiasm at clubs is the politics. :Dead:

[F22trainer]

Unfortunately Jeff a lot of clubs do have those same/similar issues. The key word that you used which crushes enthusiasm at clubs is the politics. :Dead:

Well said, Sir.
My fear is that our club, could one day succumb to those with political agendas and a disregard for safety, will also chase away the benevolent who wish to foster the spirit.

[bob_stan]

Our club is small, with 20 or so members. Meetings are held at our field weather permitting and are mainly show and tell followed by flying. In inclement weather, we meet at a local bar and substitute drinking for flying. Everyone is helpful and laid back. We assume every one will use common sense unless they demonstrate otherwise. Just a fun group.

[crankestein]

Finally I was caught flying at the field without having paid my fees, and I told them since December the laen has not been cut. That the club owes me a new landing gear and damage to the fuselage for my Sbach. The field basically destroyed w moles, holes, weed etc. It was a very much heated argument where they said the money is used to pay the field.

I even showed them pictures of a nearby farm owner who cut the lawn for free as he felt bad I was flying in such bad conditions, great guy by the way.

For some strange reason, the lawn was inspection ready the next day. Anyway, I take my planes to another club. Its pointless to throw money away and the field is upside down.

The farm owner told me as well that the field maintenance guy has offered to pay him if he takes care of it and he was never compensated, fd up at all levels.

That I should be going to the meetings to express my concerns, etc. W/E, this is common sense to something so obvious as the field flying condition for 5 months has been forgotten...

so, to me, I hate to pay fees and my planes are getting torn due to lack of maintenance by the staff.

[rifleman_btx]

Agreed