No mate I agree whole heartedly, and I hope my words prior didn't come across as saying that work wasn't being done. It's just that maybe a new approach is needed, in addition to what is already being done.


I try to be a positive character at all times, but after my experiences in trying to get enthusiasm for the British Freestyle Champs up, I am unfortunately left feeling this way about the UK modeling public.

If this is the case, and one can never be too sure, then perhaps promoting the association as a sort of "self improver", would attract some more souls into it? It may be that people view it as an overly competitive bunch of lads, rather than a way of improving your own flying (after all, your greatest enemy/barrier is yourself etc). It's not even a case of distorting what the association is about, because I for one view it as opportunity to boost my own flying, rather than beating others. Except of course Mark Pearce who I strive to defeat wherever humanly possible.

Question is then what is the way forward.

I have Steve's articles on the Standard (as it was then) schedule and most instructive they were too. How much effect did they have in getting new blood into the sport? I have various articles from the last 8 years or so on basic aerobatics. Have they had any effect? Great articles as they were.

I attended an NPOD in 2009 and it was a great success. A lot of pilots attempting Clubman and learning a lot but not one single pilot from that day has entered any competition subsequently (I was the odd one but had already decided to compete and was using it as a training day).

I'll quite happiliy support and NPOD in this part of the world but not in a position to host one as neither club I'm involved with is either suitable or interested. Indoor season starts soon so I mix with some other clubs a bit further afield and will suggest the idea.

Maybe Shahid is right to an extent and the competive spirit is not vrey stong in this country amongst many flyers these days.

Dave

I wonder if I might speak up on behalf of GBRCAA members past and present who have devoted an enormous amount of their personal time and energy to promote the cause of F3A in the UK.

Our current PRO, Ashley Hoyland, has been publishing a regular column in the BMFA News for several years now.  He has done this with relatively small amounts of assistance from elsewhere.  How he keeps finding new material to write about each month, heaven only knows.  As anyone who knows Ashley will testify, he is utterly committed to promoting F3A at the grass roots level and  to attracting newcomers to the cause.  Not only does Ashley spend countless hours each month scripting his BMFA Article, but along with Bob Rowland and others, he has been instrumental in promoting and organising a series of highly acclaimed New Pilots Open Days (NPOD’s) up and down the county.  All this is alongside the other work he does as PRO, not to mention taking a leading role in organising and CD’ing numerous high profile competitions like the Nationals, the GBRCAA Championships, the Festival of Flight etc.

Other GBRCAA figures have also made highly valuable contributions.  Phil Williams wrote a regular column in RCM World for many years.  That good work has recently been carried on by Keith Jackson’s excellent bi-monthly column in the same magazine and by Shadid’s contributions to various UK magazines and to the High Alpha Forum.  Steve Dunning also wrote a first class column in Aviation Modeller International for many years. 

At some time or other, a succession of GBRCAA PRO’s and magazine columnists have all published articles for beginners on how to fly the basic schedules.  Ashley in particular, has never missed a chance to stress that something much more basic than a fully fledged 2 metre model is more than good enough to fly the basic schedules.  (And Peter Scoles has shown that with the right pilot at the helm it is also good enough to win FAI !)

On top of all of the above, Stuart Mellor and others have done excellent work supporting Ashley in getting our message across via audience-friendly Tannoy commentaries  at recent BMFA Nationals.

I recognise that the above words may sound defensive and perhaps defeatist.  My purpose in relaying them is not to discourage new ideas – far from it -  but simply to get across the  message that some outstanding work is already being done in support of our Association. 

As the old saying goes, you can take a horse to water but you cannot make it drink. The harsh reality is that F3A is a branch or aeromodelling that requires more than its fair share of discipline if participants are to succeed.  With more and more alternatives to choose from, it is inevitable that F3A will not be everybody’s cup of tea.

One thing that struck me from analysing the results from the recent European Championships is that many of the more successful Teams appear to have a well established mentoring system.  In many cases it would appear that some of the very top names are spending their personal time in coaching and developing young talent.  Is this something that we ought to be thinking more about?

Regards

Bob

I know its not as good as the real deal, But feel it has helped  with stick inputs. I went online with it today for the first time it got a little busy.

Not a bad idea, interestingly enough IMAC had a very similar write up published in RCM&E last issue or the one before, where there is a complete walk through of one of their schedules.

I wonder if something simple like issuing a copy of the sportsman and the intermediate schedule ribbon drawings in the bmfa mag on a have a go type footing invitation to club members to see how well or how many of the maneuvers they can do or report on the best in club flier etc. (can you do the pattern challenge)
Albert

Yes I have this one .
but I don't think much of it unless I have it set up wrong I use the integral but find the rotation a bit weird and the model to small.   Albert

Hi Ashley, I think you'll find my next scribbling for RCME has already addressed one or two of these with a nice piece on Adam Lomax and my own Angel 50.

I'm on the BMFA list of people available for club talks, so I'll be sure to include a section on F3A when I next get called up.


Another possible way of encouraging those with little self-esteem or confidence to "give it a go". But incentives like these are complete a waste of time unless the GBR, as a whole, focus on promoting pattern flying and the association.

I honestly don't think any news or awareness of the association of it's activities get far beyond the membership. It's only because of the involvement in aerobatics that I knew of the GBR, otherwise prior to joining I only glanced over Ashley's column in the BMFA news and that was it. Reducing subs, altering schedules etc is all well said and done...but if no one knows about it...what's the point  It's like opening a brand new bar in London without any promotion whatsoever and simply praying customers walk through the door.

Not being able to fly but once a week I have to resort to the simulator, do any  members on here use it.

good job your not returning to New Zealand  MAF would insist on destroying your airframe...................

On a serious note though, well done guy's. A respectful final position for you all given the appaling weather you were expected to compete in, I still wonder why you should be expected to carry on (even if a European title was at stake) and put your equipement at risk, I mean, it isn't like your country would have stumped up the cash to replace it now is it............................sense and sensibility should have kicked in, IMHO.

Regards,

Andy.