While I agree that things are getting too sophisticated and expensive, if you follow your argument logically, we should all eat beans and rice and play with only paper airplanes until we are 60.
In my case, doing well in competition in '89 gave me the confidence in myself to go back to school and complete my degree. Actually, it was even more satisfying because I was using a simple airplane against Windsongs. The travel is what really cost. But it kept me off the streets and I finally got that degree out of the way. How much was that worth? Also, many people who buy $1000 airplanes would probably also invest in something like CMGI, or even Enron. Where would that leave them? If in a conservative bank account, I assume you remember inflation in the 80's? THen there's the people who croak early. There's a middle ground here. I suspect, at least in the Boston area, we aren't getting too many people with $28k salaries buying super ships. NOt unless they're still living with Mom. I'd sure enjoy participating in a design-your-own contest, but not because it's cheap, and not because I'd have a chance. There's just no way to be competitive in design without being both obsessive and a brilliant engineer, which ain't necessarily cheap, tho possibly renumerative in other ways. My goal would be to be almost competitive in design and to make that up with better flying. In a year or two, as a certain unnamed designer gets more flying experience, that will not be feasible. Anyway, with a year or two's notice and a reasonable expectation of a large number of participants, it would probably be a great event. I guess we might get 5 flyers in our club, instead of 15 or 20. Your point about cost is well taken, but a bit over the top. I think RES events will help in this department a little. And I don't think we will see an ARF RES which will outperform a Bubble Dancer for many years. Flying is a separate skill from designing or building, and I take a certain pride in it. Harley wrote: snip > At only 6% average return, that $1,000 would double 3 times by retirement > age in your mid-60's. Thus $1,000 becomes $2,000 becomes $4,000 becomes > $8,000. Rules applicable to such instruments allow you to take an interest > income at retirement on the accumulated valued, reporting it only as taken. > $8,000 at only 6% means $480 a year for life then. With a 20 year life > expectancy, 20 x $480 means $9,600 interest would be collected, on average, > and still leave the accumulated $8,000 to pass on to someone important in > your life, if you haven't already ruined your chances for that by being too > gung ho in this game. > > Bottom line, that single $1,000 plane is systematically stealing almost > $18,000 of possible resources away while causing you further expenses for > travel, entry fees, food and lodging, potential loss of wages while not > tending to business, usually with not even the remotest chance for any > return for any of the money spent. Now think of the effect of multiple such > purchases. You can easily get in 10 grand and fritter away $180,000! > >snip > > In the light of the above, if there is any change to be made in "rules", it > should be so sane people can still fly, compete and have fun at modest cost. > > If anything, I would opt to make it possible for sensible people to be able > to participate in an entirely new "Do-it-Yourself" class", entirely separate > from the manufactured stuff. They would be recognized for competence and > skill in design, setting up, flying, competing, etc. and out of respect for > those capabilites be put in line for the best possible awards. It escapes me > how anyone can take any pride in showing up with something for which they > can take no credit for in its creation. It should be possible to get off > this ridiculous roller coaster so many have become swept up in thinking they > need to buy their way to become or stay fashionable or competitive. If > fortunes fail, you are done. If you have skills, you can still play. > > Harley Michaelis, 26 S. Roosevelt, Walla Walla, WA 99362, ph. (509) 529-2562 > -- Lincoln Ross RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
