finding a club

[norcal tom]

o.k., i've found several clubs in my area. i've narrowed it down to about three or four that i might like to join. i'm wondering what i need to look for and what questions i should ask. can you just show up on sat. or sunday at the field and check everything out? a couple of them say on thier websites that they don't offer newb training and things. i've kind of shyed away from these, but they might be worth looking into??

thanks for anyt help :)

tom

[thacherd]

o.k., i've found several clubs in my area. i've narrowed it down to about three or four that i might like to join. i'm wondering what i need to look for and what questions i should ask. can you just show up on sat. or sunday at the field and check everything out? a couple of them say on thier websites that they don't offer newb training and things. i've kind of shyed away from these, but they might be worth looking into??

thanks for anyt help :)

tom

I think that you wiil find most clubs are open to visitors. I can't speak for all clubs, but the ones that I have visited seem to welcome people with open arms. Face it, we RCPilots, love to talk planes... and a new face means new ears to discuss things with. Just my opinion. I would visit all the clubs in your area and then pick one based on how you are treated on your visit. Pick the one that you are most comfortable with. Good Luck!

[Steve Guinn]

Stay away from the ones with the highest # of "Crotchety Old No-it-alls". :D

[Viper Pilot]

Thanks, Steve . . . . we "CON-I-Alls" needed that!!!

Viper

BTW, what, exactly is a "No-it-all"????? Someone who says "no" to everything???

[kiswa]

Viper: I'm sure he meant "Know" ;)

Tom: If there's a club that specifically says they're not interested in training new pilots, then definitely don't go to those. I can't believe any club would do that, it's just wrong. Everyone involved in RC should want to bring more people into the hobby/sport. And they should bring them in the right way: with training.

I myself am about to embark on my first training session tomorrow (Saturday morning). I only have two clubs anywhere near me and if neither of them had offered training, I wouldn't be here now. :D

[Steve Guinn]

I did mean "know", but "no" also fits. The CON's don't like changes.

Oh Knoooooow, VP is a CON. :eek: :D

Any suggestions on keeping life's experiences from turning me into a CON?
I'm afraid it's going to happen soon.

[Viper Pilot]

I'm not sure about the K-I-A part, but I AM crochety and old (and liked by most all of my fellow club members of all ages !!!!!). I have been known, though, to make suggestions once in a while (Just last summer I suggested to a newbee that taking of INTO the wind might make it a bit easier-and he agreed)!!!

[Viper Pilot]

. . . . Oh Knoooooow . . . .

:D :D :D :D :D

[fhhuber506771]

I'll claim crotchety and Know-it-all... :p but I'll also tell a rulemonger that is misquoting a rule (to suit his desires.. not just a "misquote" that doesn't change the MEANING) to stuff it.

Actually if common sense was common we wouldn't need rules.
*******

Definitely visit the flying site when people are flying. If they don't like it... you don't want to be in the club.

If possible observe them giving some beginners some lessons. If the instructor is flying the plane all the time ("Your wings aren't level.. I'm taking it"... "Its time to turn it.. I'm taking it.") and just letting the student have it for 15 sec out of every 5 min.. you don't want them instructing you. It takes forever to learn to fly if you never really have control of the model.

Observe if they pay REASONABLE attention to safety. they don't have to be rulemongers.. just make sure they are not doing stuff that looks like it should be causing lost fingers and putting airplanes into car windows.

If they fly helis and you are worried about the heli hitting the pilot's transmitter antenna.. he's wrong.

[rcsoar4fun]

Best bet is to solicit information from all the clubs. A simple email to a contact on the website will do. Find a couple that seem receptive. By contacting one first you will find some that are interested in adding new members. You will also have someone as a contact at the field, which will make it easy to get to know the other members. It will be impossible to find one that is NOT filled with crotchety geezers, but some are more helpful than others. Pick the one that feels most like a second home, hopefully you will be spending a lot of time here.

IMHO a good gauge of a club is how many different types of stuff you see people flying. Gas, electric, helis, sailplanes, etc. Too many clubs are only happy if people are flying gas and maybe a parkflyer or two. This sucks if you ever expand your interests.

Kristopher