What happened?

[Dave Gordon]

Stats say 22,000 members but only 14 active. Why?

[aww]

Wild stab in the dark.... FB
Anthony

[Dave Gordon]

That’s been around for years though & other forums still get traffic, or did you mean RCH deliberately moved there?

[aww]

No, I think a lot of people got fed-up of idiots and left , then the idiots went to FB.

[Dave Gordon]

That’s a shame. Oh well, maybe one day the wheels will fall off FB & folk will drift back.

[Bhujang]

It looks like a lot of posts ended with the lock downs. It’s only just starting to re-emerge ???????

[barryorbik]

I think it is because our branch of the hobby seems to have lost a lot of its newbies to the multirotor approach as that option with all its RTH, safe zone and ready to fly approach offers a much easier, safer(?) and probably less costly route into model flying. It also (to the legally ignorant) allows a route into model flying that does not necessarily require joining a club and often having to travel considerable distances to a suitable flying site.

OK they will also miss out on the friendship and support of fellow modellers but the payoff is that they can fly more or less without limits and enjoy the views from their high definition cameras directly to their iphone.

Some newbies will soon get bored with this and if they do not progress to drone racing etc, or eventually try flying other types of model flying they will be lost to the hobby.

Sadly for most, looking for support and help from a dedicated model helicopter forum will be the furthest from their mind.

Hope 2024 brings us all some much better flying weather (for all disciplines) and look foward to seeing members responses.

[aww]

Yes I agree, but I think the decline in people in the hobby may also be due to the cost. Most kits and parts are valued in US dollars. When I started in 2007 $2 = £1. I bought my 700N kit (servos, gyro etc) for £600. They won't be that price unless the pound becomes stronger again . If I was starting again I don't think I could afford it.
Anthony

[Dave Gordon]

Well this thread is running at least.

[Mike Sanders]

Covid was a huge problem for me. I was away from helicopter flying for nearly two years. I wasn't much good before but I am worse now.

I agree that expense and drones as well as CAA regulation has had a big impact on helicopter flying. I am not optimistic that the good old days will return.

Membership of my club has gone from 45 to about 20. My age is against me inn terms of learning aerobatics and 3 D but I still enjoy the hobby.

[Dave Gordon]

I don't know who runs this site or how it works exactly but I would've thought spending a bit of time adding sections for current helis, moving defunct makers to the obsolete section, fixing things that don't work etc might be worth doing so when folk drop by it looks a little more inviting.

[Mike Sanders]

I agree

[Dave Gordon]

Well SA has been made aware of members wanting to post but are unable to because the pw reset doesn't work but so far there has been no response from him.

It really does seem that the RcHeliaddict forum has been abandoned in favour of Facebook but, I remain hopeful..

[chrisleematt21]

Heli’s became really expensive since the pound dropped against the dollar, plus for me life got in the way, I’m now an hour away from my private field instead of ten mins as before. Plus after 6 years I still fly like sh1t!!

[p4ddy]

I hate twatbook with a passion, so much valuable info on forums just a quick search away yet people prefer to ask the same shit over & over because info is lost. A lot of people no longer fly & quads have a lot to answer for too. It also began to die when the clique departed to start a new forum where only real names were accepted.