Is it Biased

[Steve]

The unwritten understanding is that the heli content is aprox 10 to 15%. However, the BMFA is extremely poor in actually gathering data on its members in such detail.

It stemed from me looking to host an event, asking the BMFA for assistance. Getting just about nil help other than a couple of BMFA committee members - pointing me to others in the BMFA but even some of those proved as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

You'll not believe the phone calls, attitude, non responding e-mails, zero acknowledgement of letter even after 4mths.

So all this led to ask myself what do I pay for ??

Now I'll take an acceptance of the issue of 2.4ghz - protecting our interests but only for a small portion of my £28.00 what's happening with the rest to benefit our interest within the bigger picture.

So far I personally see absolutely minimal return for what I pay. I want to see pro-active marketing, sponsoring major heli events, getting the kids into it, spreading the whole hobby absolutley shed loads going on every year.

This got me thinking, we keep saying we aren't impressed, but we never have the tangible evidence. So this is why I want to see from the polls am I the only one or do more feel the same.

All power to your elbow Stuart, but this forum is a biased audience, naturally biased towards helis. So if 95% of the users on here say they don't like the current deal or setup, they still only represent 95% of the views of 15% of the membership.

[Stuart]

Hi Steve,

hmmm... 72% so far also have an interest in planes....

Yes I hear what your saying and if I raised the same issues within a fixed wing forum I suspect it would be different. I have a suspicion that the heli side is faster growing than the fixed wing and time will tip the balance. But senior people in the BMFA are ring fencing the association to any change.

Statement from a BMFA rep "They are only interested in your subscription - not helis", on the phone two months ago.

[Steve]

Exactly right Stuart. I was considering about the implications of asking the same questions in a different environment as indeed you have.

I do think that the BMFA should recognise and support 3D flying, in both helis and planes, and if they did so then there would be a significant increase in the heli input/output and probably a requirement for some 'expertise' at the top levels.

3D is not my thing, but I certainly recognise its popularity and importance in the heli community.

[Stuart]

One way to measure the impact of disciplines within the BMFA would be to take the club preferences as an average of the top 3 to get a balanced view, over that last 5 years.

However, even though I have managed to work this out for the last year 2008, I doubt the BMFA would give me the info for the previous years to measure the impacts.

2008
35.27% Fixed Wing 23.15% RCH 24.97% SF 5.21% FF 5.03% CL 6.36% IND

[Steve]

35.27% Fixed Wing 23.15% RCH 24.97% SF 5.21% FF 5.03% CL 6.36% IND

What's IND?

SF (Silent Flight), FF (Free Flight) and CL (Control Line) are all fixed wing as well, so the overall percentage for planes is significantly higher than the 35% quoted.

[Smoothound]

Exactly right Stuart. I was considering about the implications of asking the same questions in a different environment as indeed you have.

I do think that the BMFA should recognise and support 3D flying, in both helis and planes, and if they did so then there would be a significant increase in the heli input/output and probably a requirement for some 'expertise' at the top levels.

3D is not my thing, but I certainly recognise its popularity and importance in the heli community.

The same thing occurs in many clubs, because they are run by PSOG,s who are either have no interest or dislike them!!!

[Kwickkwack]

I think the magazine is biased towards planes, but if, as you figures suggest they account for between 70-80% of the membership then its possibly not surprising. Good luck and well done for the polls Stuart, this is the way to bring about change by "doing something about it" not just talking about it.

[kevinh]

voted yes

as i agree with pretty much what everyone has written

[Ade_Law]

Statement from a BMFA rep "They are only interested in your subscription - not helis", on the phone two months ago.

wow.... speachless...

stuart the percentages you quote are they from the club listings on the website? ime a lot of the clubs that are both heli and fixed wing merely tollerate helis. meaning they have a couple of people that dabble with shuttles. So those figures may not be proportionate of the actual number of people that fly helis.

anybody know the numbers through the gate at the nats in comparison to 3dmasters?

when somebody like me shows up as a visitor you get 2 reactions from the members... some are impressed and intrigued, others sit in their car scared im going to cut their heads off!

having said that. last year, locally we have 5 clubs locally, 3 are either plane only or very low tollerance of helis. the other 2 are pretty much helis only. last year dmhc and schc (helis) had 65 and 30ish members, i believe wmac (dont even mention the H word there) is around 100, christchurch and another small club are approx 100 total.

Ade

[Stuart]

IND is indoor flying.

I agree some will only show RCH as a lipservice to the discipline, but also as an example the first ever club I joined was so pro fixed wing it was unreal the corner of the field syndrome was so evident it was amazing. I left and went to a all heli club in the end.

Now I understand in a few years its transformed to a more balanced format with what I believe is more heli's than planes.

The % are based on what's delivered to the BMFA. I did ask the BMFA for a headcount on B & A cert H. For the event I wanted to run this would have told me the potential target audience for the event, then off the back of that then I could work out venues and associated costs to run, then build on finding the right venue etc. But again the BMFA couldn't answer the question. The questions I asked weren't rocket science and was acknowledged by insiders in the BMFA as something they should know.

So without knowing the exact % mix of disciplines for the membership and how the mix is changing year on year as a whole how can any association realistically deliver a balanced approach.

Or is it a case where those that are in control are so resistent to RCH that politics and self preservation are more important.

[kamikaze]

I don't want to sound elitist but I think it's a case of self preservation on the part of plane flyers in general.I think that most competant heli flyers could easily convert to planes but it would be far more difficult the other way round.The majority of plank flyers I've spoken to are really nice lads but I have met one or two who appear to have an attitude of defensive disdain. It's either, I can't afford it,or I can't do it so you shouldn't be doing it either.
I agree with earlier posts that it's up to the heli community to make themselves heard but most of us,myself included,are too otherwise involved to take on that kind of workload. It would take someone with incredible dedication to have any impact with these guys and unfortunately they would be a very rare animal indeed.
Probably,over time things will change as the old boy network fades away but meanwhile I'm happy to pay £28 for the insurance and to have people fighting for my rights,all be it in a limited way.

[dandeman]

GO STUART I dont really think about anything the BMFA does. As long as when i crash into something they will pay. When i joined BMFA i only thought it was insurance.

[Tom Burgess]

Dan, you deserve an award for your Avatar's!

[dandeman]

I only put a picture of my dad on?

[Mike W]

Like most here I have had good and bad with clubs .. So we started our own .. And tbh we have diff people from con liners all the way to helis and we each fly with the other day in day out and have no issues with either ...I fly both so wanted to stick with a field that allows both and not just either as its a pita to pack up just to fly a heli or vice versa .. Yeh I think the its biased towards planes , BUT!! I think alot of the plane fliers which are younger tend to fly heli's as well which is a good thing .. I think as the times change and the members become younger we might see some different attitudes towards heli fliers

Ade .. I would just run m8e lmao ...TBH I love watching you guys fly as I understand the commitment it takes to reach your level of ability .. Plus the fact you get lower than alot of people I seen lol.... Most clubs I think either have a massive percentage of 3d fliers and the likes, then you get other clubs that have mainly sports fliers and learners ..Heck we love seeing people from all disciplines at our club and if n e of ya up this way come and have a bash at our field