The yearly dues is $10, cheap I think. The down side is the field is a drive to get to. Here is my other option for flying, the red square is my house and the 2 blue boxes are my flying options, one is a soccer field and the other is the school my kids go to.
WOW! $10 annually is fantastic! Once I get the details ironed out about joining the local club here, I'll tell you what I would have to pay for club membership, lol.
Derek
Foam Board Scratch Build Plane Fanatic
HK Assault 700 (to be built)
Align Trex 600 Pro DFC, Ikon
Align Trex 500e
ZMR 250 FPV Race Quad
HK Skyfun with 5.8ghz FPV
Spektrum DX8
The soccer field is free the clubs flying field is at least a 40 minute drive for me. It seems like if I do go to the field I would be the only one there. They do hold multiple what they call a "Fun Flies" a season. They don't do the normal fun fly like you hear about on RCHN, theirs is more like a bbq for the members and guests of members.
Now the soccer field is more convenient for me, as you can see I can walk there if I wanted to. Only issue is going to be power for charging unless I rely on the van battery which I am not to keen on right now, all though it would work.
That is megga cheap even if you only use it once a year. Opportunity to meet like minded people:) Nearest proper club to me is 2 hour drive and it costs $150 one off payment and $50 a year:)
Our club has two "official" fun flies each year, one for helis and one for planks (some heli guys fly at that one too). And then two or three informal bbq type fun flies each year. PLus weekly plane and heli "training" days where we encourage people to come learn to fly their new toy the right way.
Probably have 100 members. Most monthly meetings are attended by 10-20 people, excluding officers. Most members just want to fly and don't care about the runnings of things really. Some pay in each year and maybe show up once a year, more of a charity thing for them than anything else at this point in their lives. Some show up but don't really fly, they're more about the social aspects.
I spoke with the president of the club, near me, recently. He informed me of costs and showed me a PDF file of the club rules. I can follow the club rules with ease. No worries there! I think of myself as a pretty safe flyer. It's going to cost me $30 for the "initiation fee" and $60 per year for club dues. The $30 is a one time fee so when I'd renew my membership, it would simply cost me $60 per year. The club site is about 25 minutes from my house. They have a very nice paved runway and the grass is usually cut very short and very well maintained. There is a nice and long pavilion type shelter to help keep the sun off you while you are sitting at the benches. There is a very nice clubhouse with vending machines and such. It's really quite nice!
My only concern is that, at 38 years old, I would be the youngest member. Honestly! I've been to a few of their "social fun fly" events and there are a lot of much older gents and I'm very much afraid that the "serious scale flyers" may have an issue with my FPV models and my screaming sport models. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Derek
Foam Board Scratch Build Plane Fanatic
HK Assault 700 (to be built)
Align Trex 600 Pro DFC, Ikon
Align Trex 500e
ZMR 250 FPV Race Quad
HK Skyfun with 5.8ghz FPV
Spektrum DX8
10$ join! My club dues are 40$ a year not bad and the field is 15 min. from home. We have a well maintained grass runway cut short. We have about 60 members lots of older guys and they are gas fliers but they have been very open to us foamy sparkers and are looking in to electric very seriously!
"No Thanks, I don't need another plane!" Said no one ever!
These guys seemed to not care much about the models as long as your a heli or multi rotor person. Their field is a blessing for them since it is an abandoned or should i say no longer used private air strip. Maintenance of the field is mostly grass cutting and treatment and they dont have any standing buildings to care for. The farmer who owns the land enjoys having them there so as long things stay safe and respectful. Of the guys I met last night one of them flies year round when weather is conducive to flying in the cold. I also found out the club owns a DX9 just for the purpose of buddy boxing and any other last minute use. The field is open to flying when ever I want to go during the flying season which starts in late March or early April depending on weather of course.
As for sign up fees I am not sure if they have an initial fee because it was not brought up, just the yearly dues was. I will attend the next meeting and get more details. Since this was my first interaction with them I did not want to be over zealous about stuff. I do know they are sanctioned by the AMA so a membership will be needed to fly at the field.
If there are no other fees or issues that would prohibit me from joining I will be joining shortly. This could be a great thing for me since I normally dont fly with others around. It will be great to finally get some one on one coaching from these experienced folks.
There are a lot of older folks in the hobby around here too. Don't think I'm the youngest, but probably in the lowest 5. We did get a couple of younger people joining up this past year, which is encouraging. Luckily I'm comfortable around the elders and they are a good group of guys. I've been told I have an "old soul" since I was quite young. So I guess I fit in.
The only thing on their site that I do not like is the lack of how to join info. I would love to see a page that is dedicated to joing and any costs associated with it and any other requirements like AMA membership and such. These guys are still working and have some really nice toys that are not rc related. One guy has a pole barn with three really nice cars, A porch, 67 Camero and a 2015 Challenger. Another guy has a car collection also but I did not here him mention what he has. I am going to feel out of place because these guys can afford the hobby and here i am struggling and still be able to enjoy the hobby.
