We've had a big drop-off in numbers at the fun-fly, combat and race events over the last 12-24 months. The numbers are typically half a dozen or so wanting to compete (often many more spectators). Usually it is the same faces each time.

It's unlikely that we'd run these again based on those sort of numbers, but it would be good to know your views on why fewer people want to participate in these events now and, even better, what could be done to increase the interest and participation or, alternatively, what other events might be popular.

From a personal standpoint, I enjoy these sort of events - they are less demanding on build time but still great fun, and it seems that the spectators love them.

Please have your say! A bit of lively debate would be good.

Clive

Combat and race can benefit from a score board near the pilots so that everybody can see the progressive totals/progress..maybe the white board.

Park fliers are emerging as an inexpensive and very popular fun class with ready to fly models of almost all kinds...maybe an event for the slowest flyer over a 50m course. An EDF with a total fuzz plus wing span less than "x" and "n" cells might be considered.....many of the little jets are very attractive...scoring???...survival and pilots choice?....limbo?

As the membership gets older they do not always want to line up against somebody 1/3 their age where fast reflexes and high performance models dominate the outcome....something with a bit of finesse at a relaxed pace can be enjoyable....of course some harem scarem for the young bucks is also needed....maybe something which takes age into account?

Just turn up and fly and names out of a hat...emphasis would be on being there.

Maybe the concept of "Club Champion" could be dropped for a while. It puts a lot of pressure on those hoping to win by forcing them to try to fly at every event. Sometimes with specialized areoz often makes many of the other competitors feel like "also rans" some years. ( they could try harder I suppose...some have learned to fly Helli's to help round out their point score. ) A bit of stretch can be all bad?

But then "true competition" can be strong and healthy by bringing out innovation and best efforts in those who are looking to measure themselves against all comers and themselves.

Include or exclude.....nurture or poison....what is this clubs objective? Ask ALL of the members if you dare, not just an in-crowd.

I myself don't really care about winning or losing. In fact I don't like the competition part at this events. Flying is my way of relaxing and that does work best without any pressure
There is plenty of competition in all other parts of life and when flying at Belrose I am not looking for any competition.

Having said that, there are obviously a lot of more competitive club members who enjoy the competition and I'm happy to let them have their competition. They will usually beat me but I try to give it a good shot and don't make it too easy.

My participation in any event usually depends on the "equipment" needed. I don't have any glow models and therefore I won't participate in the OS Event but if I can join in, I usually will.

I believe events only work if there are enough participants and supporters so even if I do not participate I will try to get there and show my support. I have seen quite a few members turning up for their normal flight on a competition day after the competition has finished. There may occasionally be a valid reason for that but mostly I believe this shows a "I don't care what you guys do" attitude which in my opinion is a sad sign that the cohesion in our club is somewhat lacking.


But back to the events....
I like the simple events with some action best. Too many rules and complex tasks make it less fun. For example a speed event to find the fastest plane would be exactly my thing. No limits, just top speed in level flight would be enough rules.

Peter

Hi
I personally have entered a few competitions and have enjoyed them alot. I would love to enter more but time permits me to have the whole day to endulge in flying RC planes.
I must say a big thanks to the few who organise these competitions they do a great job and make it a really fun day !!!

I have 2 suggestions:

1: Maybe instead of having a competition over the whole day have a morning or afternoon one, i know for one ill be going to more of these. Also this may make it less formal, quicker and more casual.

2: How about a one make competition, there are many very cheap, good ARF foamies or simular, same plane same motor, same esc, then if someone is concerned about being outclassed (which i know i have been) then its going to be fairer. Also with a one make it could be something like a slower plane, powered glider, see who can stay up the longest. There is even a club in the states where they do RC-combat with 40"WS biplanes. I found from experience i needed to go to an event to see what other wpeople were flying so over the next year i could prepare a plane or glider for that comp. This stock event would eleiminate this.

i think this is a great thread and look forward to hearing from other people.

regards
Rob

Having run the comps. for a few years now and watched the turn out for the fun fly,combat, and race get lower and lower i feel the culture of the club has changed away from the combativeness of the old days a few years ago we were getting 20-30 members turning up for these events and with only 5-6 guys competing we cannot justify closing the field.One thing that may have had an influence is we have come down from a high of 230 members to about 165 this year.
The pole that Clive has put on the comps, will get a distorted result as like me i vote every time i clock on and 5 of those scale day votes are mine so to gauge a true result we should only be able to vote once for perhaps more then one contest.
Dave.

Increase the number of popular event days and combine the less popular ie add another scale day and combine combat and funfly into one day.

Thanks for the replies so far. Let's keep this one ticking a bit more. If you take a look at the results of the voting so far, 55% of votes (66 in number) have been for something other than the listed suggestions, and it'll be interesting to hear what people have in mind. Of the rest, 20 votes have been cast for scale (and Mr Pound admits to being 5 of those...at least), with combat getting 9 and glider getting 6 (which surprised me, given how popular glider day is.

I'm all for having a morning (or afternoon event) where we have fun fly, combat, speed, pylon or any practical combination (I appreciate that pylon takes a bit of infrastructure), and the ideas about having stock classes and very simple rules are both workable. It should be possible to fit in 4 rounds of combat, 4 rounds of fun fly and 4 rounds of racing into a 4-5 hour slot and maybe there is a something there that would appeal to a wider group of competitors and audience. I'd suggest that 10 entrants, overall, would justify closing the field for half a day, if we notified members well in advance.

The other thing, though, is that there has to be enough interest to justify the time of the contest director and other organisers. I'm wondering whether we could put up an event that allows any aircraft to enter, and has a range of sub events - combat, race, aerobatic, limbo, climb and glide, hover, slow fly, spot landing, a few of the fun fly ideas - where people nominate any 4 or 5 sub events to enter, and each one has x points for first, y points for second, etc, with the winner being the most points over their nominated events.

I'd be happy to stick my hand up to try and get confirmed entrants, or even team entries. Any thoughts?

Clive

Well, judging from the huge response to my note on a "Parachute" comp it is not one of the "other" comps that 48% of the membership want - what are those comps? As to being up against someone 1/3 my age I'd love it. Firstly it would mean we had some 22 yr old members (how many are even under 40 these days) and secondly there is nothing half so much fun as beating guys a third my age!
As to comps - my bet is always on Fun Flys. Simple events that any plane can fly will increase flying skills and promote involvement and there's nothing like limbo to draw a crowd.