SEN 2571
- Where is Bezos when you need him
- USFFC
Where is Bezos when you need him
From: Ross Jahnke
Roger,
Purchasing free flight equipment and supplies is very challenging, compared
to the purchase of other items in todays marketplace. Read facebook free
flight posts and you see all sorts of enquiries about where to get
thus-and-such. I am putting together an F1Q and have had to scour the
internet to find drivetrain parts, and order from multiple suppliers using
multiple payment methods. The experience is the same with my rubber models,
and my Sci-Only student’s glider supplies. Some suppliers (not in the F1Q
case) only want cash or checks (tax dodging???), others Western Union bank
transfers, while others take credit cards and Paypal. I spent 45 minutes in
a very public corner of the local CVS trying to make a WU payment. Let’s
leave Western Union for the Nigerian princes.
I would *love* an Amazon-style site where the manufacturers perform order
fulfillment, but search and payment are through a single secure 21st
century system like Paypal or credit card. This system would cost money,
adding 5%-10% to the cost of goods, but the increased traffic would improve
exposure and sales. We don’t need fulfillment centers, and parts
made-to-order would still be a major component of the industry. I would
never expect next day delivery on a Magic Timer or a carbon DLG tailboom,
but the ability to see and order both at the same time with one payment
would be lovely, and habit forming.
And though it would not bring young people flooding to the field, it would
remove a significant deterrent to entry. When you have to buy form ten
suppliers using five payment method, some sketchy, just to get set up to
fly P30, an R/C trainer from Hobby King with all accessories in one
shopping cart, with one click payment becomes attractive. Younger people
(those not eligible for AARP membership) are familiar and comfortable with
modern internet purchasing practices. And before we get the “this sport is
already too expensive” argument, remember that people will pay $2,500 for a
bespoken single speed bike without fenders, just to get a kevlar reenforced
belt drivetrain and hand-sewn leather grips, just to ride to the coffee
shop for a $6 latte.
I do not know how to build this, but there must be people among us who have
tech experience that could. It would take cooperation, and a level of
transparency that some of our suppliers may not be willing to provide. But
those who participated would benefit and grow their business, and those who
want to fly something new, would have an easier time getting the parts.
discuss…
USFFC at Lost Hills
This event will be held at Lost Hills 12-14 October. This is the week end before the F1ABC World Champs and the same weekend as the Sierra Cup. These events will be coordinating field set up and usage.
The Official Flyer for the event is in a format (kind of a matrix with 3 columns and 5 or 6 rows) that is difficult to include as because of the way SEN I delivered and often read on a mobile device.
We have it here: But you can get it in the original format from the Lost Hills web site . The link is below
49th ANNUAL UNITED STATES FREE FLIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS
October 12 – 14, 2019 at Lost Hills, CA – Category II – AMA Sanction – National Cup Events
Saturday October 12 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Modern Events
E-36
A Electric P-30*
Moffett and Mulvihill Catapult Glider* Pen (Jr and Op
A Gas* C/D Gas*
NOSTALGIA EVENTS
Nostalgia Electric
Early 1/2 A Nostalgia
Golden Age
Nostalgia Rubber Large & Small
1/4 A Gas Nost.
A Gas Nost.
CLASSIC
Classic Towline* Jimmy Allen Classic A/B Gas*
OLD TIMER EVENTS
1/2 A Texaco (ROG)
Texaco (ROG)
A Pylon / A Fuselage
B/C Pylon / B/C Fuselage
.020 Replica
Sunday October 13 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Modern Events
E-36
A Electric P-30*
Moffett and Mulvihill
Hand Launch Glider* Pen (Jr and Open) 1/2 A
B Gas*
NOSTALGIA EVENTS
Nostalgia Electric
Early 1/2 A Nostalgia
Golden Age
Nostalgia Rubber Large & Small
1/2 A Gas Nost.
B Gas Nost.
C Gas Nost
CLASSIC
Classic Towline* Classic 1/2 A Gas* Jimmy A
OLD TIMER EVENTS
NOTE: Old Timer Only…ALL O/T Events
can be flown any day at any time during the
Contest.
You do not have to start and finish the sam
day.
UNOFFICIAL EVENTS
Gollywock Mass Launch7:30 a.m.
E36 Mass Launch 8am HLG Mass Launch 8:30am
Twin Pusher Mass Launch 9 am E36 Mass Launc
Night Gas
Monday October 14 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Modern Events
Vintage FAI Power (see notes) Super D
Pro P-30
Gollywock one design 3X3
NOSTALGIA EVENTS
Nostalgia Electric
Early 1/2 A Nostalgia
Golden Age
Nostalgia Rubber Large & Small
CLASSIC
Classic Towline* Classic C/D Gas* Jimm
OLD TIMER EVENTS
Small Rubber Stick
Small Rubber Cabin
Large Rubber Stick
Large Rubber Cabin / 8 oz. Wakefield
US FF CHAMPS REGISTRATION: Proof of current AMA Membership and current Lost Hill’s Membership required.
$30 includes first Event. Additional events are $10 each. Gold card $75 includes unlimited event. Juniors $5 per event with awards in all events.
Awards: Cash: Five or more flyers 1st/$50, 2nd/$25, 3rd/$15.
Four flyers 1st/$25, 2nd/$15.
Three flyers 1st/ $15.
Two flyers 1st/$5
JR EVENTS will be 1st/$15, 2nd/$10, 3rd/ $5.
Sweepstakes: $100 cash
Lost Hills Member’s Meeting, Saturday, October 12 at 6:30 p.m. at CD table
Notes:
All Engine Runs and Max Times are per the AMA Rule Book and NFFS Official Competition Rules.
Events on Multiple days to be completed on the day flown
Timecards: Submit timecards to CD table or event table after each official flight.
ENTER ALL TIMES IN SECONDS, except TEXACO Events.
Hand Launch and Catapult Glider will be flown from a pen – submit time cards to CD table every two flights.
Vintage FAI Power: First Flight 8:30am-9:00am Time to the ground. Then Four 1-hour rounds. All 4 remaining flights 180 Sec Max. Then Fly offs.
Sweepstakes Total time for a maximum of 5 AMA events as indicated by *.
Contest Director ‘Glenn Schneider’
Lost Hills Web Site: http://www.lhffmaa.com
Link to original flyer.
http://www.lhffmaa.com/EVENTS%202019%20FLYERS/2019%20US%20FF%20schedule%20half%20page%204-4-19.pdf