Confused by Flite Test’s direction
- Thread starter mcmoyer
- Start date
Meh... I'm a volunteer. If I get fired from here, I won't miss any payments on my truck.
PsyBorg
Wake up! Time to fly!
Dude I'm dying here.
Now Monte, in all seriousness to your point, double meh.
People these days think they have the right to bully staff in their workplaces by making attacking comments and then crying foul if the staff member calls them on those comments.
Fortunately, as stated above I am a volunteer, and do not have to refrain from comments out of fear of losing any income. I do hold back because, as you point out, the fact I am an admin here my actions and statements could reflect on Flite Test.
But fortunately I wasn't being mean or insulting, I merely addressed the points made by a member with counterpoints. If you can't handle having a statement countered, then don't make the statement. Especially when those statements are meant as slander against a group of people I highly respect.
People these days think they have the right to bully staff in their workplaces by making attacking comments and then crying foul if the staff member calls them on those comments.
Fortunately, as stated above I am a volunteer, and do not have to refrain from comments out of fear of losing any income. I do hold back because, as you point out, the fact I am an admin here my actions and statements could reflect on Flite Test.
But fortunately I wasn't being mean or insulting, I merely addressed the points made by a member with counterpoints. If you can't handle having a statement countered, then don't make the statement. Especially when those statements are meant as slander against a group of people I highly respect.
SSgt Duramax
Junior Member
I have moderated forums in the past. I love it when folks do that. They attack you/the site and if you call a spade a spade they file a hurt feelings report. Don't let it get to you. 99% of the time site admins/mods don't get paid. I was on a fairly lucrative site and I got a $100 Amazon card once a year for Christmas. Lol.
i had the exact same damage after flying it through a tree
Monte.C
...
The title "moderator" comes inherently with power over the futures of others on this forum, without which said moderator has no authority to carry out the purpose of their appointed position. The mature moderator knows that with this power comes responsibilities of conduct. The immature moderator will never be respected as such.
I do expect there will be splashback. I'm content to let it lie where it falls.
Peace.
Mr.Grinch
Well-known member
FT has changed in many ways and stays the same in some. There will be arguments for and against from both sides. Josh said many years ago that FT would always provide free plans and if that stopped people should leave. The world evolved and thieves overseas and even members of the FT community made it impossible for free plans to be available anymore. It’s disappointing that it has come to that, but FT is trying to move forward as best as they can. FTCA membership is a small expense, less than the cost of a complete plane with electronics, but it is a way for FT to be able to release “free” plans and maintain some protection from theft of their IP. It’s unfortunate that it has to be that way, but they have to do SOMETHING to be a successful business.
I personally don’t watch the videos anymore due to the invasive advertising and the focus on giant aircraft. I have stated how I feel about it, but I’m not going to dwell on it and constantly complain about it on the forums. That doesn’t change the fact that they have a successful YouTube channel that they have been able to monetize and gain attention which helps them to grow the business.
FT is a US based business and as such the majority of what they do is going to be more beneficial to people geographically closer to them. If you happen to live close enough or have the time to travel to their location, you can take advantage of more of what they offer. If you live too far away, or outside the US, it less likely that you will be able to benefit from everything that FT provides. FT has not grown enough to be able to provide equally around the globe. Just like we in the US cannot expect small businesses outside the the US to provide the same level of service as they do locally.
Please recognize that FT is NOT doing what they do to please (or offend) YOU individually, they are working to provide for and grow the community as a whole.
I personally don’t watch the videos anymore due to the invasive advertising and the focus on giant aircraft. I have stated how I feel about it, but I’m not going to dwell on it and constantly complain about it on the forums. That doesn’t change the fact that they have a successful YouTube channel that they have been able to monetize and gain attention which helps them to grow the business.
FT is a US based business and as such the majority of what they do is going to be more beneficial to people geographically closer to them. If you happen to live close enough or have the time to travel to their location, you can take advantage of more of what they offer. If you live too far away, or outside the US, it less likely that you will be able to benefit from everything that FT provides. FT has not grown enough to be able to provide equally around the globe. Just like we in the US cannot expect small businesses outside the the US to provide the same level of service as they do locally.
Please recognize that FT is NOT doing what they do to please (or offend) YOU individually, they are working to provide for and grow the community as a whole.
Ah!
Not to worry.
I have never used my moderator powers to silence someone I was in a debate with. While I strongly disagree with the view that theFlyingBrit has expressed, I wouldn't use the forum moderator powers to silence him. From what I've seen, he's expressed himself within the rules of the forum and has kept all of his comments on topic. I enjoy a good argument online and respect someone who can have a difference of opinion, and keep the conversation on track.
There will be a build video. Josh B is back at designing.
Trace the parts onto poster board as you cut them out. Now you have templates!
SSgt Duramax
Junior Member
I personally think there are enough plans that flite test can carry out it's mission for getting people into the hobby cheap. For my daughters plane, I think my all in cost was less than $100.
$3 for building supplies, $30 for a HBK rx/tx, some borderline sketch ebay motor/esc combo for $20, a couple 2 s batteries, and a few misc things from the store. Compared to what it was when I got into it, and room to grow.... wow! I wish my other hobbies were that cheap. I post regularly on Audizine, RDForums, and AR15.com. Those are expensive things. Heck, I wonder how many planes I could build for the cost of a box of 7.62.
Everytime I watch an old video where Josh smiles and says plans are free and always will be I kind of eyeroll. But the exact same thing that happened to FT happened to my wife. She would design and sell dresses. Then counterfeiters started knocking off her stuff. Then she would get people mad at her that the dress they didn't buy from here was messed up!
I have to say, if I were John, I wouldn't let my plans get released either, just to watch the deadbeats who are too lazy to design their own kits copy my work , print it out, and make money on it.
$3 for building supplies, $30 for a HBK rx/tx, some borderline sketch ebay motor/esc combo for $20, a couple 2 s batteries, and a few misc things from the store. Compared to what it was when I got into it, and room to grow.... wow! I wish my other hobbies were that cheap. I post regularly on Audizine, RDForums, and AR15.com. Those are expensive things. Heck, I wonder how many planes I could build for the cost of a box of 7.62.
Everytime I watch an old video where Josh smiles and says plans are free and always will be I kind of eyeroll. But the exact same thing that happened to FT happened to my wife. She would design and sell dresses. Then counterfeiters started knocking off her stuff. Then she would get people mad at her that the dress they didn't buy from here was messed up!
I have to say, if I were John, I wouldn't let my plans get released either, just to watch the deadbeats who are too lazy to design their own kits copy my work , print it out, and make money on it.
PsyBorg
Wake up! Time to fly!
The FT plans new AND old are STILL FREAKIN FREE. My god what does it take to get people to understand that. Just because they are behind a more secure method of distribution does NOT change the fact that the plans are STILL freakin FREE. If certain newer plans are not released to the general public that is a totally different thing at work but the FT plans are STILL freakin FREE!
Log into your FTCA account and see prices on plans THEN everyone can come here and cry. For everyone's sanity if you MUST cry about it go do it to your mother at least she will console you all. How much more sissified will this world become before even the Aliens have had enough and come to eat, enslave, or annihilate humanity.
Give it a rest already you buncha crybabies.
Log into your FTCA account and see prices on plans THEN everyone can come here and cry. For everyone's sanity if you MUST cry about it go do it to your mother at least she will console you all. How much more sissified will this world become before even the Aliens have had enough and come to eat, enslave, or annihilate humanity.
Give it a rest already you buncha crybabies.
basslord1124
Master member
In the grand scheme of things the plans are not technically free. You still got pay for your internet to access them.
Well, I guess, unless you wanna leech off someone else's wifi.
Well, I guess, unless you wanna leech off someone else's wifi.
SSgt Duramax
Junior Member
They get mad when you start cutting foam board at starbucks. Which they shouldn't as much as their mediocre coffee costs.In the grand scheme of things the plans are not technically free. You still got pay for your internet to access them.
Well, I guess, unless you wanna leech off someone else's wifi.
In all seriousness... libraries are starting to add "maker spaces". If needed, you may find they'd be tolerant if you cleaned up after yourself.
Steve Rosenbach
Member
Never mind! The build videos (several shorter ones rather than one long one) have just hit YouTube. Thanks Josh!!!
Ratcheeroo
Legendary member
And obviously his response to you says it all my friend. It's bad enough to have to participate in and watch threads like this go off the rail , like they normally do, especially lately. I don't particularly have an opinion as far as this thread goes because no matter what you say, good or bad, its just going to spiral downward, and @FlyingMonkey is either going to tell you how ungrateful you are to Flite Test , etc.(because thats all I'm hearing from him, sad) What happened to the days when people could listen to each other and have meaningful discussions without the need to degrade someone because their view is somewhat different from your own. Absolutely appalled by the way this discussion has gone and absolutely agree with @Monte.C and his comment.
cannot find it, do you have to be a member?
I have sourced mine from many sources... but I do enjoy the simplicity of the Packaged Power Kit being SOLID, dependable, generally a notch above average at least. The savings... tend to be non-existent in the long run in my experience.
@mcmoyer - your post is an echo of this community's thoughts. (while we all differ in opinion) I have had the same thinking... "these kits are almost the price of an ARF" or "weren't there supposed to be free plans, forever?" so thank you for stating these plainly and without malice. it has spawned a great conversation. (what Forums are - Conversing/debate/idea spaces)
Reading what @FlyingMonkey and others are saying, it reminds me that this Home here is one I have been grateful for, but mostly taken for granted. It is possible (unlikely though it may be) that this forum could be shut off. (I hope not) I have over 26 of my personal designs posted here for free that I don't have all backed up independently. I am a Happy contributor to this forum and community, but I think I would be miffed to have other folks take my plans and sell them. I put them here to have others build and fly them for personal use... but I don't think I have a Creative Commons license on my work (yet.) and ATM other can do just that. I'm sure at first it would be exciting, but if I think of how the lost money could afford me a laser cutter or something... it could begin to jade me. (as it has many other hobby/creators have felt, Example: Sean - IBCrazy) These hobby innovators work their tails off and risk their livelyhoods on maintaining exclusivity of their products and also own the QA/QC. Ultimately this community promotes a fun, creative approach to RC, is why a start here each RC excursion.
Personally, I know that I have the capacity to take any design here and spend some hours to clone something done here. With a cutting device begin producing kits, not of my design. I have even heard of Alleged Design theft within the community to the point some designers are now waiting until EVERYTHING is done tested and in production to release at once, so a leaked Idea doesn't become someone else's thunder. Which, in my eyes, is a very community Killing tactic.
To be clear, I don't mean when two people are genuinely interested in the same idea and they come to pass at nearly the same point. Like @jpot1 and I with the Synergy (I love that guys work) I'm still working up mine. I mean someone hears that a designer is working on a project (like a declared project thread) and within days another designer 1 blows out the project and posts everything complete, so they can get the credit.
That idea leaves me feeling icky. It feels against the sprit here.
But in the world at large; being first, and lying cheating or stealing to do it are often applauded... if silently.
However there are TONS of planes to be inspired by, and really most of them have been done somewhere. and the popular ones... a lot! FT is not the first to design a STICK, Spitfire, Mustang, etc. but they have brought the price point and approachability of the hobby down. For that they have earned my support.
-FoamyDM - Pot stirrer
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