QBA and Q-talk Survey

This Survey was completed by 43 people. The results of the survey appear below.  I will publish  my analysis of the results in the next issue of Q-talk (Issue #143) which will be e-mailed out to all QBA Members on October 31st, 2010.

       
1. What should be the major goal of the Quickie Builders Association over the next 1-5
      years? (What is the one goal I should concentrate on first.)
   
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Increasing the number of QBA Members
4.7%
2
Increasing the number of Flying Quickies
39.5%
17
Increasing the number of Quickies under Construction.
9.3%
4
Increase Type Fly-in Attendance
2.3%
1
Increase traffic to the website
2.3%
1
Dispel Myths and Rumors about the Designs
2.3%
1
Support Builders
25.6%
11
Support Flyers
 
0.0%
0
Other (please specify)
14.0%
6
It would be nice to have access to a set of plans that include the JimBob 6 pack, and all the other options that the long time flying guys like Hoskins, Dwyer, Finley, etc., think are valuable. Mon, Oct 4, 2010
11:33 AM
I've been preaching it for years. Evolve/Enhance the design and people will be attracted to it. Look at CSA as a model. I know not everyone is interested but I wish people would stop discouraging it. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
9:49 AM
not a member Fri, Oct 1, 2010
6:12 AM
Definitely, ALL OF THE ABOVE! Fri, Oct 1, 2010
12:32 AM
Support builders and fliers. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
7:50 PM
Increase the number of Quickies flying to the fly Ins. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
7:16 PM
 
answered question
43
 
skipped question
0
 
2. What can the Quickie Builders Association do better to help Builders finish their planes?
      (Again what should I concentrate on first? This will help me prioritize.)
   
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Make all back issues of Q-talk available online
17.9%
7
Make all plans and templates available online
7.7%
3
Update the plans to make all designs "Scratch Buildable"
12.8%
5
Locate manufacturers willing to create "Hard to find" parts
5.1%
2
Affiliate with Vendors (i.e. Aircraft Spruce) and provide "QBA Member" discounts
5.1%
2
Point interested builders to specific ads on eBay, Craigslist, and Barnstormers
2.6%
1
Encourage builder attendance at fly-ins
23.1%
9
Other (please specify)
25.6%
10
Not sure how to express this but somehow create a virtual Quickie meeting house where there is a better exchange of ideas and helps to encourage progress. For example, I was struggling with whether I should cut out the main tank that I had installed after I found out that it was too tall to provide adequate leg clearance below the panel. I called Sam on a Monday night; he said that by the time I finish agonizing over it I could have it extracted. By the time I shut it down on Tuesday night it was done. The reinstall provided more benefits than I need to go into. I know that the newsgroups are supposed to do this but they seem to be a food fight at times, sigh. Tue, Oct 12, 2010
7:00 PM
1 , 2 and 3. Sat, Oct 9, 2010
3:52 PM
All of the above are valid points. However, let's keep it very, very simple. Different builders have different requirements and therefore the onus is on them to do their own homework. Q-Talk/QBA should only facilitate the platform for disseminating important (e.g. safety) information and provide a vehicle for enabling us to make our own contacts. The onus is on us. Let's stay with our simple roots - it worked for us in the past. Wed, Oct 6, 2010
3:05 PM
Buy my repro kits - If I ever get them finished ;-) For the original Quickie we need a standard and proven firewall forward engine. Next is to up date the Quickie with all that has been learned in the last 20+ years so it's quicker and easier to build. It should also be easier to inspect and maintain. Sat, Oct 2, 2010
5:55 PM
1. All plans and templates online
2. update plans to make all designs "scratch buildable"
3. locate manufacturers for "hard to find" parts
4. Affiliates with vendors - Spruce and Wicks have specific sections for Long-Ez - why not Quickie?
Sat, Oct 2, 2010
10:32 AM
Encourage builders to contact close by Q owners that are already flying or at least ahead of the builder in his project. I think more planes would get build sooner, if the male "I don't need advice" syndrome was lessened. (but I don't think we will be changing the gene pool any.) Fri, Oct 1, 2010
11:35 AM
In order of interest:
1. Make all back issues of Q-Talk avail. online (and searchable)
2. Manufacturers for hard to find parts
3. affiliation with recommendations for parts by seasoned builders.
Fri, Oct 1, 2010
11:28 AM
All of the above is good. However; there is ZERO market. Additionally, a plans/manual redraw/write would helpful (all changes incorporated). However; without a market (funding source), this will never happen. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
9:49 AM
it's working fine Fri, Oct 1, 2010
6:12 AM
A list of the common mods, plans changes,etc that someone building in the future could find in one place. I am not currently planning on writing this. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
7:50 PM
 
answered question
39
 
skipped question
4
 
3. What can the Quickie Builders Association do to better support current active Flyers?
      (Please choose one thing. This will help me prioritize.)
   
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Find more information and vendors geared towards finished aircraft
2.3%
1
Provide yearly awards for "Best Overall", "Highest Hours", etc.
9.3%
4
Provide performance specs on flying aircraft
7.0%
3
Make Fly-ins more convenient to attend
20.9%
9
Affiliate with Vendors (i.e. Aircraft Spruce) and provide "QBA Member" discounts
2.3%
1
I am not currently flying a Quickie
41.9%
18
Other (please specify)
16.3%
7
Anything that is raw data based is a good direction.
Our daily opinions about subjects we are feed through Yahoo discussion forums.

If you realize that forums are either a club fo the "good ol boys" , or a place where you rather die than being wrong, or a place to be social on, ....you've got it.

Flyers that are in the " been there...done that" category, are reluctant to really go all the way out and help out. ...they do occasionally but they rather say hi and hello to their buddies, and have a social chat on when and where they are suppose to be at what airport, and invite each other for dinner, and an obligatory admiration for each others aircraft.

THERE is where the good information is exchanged.

On forums, in general, if you get more than five sentences out of a posting, youre lucky, mostly it is a one liner.

In general very few postings are, on top of it all, following the threads.

A thread starts about combustion engines, and very quick the discussion is about Titanics sinking.

Guys that have built, have passed that point and are more interested in their social life with their aircraft buddies now, their priorities have changed.

So those that build are asking other bulders that doesn't know more than they do....so it has a tendency of being the blind leading the blind.

If each built and flying aircraft would have a fifteen twenty minute video on it, where the aircraft owner can describe about his aircraft, ....and prefereably in detail,... if his attention span is good enough...that would , give a lot of information that actually can be used.

I was a memeber of QBA for a long time, but the guy running it at the time, had an idea of putting himself on the frontpage of each newsletter, so it looked more like a fan mail from a wannabe moviestar than an aircraft building newsletter.

.....so I quit it, and have not been a member since.

Sat, Oct 9, 2010
3:52 PM
See above. Support evolving the design. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
9:49 AM
all the above Fri, Oct 1, 2010
6:12 AM
Ensure a yearly type fly-in, like our annual fly-ins of the past in Beatrice, Sullivan, Ottawa, etc. Meeting other current flyers and exchanging information, inspecting installations, and getting answers to questions is a huge shot in the arm for all involved. Also, keeping the daily means of staying in touch via some means like the Q-List is vitally important to all, flyers and builders alike. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
12:32 AM
As long as builders and fliers can communicate and know where they are located. That would be the main mission now. The design has been around long enough that most construction and flying issues are known. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
7:50 PM
Getting to fly this little speedster is all I need for support. It has taken my wife and I from border to border and coast to coast in the U.S. The comradery in the group is very close and supportive. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
7:16 PM
still building Thu, Sep 30, 2010
10:32 AM
 
answered question
43
 
skipped question
0
 
4. Do you like the new "e-mail only" format of the Q-talk newsletter?
   
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Yes
59.0%
23
No
41.0%
16
Please explain briefly. . .
     

Yes and no: I would like to go back to the option of being able to print from a PDF file. Much more money and I would cancel as I don't feel that I'm getting all that much from the current format.

Tue, Oct 12, 2010
7:00 PM
I'm a print oriented guy.

My kids just gave me a T-shirt that says:

EAT
SLEEP
READ

Sun, Oct 10, 2010
2:11 PM
An electronic format is preferable to a paper one. However, I've been unable to find a way to download Q-Talk as a one-piece file as I used to be able to do it before. My last one-piece Q-Talk filed away on my hard drive is #138. I consider this very important as I may need to refer to them later on. Am I missing something? Wed, Oct 6, 2010
3:05 PM
I miss having a hard copy of the articles. Can I download the articles?? Tue, Oct 5, 2010
9:59 PM
I liked a letter in the mail much more. Tue, Oct 5, 2010
5:21 PM
Newsletter better. Tue, Oct 5, 2010
3:08 PM
Articles are too hard to find. Tue, Oct 5, 2010 6:05 AM

I never got an answer to my questions...

Mon, Oct 4, 2010
1:25 PM
If it was easy to print off for saving in my printed stuff, it would be OK. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
1:09 PM
While I like the new format, it makes it nearly impossible to print out the newsletter due to all of the links. Sometimes I like to have a hardcopy to simply set at the airport and read it. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
11:35 AM
Less storage and easier searches. Of course more and better pix are very nice also. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
11:28 AM
I don't get it. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
6:12 AM
My printer is shot again. I like snail mailed hard copies, sorry. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
9:30 PM

But as long as someone is doing it any format is fine with me.
Thanks Dan

Thu, Sep 30, 2010
7:50 PM
I like getting it in the mail Thu, Sep 30, 2010
5:03 PM
I like the PDF format with all articles together. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
12:48 PM
I like relaxing at home reading the paper version of the newsletter. The only computer time I have is at work. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
10:55 AM
I don't like the newsletter at all because it is not "email" at all. It is just a bunch of links to websites. If the content were actually included in the email (as Doug used to do), I am fine with it. I certainly have no need for a paper newsletter. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
9:24 AM
 
answered question
39
 
skipped question
4
 
5. Would you be willing to pay more for your membership if the payments
      were spread throughout the year?
   
Response
Percent
Response
Count
No, I don't wish to pay any more for my membership
57.9%
22
Yes, I would prefer monthly payments
 
0.0%
0
Yes, I would prefer quarterly payments
5.3%
2
Yes, I would prefer semi-annual payments
(Twice per year)
 
0.0%
0
Other (please specify)
36.8%
14

I would pay more once yearly (see #6)

Sun, Oct 10, 2010
2:11 PM

Let's keep it (very) simple and reasonably inexpensive.

Wed, Oct 6, 2010
3:05 PM

The price is not bad, and a little more would be OK. Mon, Oct 4, 2010
11:33 AM
I would be willing to pay a little more, if I could get to the hard to find parts and or detail instructions on some parts. Mon, Oct 4, 2010
10:32 AM
If you can't afford a lump sum for the newsletter there is no way your going to ever finish a Q ;-) Sat, Oct 2, 2010
5:55 PM
If it needs to go up in cost, then OK i'll pay it once a year. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
1:09 PM
Yes, but would pay once a year Fri, Oct 1, 2010
7:20 AM

i don't wish to pay for a "membership"

Fri, Oct 1, 2010
6:12 AM
Willing to pay more if needed. Annual is fine Fri, Oct 1, 2010
5:28 AM
I'm very happy with the once-a-year payment... get it done in January, and it's done for the year.
Fri, Oct 1, 2010
12:32 AM
once per year is fine Thu, Sep 30, 2010
9:30 PM
yearly is fine with me. An increase is ok also. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
7:16 PM
At this point I see no value to belonging to the QBA at all. Newsletter was the only thing, and it's gone now.
Thu, Sep 30, 2010
9:24 AM

I don't mind paying more, within reason, but would probably just prefer to pay annually.

Thu, Sep 30, 2010
9:08 AM
 
answered question
38
 
skipped question
5
 
6. Would you be willing to pay more for your membership if the newsletter
      was printed and mailed? (Snail Mail)
   
Response
Percent
Response
Count
No, I am happy with the current e-mail format
57.9%
22
No, I want a printed version without having to pay more
5.3%
2
Yes, I would pay $50 per year
2.6%
1
Yes, and I would be willing to pay more than $50 per year. (I must have a printed version.)
 
0.0%
0
Other (please specify)...
34.2%
13

A little more if a PDF was sent out.

Tue, Oct 12, 2010
7:00 PM

E-mail format is OK but we need to be able to download it in one piece as before.

Wed, Oct 6, 2010
3:05 PM

I am happy the the e-mail version if I can print it. Tue, Oct 5, 2010
9:59 PM
why not provide members with a financial statement? Tue, Oct 5, 2010
5:21 PM
I would pay more, but not $50 Maybe $40 Tue, Oct 5, 2010
6:05 AM
Not sure what my $ limit would be, but you appear to be a fair person so just let me know. Mon, Oct 4, 2010
11:33 AM
The option would be nice for those that like paper in the hand, but it should have good pics, maybe even color. Sat, Oct 2, 2010
5:55 PM

I would pay more if it was easy to print. Like go to one page and print off the whole thing at one time.

Fri, Oct 1, 2010
1:09 PM
printed and $30 Thu, Sep 30, 2010
9:30 PM
Willing to pay $5 more
Thu, Sep 30, 2010
5:03 PM
Electronic PDF email out as before. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
12:48 PM
See note above. There doesn't seem to be any content in the email version. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
9:24 AM
I would pay more, but I think $50 per year is quite a jump.
Thu, Sep 30, 2010
9:08 AM
 
answered question
38
 
skipped question
5
 
7. Would you be willing to pay more for your membership if you could print out the newsletter?
   
Response
Percent
Response
Count
No, I am happy with the current e-mail format
47.1%
16
No, I want to be able to print the newsletter without paying anything extra
26.5%
9
Yes, I would pay $40 per year if I could print out the newsletter.
14.7%
5
Yes, I would pay more than $40 per year.
(I need a hard copy.)
2.9%
1
Other (please specify)
8.8%
3

I just need to download Q-Talk electronically as I used to under Doug 'Hawkeye' Humble.

Wed, Oct 6, 2010
3:05 PM

We can't now? I never tried. Maybe a watermarked PDF at the end of each year would be a good idea. I'd probably pay a bit extra for that option.

Sat, Oct 2, 2010
5:55 PM

Again, that's a pretty good jump to just essentially get back to "even" regarding the newsletter Thu, Sep 30, 2010
9:08 AM
 
answered question
34
 
skipped question
9
 
8. Membership dues have not changed since 1987 (23 years). What do you think is a fair
     price for the value you receive from the QBA newsletter and website?
   
Response
Percent
Response
Count
$15 per year
2.6%
1
$20 per year (Current price)
28.9%
11
$25 per year
26.3%
10
$30 per year
18.4%
7
$35 per year
2.6%
1
$40 per year
5.3%
2
$45 per year
 
0.0%
0
$50 per year
 
0.0%
0
$50+ per year
2.6%
1
Other Please Specify. . .
13.2%
5

$30 w/E-mail; $50 w/printed Newsletter

Sun, Oct 10, 2010
2:11 PM

The Q-Talk is more important for me than the website. However, the Q-Talk should make plentiful references to all relevant sites on the web. You as an editor have to balance price vs. membership, the more costly (read exclusive) the membership is, the fewer members there will be. My advice? Keep it simple and inexpensive.

Wed, Oct 6, 2010
3:05 PM

I'd let you decide. You know the costs and need something for your effort. Mon, Oct 4, 2010
11:33 AM
It all depends on content. Sat, Oct 2, 2010
5:55 PM
I defer, I haven't seen much yet and am waiting to see what develops. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
9:49 AM
 
answered question
38
 
skipped question
5
 
9. What motivates you to contribute? What could QBA do to help members contribute articles/pictures/videos to the newsletter?
   
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Make the process easier
20.6%
7
Provide more recognition in the newsletter to those that contribute
8.8%
3
Provide prizes (T-shirts, mugs, etc.) to members who contribute
5.9%
2
Provide Free/Extended Memberships to people who contribute
26.5%
9
Pay people to write articles
5.9%
2
Pay people to hunt down members who don't contribute :-)
 
0.0%
0
Other Please Specify. . .
32.4%
11

I am so strapped for tiem I haven't worked on the plane in months.

Tue, Oct 12, 2010
7:00 PM

Forget the payment and prizes!! We're a bunch of amateurs who supposedly enjoy building and flying our own creation. If we're unable to have enough members contributing articles, then we probably cannot have a Q-Talk. People must understand that.

Wed, Oct 6, 2010
3:05 PM

I'd rather contribute to an open forum like the Qlist. Wed, Oct 6, 2010
2:52 PM
I enjoy looking at the pictures Mike Dwyer has posted about his building process back in the 80's. It would be nice to see that on video, like your construction log episodes. Mon, Oct 4, 2010
11:33 AM
Not sure on this one. Mon, Oct 4, 2010
10:32 AM
I think if there were more building activity you would just naturally get more contributions. As it is now the Q community had kind of transisitioned into an "old boys club" of long ago completed Q's. Sat, Oct 2, 2010
5:55 PM
My problem is just making the time to contribute articles. I have done several in the past and have a couple I could do now. Maybe more emphasis and reminders in the newsletter for people to contribute. The articles are the most important to me. There is a lot of knowledge and clever ideas among us. Every editor has faced the same problems. TIME is the issue. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
11:35 AM

With your help, the process is already extremely simple. So, I think if people could be shown a little more assurance that their ideas would benefit someone else, I'm sure most people would be very willing to share. Perhaps an article on the basic steps on writing an article. ie purpose of idea, how to build it, pictures (format extension and "size"), etc.
You do have a knack for organization, which is helpful. You could offer to help with the write-up.

Fri, Oct 1, 2010
11:28 AM
Seeing others contribute. When I feel like there are only a handful of guys helping/doing anything, I don't want to even bother. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
9:49 AM
Good night, the sharing of information that could be helpful to another builder or flyer should be incentive enough! Everyone has something to share that could have value, they just have to identify what it is that could be of help to someone, like an idea they ran across in another publication, or something unique on their plane, or something learned in a conversation, or an idea that didn't work after all, all geared towards helping us all build better planes. Just letting the membership know that nothing is too trivial but that something can always have value to others should be incentive enough to be that cudgel to get others to write an article. The process couldn't be any easier... people just need to decide to write an article, and then just do it!
Fri, Oct 1, 2010
12:32 AM
Sounds like you will accept info of anykind. I need to find a new excuse. Thu, Sep 30, 2010
7:50 PM
 
answered question
34
 
skipped question
9
 
10. Would it be OK to run advertisements in Q-talk if that raised additional money for QBA?
   
Response
Percent
Response
Count
No, I think ads are distracting, I would rather pay more for my membership
15.4%
6
No, I don't want to see ads, and I don't want to pay more for my membership
7.7%
3
Yes, ads would be fine
56.4%
22
Other (please specify)
20.5%
8

A few ads, that pertain to aviation would be ok

Tue, Oct 5, 2010
6:05 AM

Yes, but make them relevent, & not too many. I.E.-jackets & glasses 7 kitchen do-dads are not relevent

Mon, Oct 4, 2010
1:25 PM

I think you need to do whatever it takes for the additional money for the site to stay up and running strong, On the same note I hate adds unless it was quickie specific, just my two cents. Mon, Oct 4, 2010
10:32 AM
Only if they are relevant to pilots in general. Sat, Oct 2, 2010
5:55 PM
How would that money be used?? Fri, Oct 1, 2010
11:35 AM
don't mind as long as they are appropriate to this audience and not too obtrusive Fri, Oct 1, 2010
11:35 AM
From a viewing perspective, I don't care. When the advertisers start controlling the pulication, I care. Fri, Oct 1, 2010
9:49 AM

no ads

Thu, Sep 30, 2010
7:50 PM
 
answered question
39
 
skipped question
4