Awards and Scholarships

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has awarded a $50 Club Recognition and Reward Grant to the State College RC Club of Pennsylvania. The club was featured in the Centre Daily Times on March 13, 2016. The story, titled "SpikesFest provides family fun on a rainy day," shares the story of an indoor event in the Penn State Multi-Sport Facility in which the State College RC Club participated. The article explains how popular the club's booth was with the children at the event, especially the model airplane flight simulators. Club Vice President, Elwood Brem, and Secretary, Chris Ivory, were both interviewed for the article. You can read the full story from the Centre Daily Times here. [caption id="attachment_2721" align="alignright" width="285"] Dontae Stafford, 9, flies an airplane simulator at the State College Remote Control Club booth.[/caption] The AMA Club Recognition and Reward Program was established to encourage clubs to promote model aviation. The AMA offers clubs cash incentives for positive local media coverage for a public event, public service, club announcement, or other coverage. Click here to learn more about this program.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has awarded a $75 Club Recognition and Reward Grant to the Wolverine Skyhawks of Cedar Springs, Michigan.

The club was featured in The Grand Rapids Press on January 10, 2016. The story, titled “Model aircraft club keeps flying high during the winter,” explains how the Wolverine Skyhawks are able to fly during the winter months. On inclement days, club members take to indoor flight at a sports center. The venue charges a daily fee to use the facility’s indoor soccer fields. Skyhawk club president, Eric Pipenger, says members are happy to “keep their hands on the stick.”

[caption id="attachment_2461" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Wolverine Skyhawks club president, Eric Pipenger[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2462" align="alignright" width="271"] Robert Shaffer, of Grand Rapids, makes a few adjustments before flying his plane.[/caption]

The piece goes on to explore various aspects of model flight and why Wolverine Skyhawk members have stuck with the hobby for years. A notable part of the article is Robert Shaffer of Grand Rapids. He’s new to the hobby and joined other model flight enthusiasts at the young age of 90.

You can find the full story from The Grand Rapids Press here.

The AMA Club Recognition and Reward Program was established to encourage clubs to promote model aviation. The AMA offers clubs cash incentives for positive local media coverage for a public event, public service, club announcement, or other coverage. Click here to learn more about this program.

 

We're happy to announce the winner of the California Dream Flight Sweepstakes. Christopher Mayer, of Owatonna, MN, was randomly chosen from entries submitted by approximately 5,000 people.

The California Dream Flight sweepstakes challenged entrants to make a voluntary donation to the AMA Foundation to build a foundation for the future. The sweepstakes raised $15,000 within the entry period.

[caption id="attachment_2422" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Grand prize winner, Christopher Mayer[/caption]

Mayer’s prize included round-trip airfare for two to California; a three-day/two-night stay at DoubleTree by Hilton; free admission to AMA Expo, in Ontario, California; a rental car and a $250 food stipend; and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride in Lady Alice, a full-scale P-51 Mustang.

Chris was shocked when he learned he was the grand prize winner.

"No one really ever expects a call like this," he said. " To receive this call literally is the answer to a lifelong dream." A ride in a P-51 Mustang has been number one on his bucket list for as long as he can remember.

Chris has been involved in model aviation since 1981, devoting much focus over the last 15 years to large-scale WWII vintage aircraft. He has even passed on his passion to his sixteen-year-old son, Collin, who is already an accomplished RC pilot.  Chris says the hobby has allowed him to meet many fantastic people with similar passion and he enjoys sharing in their knowledge.

[caption id="attachment_2429" align="alignnone" width="1024"] "Lady Alice" owner and pilot Dr. Kendall Wagner, sweepstakes winner Christopher Mayer, and AMA Foundation board member Daniel Bott pictured in front of the P-51 Mustang[/caption]

 

 

A second prize, donated by ROTOR F/X, was awarded to Gerry Hinshaw, of Lathrop, MO. He won support services needed to apply for and obtain an FAA Section 333 exemption.

[caption id="attachment_2417" align="alignnone" width="980"] Second prize winner, Gerry Hinshaw[/caption]

Thank you to all who entered the sweepstakes, especially to those who made a donation in support of the AMA. The foundation is committed to providing resources for the next generation of aviators through AMA scholarships, government advocacy, club and flying site support grants, AMA Flight School and e-learning opportunities, and the preservation of more than 10,000 artifacts in the National Model Aviation Museum, located in Muncie, IN.

For more information about the AMA Foundation visit our website.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has awarded a $75 Club Recognition and Reward Grant to the Boerne Area Model Society of Texas. The society secured local media coverage of their September fun fly fundraiser benefiting the local Kendall County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. A picture of society members presenting the check to shelter staff appeared on the front of page of the Oct. 1, 2015 issue of Hill Country Weekly. The society’s fundraiser drew approx. 300 people and raised over $615 in donations and 340 pounds of dog and cat food for the shelter.

Boerne Area Model Society (bams.org)

The AMA Club Recognition and Reward Program was established to encourage clubs to promote model aviation. The AMA offers clubs cash incentives for positive local media coverage for a public event, public service, club announcement, or other coverage. Click here to learn more about this program.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has awarded a $75 Club Recognition and Reward Grant to the Beresford Area Radio Flyers. Club member, David Larsen, was invited to speak to students about aviation as part of a summer reading program at the Alcester Community Library in Alcester, South Dakota. The event was covered by the local newspaper, the Alcester Union-Hudsonite, and appeared on the front page of the July 30, 2015 issue. The AMA Club Recognition and Reward Program was established to encourage clubs to promote model aviation. The AMA offers clubs cash incentives for positive local media coverage for a public event, public service, club announcement, or other coverage. Click here to learn more about this program.

Barnstormers RC Flying Club

On behalf of the AMA, the Barnstormers RC Flying Club has been awarded with a Flying Site Development Improvement Grant worth $350.00. The Barnstormers RC Flying Club was founded in 1984 and has been an AMA Chartered Club for approximately 45 years. Club members enjoy flying their aircraft at the club’s flying site near Butteville, Oregon. The flying site has a 40’ x 441’ runway that is covered in a rubber impregnated canvas material, a 55’ x 500’ grass runway that runs parallel to the main runway, a pit area with 10 aircraft set-up tables, and a covered picnic area with three tables. The Barnstormers have more than 80 members who share a common passion for model aviation. The road to the club’s airfield has deteriorated to the point which they have to rebuild it to allow for vehicles to access the field. In its current state, the road is impassable at certain times throughout the year. The club has been saving funds for several years to properly complete this project and this grant will allow them to complete the site improvement. Click here for more information on the Barnstormers RC Flying Club.

Associated Modelers of Sacramento

The Associated Modelers of Sacramento (AMOS) have been awarded with a Flying Site Development Improvement Grant worth $867.03 on behalf of the AMA. The club was first chartered on November 12, 2004 and has been an AMA Chartered Club for more than 10 years. The club’s mission is to train people to safely and enjoyably fly their model aircraft and to be able to give back to the community by working with youth groups and sponsoring charity events. The club’s 200 members enjoy flying at their field in Lincoln, CA. AMOS is completing several improvement projects to better their flying site. These improvements are: extending and re-grading the runways and surrounding areas, surfacing the runways with recycled aggregate base and new petro mat, installing new safety fencing, and installing a large storage container for equipment and supplies. These improvements will continue to help the club gain new members and share the joy of the hobby of model aviation. Click here for more information on the Associated Modelers of Sacramento.

350th Flying Circus

Located in Alpha, NJ, the 350th Flying Circus has received a Flying Site Development Improvement Grant worth $698.42. The 350th Flying Circus has been an AMA chartered club for approximately 40 years. The club provides a safe place for members to learn and fly radio control airplanes. The 350th Flying Circus is always looking for new members to join them in enjoying this hobby. In November of 2013, the 350th Flying Circus was informed that the property they had been using had been sold and they would not be able to fly there anymore. The club was very upset and faced multiple hardships in finding a new flying site. A new field was built during the summer of 2014. The construction cost $6,984.19 and the club is planning on using this grant to pay off the construction debt.

268 Sky Kings

The Academy of Model Aeronautics would like to congratulate the 268 Sky Kings for being awarded with a Flying Site Development Improvement Grant worth $3,733.16. Located in Kittanning, PA, the 268 Sky Kings have been an AMA Chartered Club for many years. To 268 Sky Kings lost their previous flying site due to a lease cancellation and needed to construct a new field from scratch. The club used the property of one of the club members and turned it into their new flying site. Along with the considerable expenses of building a new site, the club ran into some legal issues dealing with a noise lawsuit. The 268 Sky Kings recently built a 1,000 foot by 250 foot runway on the new property. This project required extensive bulldozing, stone removal, and four acres of tree removal. The project is completed and is now functional but can use further improvements in the next few years. The club is looking to repay loans and start a fund for further improvements with the money from this grant. Click here for more information on the 268 Sky Kings.

Wolverine Skyhawks

The Academy of Model Aeronautics would like to congratulate the Wolverine Skyhawks for being awarded with a Flying Site Development Improvement Grant worth $883.50. The Wolverine Skyhawks are a radio controlled aircraft club located in Michigan. The club has two flying fields and has been an AMA Chartered Club for more than 35 years. The club has requested this grant for a construction project that they hope will attract new pilots to join the club, and will help to retain club membership. The Wolverine Skyhawks are undergoing a construction project to extend the runway, and purchase and install US230 aeromodeling fabric. The club is undergoing this project because there is no source of water to irrigate and the runway becomes very difficult to create and maintain a smooth turf runway. In addition, pilots with turbines, warbirds, and small aircraft with retracts are reluctant to use the runway for fear of damaging their aircraft. Look here for more information on the Wolverine Skyhawks.