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The AMA Foundation thanks each and every one of our donors for their continued support of AMA programs. We have compiled some information that might be helpful. This information is provided by Independent Sector, and provides important information on how the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides incentives for charitable giving.

• Donors may be eligible for a $300 universal charitable deduction: Permits individuals to deduct up to $300 of cash contributions to most charities in 2020 for those who do not itemize their deductions.
• New changes on limitations for charitable giving: Suspends the limitation on deductions for cash contributions to most charities for individuals who itemize. Increases the limitation on deductions for similar contributions by corporations from 10% to 25% of taxable income. Also increases the limitation on deductions from 15% to 25% for contributions of food inventory.
• The CARES Act temporarily waves required minimum distributions (RMDs) for all types of retirement plans for the year 2020.

The AMA Foundation encourages you to speak with your financial advisor on these updates. Things are evolving and changing every day, so please continue to monitor our website and others for important information.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation while we do our part to address COVID-19. The safety of our staff, members, and community are AMA’s top priority. Together we can work to slow the spread of COVID-19 and eventually life will return to normal. Please check our website /amafoundation/covid-19-update/ for more information.

 

The 2020 Flying Site Improvement Grant (FSIG) online application opens October 1, 2019. Since 2002, the AMA has financially supported more than 400 clubs in their site improvement efforts. That’s over half a million dollars in grant funds to clubs. The AMA, in conjunction with the AMA Foundation, is proud of our record of giving, and we are eager to share how we’ve improved the FSIG guidelines and application process for members. See below for what’s new for 2020!

• New final application deadline, February 1 of each year
• Revised application requirements and updated grant guidelines
• Clubs can now request 25 percent of their project costs (an increase from 10 percent in previous years), up to $3,000!
• Clubs can now apply for the Flying Site Improvement Grant every year!
• Clubs have the opportunity to submit an optional complete draft of their application in early January for preliminary feedback from the Grants and Programs Coordinator and the club's designated District Vice President.
• The online application is new and improved, featuring a save button so applicants can work in stages!

To learn more or apply for the 2020 grant, visit modelaircraft.org/site-grant. For questions, please contact Kelsie Walker, Grants and Programs Coordinator, kelsiew@modelaircraft.org or 765-287-1256 x279.

 

Every year several national and international events are held at the Academy’s International Aeromodeling Center (IAC). With the help of our generous supporters, various new signs have been placed on site from the National Site Development fund. These signs will help easily direct visitors to flying sites. Each flying site is now labeled by number. We would like to thank the donors of the National Site Development fund. To learn more about how to donate to a fund, click here. 

The Hampton Roads Radio Control group hosted the 11th annual Toys for Tots Fly-in on Nov. 4. The event was held at their field in Suffolk, VA. All proceeds from the event went to the Suffolk’s Toys for Tots Program. More than 30 pilots registered for the event. There was a $10 landing fee or a pilot could bring one new, unwrapped toy. There was also a skydiver demo and candy drop at the event. The club event collected three boxes of toys, along with $3,462 worth of cash donations, raffle tickets and food sales. The AMA would like to thank the Hampton Roads Radio Control group for hosting this event and for donating to such a great cause! For more pictures from the event, click here.   

The AMA salutes our veterans, including those who work at the AMA. A special thank you to Jay Smith, John Horner, Kyle Jaracz, Cliff McKee, Rob Kurek and Steve Weaver for your service and the many sacrifices you have made for our country.

-Jay Smith is the Editor-in-Chief of Model Aviation and Park Pilot magazines and will have worked for AMA for 10 years in 2018. He served in the U.S. Army in the 1990s as a Military Police officer and also graduated from the Tampa Police Academy. During his time in the Army, he was stationed in Alabama and Germany and was deployed to Bosnia as part of Operation Joint Endeavor.

He is a graduate of Saint Petersburg College and attended classes at the same campus as Jim Morrison from the Doors.

In addition to having an interest in all things that fly, he is a collector of arcade and pinball machines, plays both guitar and bass, and enjoys watching science fiction when the weather keeps him from flying.

-John Horner is the Shipping/Receiving Clerk at the AMA. He grew up in Modoc, IN and graduated from Union High School in 1966. After, he started working in Richmond, IN.

In 1968 John was drafted by the US Army. He was stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Fort Lee, Virginia. In August 1968, he was deployed to Vietnam. John returned to the US in 1969, and was stationed in Stockton, California. John was honorably discharged from the Army in February 1970.

John received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.

John has a daughter Carrie, and two son’s, JR (wife Alisha) and Dylan. John enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Carol, family and grandson Beckham. John enjoys all sports but is an avid IU basketball fan.

-Kyle Jaracz was born and raised in Southern Indiana. He spent many hours exploring the farmlands outside of Vincennes, IN. An interest in flight came in middle school when he began building and flying bungee high-start sailplanes. During his junior year of high school at the age of 17, he obtained his parents’ permission to join the Indiana Army National Guard as an Infantryman, spending the following two summers at Fort Benning, GA for training. Kyle was activated to full time status for Operation Enduring Freedom, and subsequently for Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served one tour in the Middle East, serving in Kuwait, Iraq, and Jordan in 2003 along with the 1-152. Kyle served just over 6 years as an Infantryman. Kyle obtained his BA from Anderson University (Visual Communication Design, print media focus) where his greatest achievement came in finding his wife, Mary (Notturno) Jaracz. Kyle and Mary have two sons, Caleb (8) and Wyatt (5) and live in a historic Civil War era home which affords him many opportunities to refine his handy-man skillset. Kyle enjoys woodworking, metalworking, gunsmithing, shooting sports (USPSA & IDPA), hunting, and flying everything electric RC. His greatest joys and frustrations revolve around raising his two boys, but couldn’t ask for a better partner. He works at the AMA as the Art Director and Production Manager for both Model Aviation and Park Pilot.

-Cliff McKee served in the Military Service. Cliff has four adult children, six grandchildren, a significant other,  a cat and a dog. His hobbies include Bowling, DJ Business, Emergency Management Volunteer, NWS Storm Spotter, High Sports Official & Target practice. Cliff loves working with the awesome staff at the AMA.

-Rob Kurek celebrated his 25th anniversary with AMA in July, moving with the organization from Reston, VA in 1993. It’s amazing to see how far AMA has come in that time.

Prior to AMA, Rob worked in the newspaper business as a reporter and editor in the Washington D.C. suburbs. Rob has a Bachelor’s degree from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA. He was fortunate to receive a four-year Army ROTC scholarship in 1981, and was commissioned in 1985.

Rob served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1985 to 2000. One of his most interesting assignments was acting as an aide to a two-star general during a training exercise about the time of Desert Storm. It gave him an appreciation for the enormity of running a logistics operation intended to support thousands of troops deployed overseas. Many of the management lessons from Rob’s time in service has helped him in his association career.

Rob and his wife, Gayle, have one son, Connor who interned in Media & Publications this summer at AMA. His son is a sophomore in the Scripps School of Communication at Ohio University. Rob has a passion for traveling with Connor and Gayle.

-Steve Weaver registered for the Selective Service when he turned 18 years old on November 1, 1971.  His number was relatively low and since the war in Vietnam was still going on, Steve thought he might get drafted into the Army.  The Navy recruiters came to his high school in the spring of Steve’s senior year and he joined the Navy on April 10, 1972 on a 90 day delay program.  After high school graduation, Steve reported for active duty and was sent directly to Great Lakes, Illinois for boot camp training on June 19, 1972.  After basic training Steve went to Aviation Machinist Mate Class “A” School outside Memphis, Tennessee for 14 weeks and learned the fundamentals of Aviation Jet Mechanics.  After Class “A” School graduation, Steve was sent to his first duty station at NAS Albany, Georgia where he went through further training on the RA-5C Vigilante jet aircraft.  Steve also worked as a Plane Captain attached to RVAH-3 which was the air wing.

Steve reported to his regular squadron RVAH-6 upon their return from a Western Pacific cruise in March, 1973 and worked out of the Power/Plants Shop.  Steve remained in this shop most of the rest of his time in the Navy. He also went TAD to other assignments both ashore and at sea.  Steve made a seven month Mediterranean Cruise aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal CVA-59 in 1974 and travelled to Spain, France, Italy and Greece.  He worked for Flight Deck and Hangar Deck Control as an aircraft status checker on this ship until he was promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class in April, 1974.  Upon return from this cruise Steve’s squadron was relocated to NAS Key West, Florida, as his previous base in Albany, Georgia had been disestablished and closed down.

From January – April, 1975 Steve was aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63 and participated in a short RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) cruise from California to Hawaii.  During this time the North Vietnamese captured Saigon on April 30, 1975 officially ending the Vietnam War.  From May – December, 1975 Steve went on a WESTPAC (Western Pacific) cruise to the Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan.  After Steve’s squadron’s return to Key West, he sent TAD to the base jet shop working strictly intermediate maintenance, tearing down and rebuilding various jet engines.

After Steve was discharged from active duty on June 19, 1976, he went home to Pennsylvania and worked various jobs; turning lathe in a machine shop and as a manager/short order cook at his mom’s Dairy Queen, until he enrolled in the Art Institute of Pittsburgh on the G.I. Bill. Steve graduated in December, 1979 and went to work as a Glass Package Designer for Anchor Hocking Glass in Lancaster, Ohio in February, 1980.  On September 27, 1980 Steve married his wife Kathy and in 1983 they relocated to Tampa, Florida with his new company, Anchor Glass Container Corporation.  They lived in Tampa for 12 years with their three children, Rachel, Rebecca and Randy.

In 1995 his family relocated to Muncie, Indiana when Steve accepted another glass designer position with Ball Glass Container Corp.  This job ended 5 years later when the company was acquired by the French glass manufacturer Saint Gobain.  That setback offered a new opportunity to go in a different direction and Steve was hired as a graphic designer/production assistant with the Academy of Model Aeronautics on June 19, 2000.  Steve was part of the start-up of AMA Custom Products which had its roots three years before in the AMA Merchandising Department.  Steve’s job has expanded from T-Shirt art preparation and Vinyl Banners and Signs to printed graphic design materials and Trophy and Award Engraving, which is his main discipline of expertise.

Steve enjoys riding his motorcycle and going to car shows and cruise-ins. He likes to read and watch old movies.  Steve is also interested in genealogy and family history, model railroading and spending time with his four grandchildren, which according to his wife, should be first on his list.

 

Congratulations to Kevin Conners of Westbrook, CT, the 2016 winner of the AMA Foundation for the Future Sweepstakes. Kevin and his brother-in-law flew to California for the ride and to attend AMA Expo. Kevin was really excited to win. He had been checking modelaircraft.org to see if a winner had been selected. “When I called you and was told I had been selected, I was surprised, and excited, and felt very fortunate to be the winner. The ride in the P-51 will be remembered and treasured forever!” Kevin said. Dr. Kendall Wagner has agreed to donate another ride in 2017. Stay tuned for more information, and make sure to visit our website to learn more about Kevin and his experience, amafoundation.modelaircraft.org.     [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OXGNvIaocM[/embed]

The AMA Scholarship Fund was created to award qualified AMA youth members with scholarships to pursue scientific/technical careers. Since its inception, AMA’s Scholarship program has bestowed over $1,000,000 in awards to college-bound aeromodelers. Donations to this fund will support our youth members who will be future leaders in aviation, technology, and science. [caption id="attachment_3101" align="alignright" width="300"] Bob Hanford[/caption] Robert “Bob” Hanford was one of the earliest recipients of an AMA scholarship. He was one of three modelers who received scholarship money in 1971. He was awarded $500, which he used to earn a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Oklahoma State University. “It paid most of my first year’s tuition—how times have changed!” Bob said of the scholarship. He applied for an AMA scholarship when he was a senior in high school. “It was a tremendous help. My parents divorced about that time, and weren’t able to help with college expenses.” Bob said after participating in the 2016 Free Flight Nats that he competed in his first Nats in 1964 when he was 11 years old. His father, a member of the 1949 US Wakefield Team, taught him how to build and fly at the age of eight. Bob’s aeromodeling experience has aided him in his career as a licensed professional engineer, and in his current position as a manager of civil/structural engineering. “The aeromodeling background definitely helped—knowing how to read and prepare drawings, spatial relations, strength of materials, and direct structural applications as I had experienced in modeling,” he commented. Over the years, hundreds of AMA youth members like Bob have benefited from the scholarship program. Donating to the AMA Scholarship Fund helps secure the future of aeromodeling's next generation.

Edward C. Sweeney Jr. has been an AMA member since the 1950's. His father instilled in him a passion for model flight at a young age when they would both fly free flight and control line. His father was an aviation attorney as well as a professor at Northwestern University where he published the Journal of Air Law and Commerce. Because of his father’s knowledge and experience, the family moved to Washington D.C. by the invitation of Congress.  He was the principal author of the Aviation Act of 1948 which established the CAA (Civilian Aviation Agency) and again in 1952 which established the FAA (Federal Aviation Agency).

[caption id="attachment_2521" align="alignleft" width="727"] Mandee Mikulski, AMA Director of Development and Edward C. Sweeney Jr.[/caption]

As you can tell, flight was in Sweeney’s blood. He remembers many cross country flights with his father, also a private pilot, from Washington National Airport to Rock Island, Illinois in his Stinson Voyager. Some of the earliest R/C free flight planes Sweeney remembers flying in his youth were Harold De Bolt's Live Wire Trainers and Kitten.

“Back then, it was hard tubes and escapements,” Sweeney said. “The equipment had to be tuned up before every flight. All we had was 27.255 MHz.”

At the University of Colorado, Sweeney bought one of the early Space Control four channel proportional analogue single stick RC systems. It still had hard tubes, but now R/C flying became a real pleasure for Sweeney as the plane followed each stick movement perfectly - no more fly-aways!

Sweeney’s father encouraged him to team up with Bill Winter and acquire and publish American Modeler magazine. Under the new name American Aircraft Modeler, the magazine would include the AMA's Model Aviation supplement. The idea was to broaden AMA's exposure and increase membership.

During his fifteen years with the magazine, Sweeney tested electric flight and experimented with airplane aerodynamics by creating the RC Nobler. It was derived directly from the CL Mobler and featured coupled flaps for enhanced elevator response. He also created an early small RC helicopter by adapting Dave Grey's Whirlybird to a Veco 19 glow motor. Both of these projects were featured in the magazine.

Sweeney also pioneered the new sport of powered hang gliding by adding two 2hp Quadra motors to his Fledgling hang glider. The addition of these two motors greatly expanded the flying experience for the hang glider. The motors got bigger; the hang glider got wheels, and was heavier. Soon, the hang gliders had 10 to 15 horsepower and made rolling take offs. All of these modifications led to the beginning of the Ultralight industry. He was involved in writing the proposed FAA regulations that became Part 103. It’s significant to note the Ultralights were never called airplanes or aircraft, but rather air vehicles. This isolated these air machines from FAA requirements for registration, maintenance, medicals or certification requirements.

Today, Sweeney continues to enjoy all forms of R/C flying. After 40 years of R/C flying, he recognized it was time to diminish his large collection of airplanes, helicopters, etc. and made a donation of about 50 models to the AMA in November 2015. He drove from his home in Colorado, AEROCAR trailer packed with planes. These items from his personal collection will be sold at an upcoming sale at the Toledo Show: R/C Model Expo in Ohio. Sweeney says he has always been a proud supporter of the AMA. He was happy to donate these items (some are pictured below) from his collection to help support the AMA Foundation and the future of this hobby.

The Toledo Show - R/C Model Expo is North America's largest and longest running radio control model expo. This three day event showcases all types of R/C models including planes, cars, and boats. Along with all the exhibitors and Saturday night auction, there is a radio control model competition, speakers, and swap shop. The show begins April 1 and will continue until April 3 at the SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio.

We hope you’ll join us for the special AMA Foundation sale during the Toledo Show: R/C Model Expo. Along with Edward Sweeney’s collection, the sale will also feature models from the collections of Carl Goldberg, Don Tichenor, and Joseph Elgin. We thank these men and their families for donating the collections to make this sale possible.

The Phillips family is no stranger to model aviation. W.E. “Phil” Phillips, and wife, Waneva ran a small R/C glider manufacturing company by the name of Phillips Custom Models in the mid-1960s. The couple appeared on the cover of R/C Modeler magazine in July 1969 with a patriotic “Snipe” glider (pictured left). Waneva was named R/C Model Wife of the Year by the same magazine. In the 70s, both were club officers of the Farragut Flyer’s model airplane club in Idaho. This is why Ray, son of Phil, has decided to commemorate his family’s model aviation legacy with a donation to the AMA Walk of Fame. The love of airplanes, whether model aircraft or full scale, has now spanned three generations. Phil was a FAA rated airline transport pilot as is Ray, who flies for United Airlines. The youngest generation, Chris, at age 19, is a FAA rated private pilot. Three bricks honoring three generations of Phillips men will be placed at AMA headquarters in the summer of 2016 (pictured below). [gallery ids="2503,2501,2502"] You’ll notice Ray shares his father’s AMA number. For many years, his number was 19731, his mother’s was 19730 and his dad’s was 19729. Around the time his son, Chris, started flying R/C at the age of eight, Ray requested his father’s number be issued to him. Most recently, Ray and Chris were both club officers of the Mile Hi R/C Flying Club in Aurora, Colorado. If you’re interested in paying tribute to your family’s AMA legacy, consider purchasing a brick in the AMA Walk of Fame.      

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.