Stories

The Casa Grande RC Flyers were mentioned twice in their local newspaper recently. The first sections highlighted their upcoming event, which is aiming to benefit Hospice Charitable Fund of Central Arizona. The event is free to the public and you can watch the pilots fly, see what is up for grabs at the swap meet, take a free flying lesson, and see the new track. Lunch will be provided by food vendors and the Pets In Need Action League will be handing out free coffee and pastries. The Hospice Charitable Fund will have several representatives in attendance collecting donations. The second clipping is a letter from the editor in which the Pets In Action League sent their greatest thank you to the club for donating.       

Thank you to the family of Warren Kurth for donating to the AMA Foundation in honor of Warren. Warren Kurth was born on April 5, 1933 in Bloomington, Illinois. His modeling career began with a sheet-balsa model kit when he was six years old. He was an assistant instructor at a YMCA model building class during junior high school. Warren lectured on model building, flew Control Line demonstrations, and taught a model building class at the community center for disadvantaged boys when he was in high school. Warren designed several models in his career, including the Miniball, Jetstream, Hedgehopper, Peetriot, and the infamous Peanut. The Miniball, first published in the October 1970 issue of Model AIrplane News, had seven National AMA records in 1/2 A Proto Speed in Open, Junior, and Senior classes between 1968 and 1972. Warren's Jetstream also won many trophies in 1956, 1960, and 1961. The Jetstream set three national AMA records in 1959 and the early 1960's. Several of Warren's kits and complete airplanes were donated to the National Model Aviation Museum.

For the past nine years, the AMA has received generous grant funding from the Arconic Foundation (formerly known as Alcoa) for STEM programming across the U.S. 2019 was no different, as the AMA was the recipient of a $100,000 grant that supports primarily STEM workshops for teachers. The workshops engage teachers in a variety of hands on, STEM-based activities using a Flight Research Kit, an AMA Alpha, and a Guillow’s Jetstream, all of which they can take into their classrooms and share with students. The classroom activities are designed to help students develop spatial intelligence as well as practice applied math and physics skills, such as the four forces of flight, through inquiry-based learning. These rigorous activities have been aligned to state and national science and math standards and have been used successfully by middle and high school teachers across the U.S. The grant also supports team participation in the AMA's national aerial robotics competition, UAS4STEM. Funding from the Arconic Foundation will be used to subsidize the registration, competition, and travel expenses of select teams in communities where Arconic has a presence. The AMA will conduct the grant activities through August 2020. If you are interested in learning more about STEM workshops or UAS4STEM, please contact kylej@modelaircraft.org.

On Saturday November 9, 2019 at the Casa Grande RC Flyers event celebrating National Model Aviation Day, club Treasurer Nancy Friedman presented a check from the Diane Warren Foundation for $2,000.00, and a check from the Robson Ranch Mah Jong Club for $209.00, to the Valley Humane Society.  VHS Board President Deb Woodard and Shelter Manager Crystal Fox received the donations.  Besides those funds, the individuals who attended the club’s event at 2725 S Isom Road, were very generous providing the VHS with hundreds more for their shelter, which is the areas only no-kill shelter. Each winter month, the Casa Grande RC Flyers, which is an Academy of Model Aeronautics award winning club, holds events for the public’s enjoyment and for the benefit of area charities.  Their events are listed on the club’s web site: www.CasaGrandeRCFlyers.com.  Besides the donation presentation, this day’s events included free flying lessons by one of the club’s instructors using his training aircraft, a swap meet with RC aircraft, cars and boats offered, and a new food service, Salsa Bites, who will attend several of the club’s events this winter.  Visitors also had the opportunity to watch the flying visit with the pilots to learn more about this wonderful hobby. Besides the club’s major events on the 2nd Saturday of each winter month, the club also holds weekly Combat Dog Fights and Glider Contests on most Thursday mornings stating around 10:00 AM.  A special dog fight took place Saturday in honor of the National Model Aviation Day celebration. Membership information, and event schedule and directions to the club airfield are on the club we site.  The club is in their7th year of existence and is proud of all they do for our community.  Next month’s charity beneficiary will be the Pets In Need Action League, (P.I.N.A.L.) who provide food and medical assistance to those who have trouble affording those items.  Their assistance allows the owns to keep their pets at home and out of shelters. The enclosed photo shows Nancy Friedman, CG RC Flyers Treasurer (Far Right) presenting the checks to Deb Woodard, VHS Board President (middle), with Crystal Fox, VHS Shelter Manager (far left) looking on.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) Foundation Board and staff are saddened to hear of the passing of Board Chairman emeritus, Laird Jackson’s recent passing. “Doc” as many knew him, was a member of the AMA Foundation’s first Board of Director’s serving as its first Chairman. Doc was a noted physician certified in internal medicine, clinical genetics and clinical cytogenetics with a principal interest in Prenatal Diagnosis and research in that area and childhood genetic conditions.  As an aeromodeler, he has been most active in control line flying and worked with the AMA and FAI in national and international competition and its administration. Click here to learn more about Dr. Laird Jackson and his many accomplishments.

With grant assistance from the AMA, the Island Flyers R/C Club installed a new GeoTex runway in April 2019 at their field in Fernandina, FL. Club members went to work tillling, digging, filling in, and leveling the ground for a 250' x 30' fabric runway. During four full days of work, the runway was laid, secured with staples and tightened by the sun overhead. In addition, the club laid the taxiway and flight box with GeoTex fabric. After the runway was completed, it was marked and cleared for its first flight. The club was also able to purchase a used 20' Conex storage container to house field equipment and other supplies(see photos below). The Island Flyers R/C Club hopes to attract new members as a result of their runway project. Upon completion of the project, club President John Willis wrote, "Thanks for your support in making this happen. As a small club, your contribution was very helpful." Visit the Island Flyers R/C club's website to read more about their runway project.                     We are honored to have contributed to so many successful site improvement projects over the years! Apply now for the 2020 Flying Site Improvement Grant program: https://modelaircraft.org/site-grant.  

The Bartholomew County Radio Control Flyers host a fly-in each summer and the profits from pilot registration, food ,raffle, and donations go towards the Fireman's Cheer Fund. The Fireman's Cheer Fund provides a merrier Christmas for children of the community. Through their event, the club was able to raise $1,942.18 for the Cheer Fund.

The Casa Grande RC Flyers hosted their annual March Air Show event. This year, the club decided to raise money for the Valley Humane Society. Through their event, the club was able to raise $2,000.00 for the Humane Society.

On Saturday, June 1st, 2019, the Breezy Hill R/C Flyers held their 8th Annual Charity Fun-Fly at their field near Chester, Illinois. Also referred to as their "Canned Food Fly", the event is a fundraiser for the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry, and is open to all types of model flying. Pilots are asked to contribute a Landing Fee of $10 or 5 (or more) canned or non-perishable food items. The Flyers enjoyed excellent weather, putting up lots of flights, with Billy Lang assisting their youngest member, Matt Mifflin, in completing his first solo. Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, and Brats were served up by Marty and Karen Bert, while President Ronnie's grandkids, Riley and Mason, helped with attendance prizes. Club President Ronnie Shermonic and the Flyers presented Food Pantry President, Bob Koenegstein with a check for $1022, along with a "Van-Full of Canned Goods".  

The Mather Aerospace Modelers held their event on August 17, 2019, which was National Model Aviation Day. The club was able to raise $175 and they donated that to the Academy of Model Aeronautics Foundation.