Stories

The Sequim RC Aeronauts'  local airport hosts "Air Affaire" to promote all types of flying. SRCA, along with Olympic RC Modelers, have participated for the past 5 years demonstrating RC flying - aircraft, quads, a jet and trial lessons for kids and adults. Donations of RC and non-RC items are solicited from the community and local RC companies for a raffle. All proceeds are donated to their local Volunteer Hospice organization. Their annual gift varies depending on weather, turn out for the overall event, etc. This year they contributed over $2,700.00. Last year they were able to give over $4000.00! Raffle ticket purchases, pilot fees ($10 for the weekend) and donations are all forwarded to VHOCC. You can read more about the event at: https://www.sequimgazette.com/news/olympic-peninsula-air-affaire-sequim-...

The Holly Springs Skyhawks Radio Control Group's annual Wings Over Springs fly-in event raises money for Meg's Smile Foundation. Meg's is a charity that provides experiences to children facing serious disease and is local to their community. This year, the club was able to raise $800.00 through their event. You can learn more at www.megsmile.org

The winner of the AMA Foundation For The Future Sweepstakes has been chosen and the winner has been revealed. William (Bill) Fitzharris from Arizona is the lucky winner and will be enjoying a trip to AMA Expo West and a flight in a P-51 Mustang, Lady Alice. When asked about his history with flying and how excited he is for the trip, this is what he had to say: How long have you been flying model aircraft/involved with the AMA? Bill has been flying since his early teens and has built and flown control-line in the days of the Redhead McCoy glow engines. His club was sponsored by the local Plymouth Auto Dealership, and that was it for the next 60 years. Then, a few years ago his daughter gave him a surprise birthday gift, an E-Flite Apprentice ready-to-go out of the box. He joined a local club, the Arizona Model Pilot's Society (AMPS) and the AMA. What are your areas of interest in model aviation? Free flight, RC, helicopters, scale, etc.? Currently he enjoys flying RC. What is your profession? Has model flying had any impact on your career path? Bill is a retired Wells Fargo Financial Advisor. Model Aviation has not really had an impact on his career choice. He has attended numerous airshows in the D.C. area along with the Air and Space Museum and Udvar-Hazy Museum, which his daughters have said they have visited too many times. How excited are you about winning? "Being known as "Mr. Never Has Won Anything," excited is not a strong enough word to describe how happy I am. This one is for the books!"

The Buc-Le Aero Sportsmen had a relaunch of their giant scale event after a three year hiatus. They changed up  the format in order to have the event benefit a local charitable organization. They chose to support Trumbauersville Fire Co with the event, which raised $1,329.

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.

The Catalina RC Modelers welcomed their county's Big Brothers Big Sisters program to their flying site back in June. The matches were able to fly model planes, eat some lunch, and learn more about model aeronautics during their day at the flying site. Chief Executive Officer of their program, Marie Logan, said "Our Little Brothers and Sisters, like all children, have tremendous potential. With the help of our match support professionals and volunteer Bigs, our Littles get better grades, are less likely to skip school; less likely to become in violent confrontations; and have better relationships with their peers and their family. Through the friendship and guidance of their Big, these children can achieve their full potential."

The Atoms RCers recently received an AMA Club Recognition and Reward Grant for $175. The club is located in Bound Brook, NJ. The club was given permission by their city to hold a Swap Meet in August. The Swap Meet raised money for an organization in their community, the Community Assistance Network. This organization is a locl food bank within their community. The club raised $250 through their event and presented a check for that amount to the organization. You can watch the clip 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.

The Fremont County Radio Control Club recently received an AMA Club Recognition and Reward Grant for $75. The club is located in Florence, CO. For the second time this year, the Fremont County Radio Control Club donated to a local non-profit in their community. They have donated to several organizations and non-profits throughout the years, including Starpoint, but this time they donated to the Florence Fire Station. The club donated a total of $100 to the Fire Station. Bill Ritter, the fire station director, said the money will be used to purchase medical supplies. 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 RC Sport Flyers recently received an AMA Club Recognition and Reward Grant for $75. The club is located in Raymore, MO. This year, RC Sport Flyers members met with John Johnson, the superintendent of operations at Jackson County Parks and Rec. These members met to discuss the possibility of making their flying site and park ADA compliant. Within six weeks, there were smooth concrete parking spots and paths, railings and an ADA compliant portable toilet. The club was inspired to make this change from their own member, Brian Mitchell. Brian first joined the club to fly his plane, but he had to worry about his expensive controller falling off of his lap as he maneuvered his wheelchair along the grass and gravel pathways. The park is now the only park out of 2,400 sports flying fields in the nation that are ADA compliant. 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.

Dick Smith, 87 of Rockwall passed away Saturday, August 31, 2019. He was born July 29, 1932, in Dallas to Robert G. Smith and Theda Balcome Smith. Dick graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, OK, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout during his school years and later studied Engineering and Music at “The Oklahoma State University” located in Stillwater, OK. It was in the music department where he met and courted Norma Jean Collyar. He married Norma Jean on December 23, 1953, in Stillwater, OK. In addition to his bride, Dick had many loves, most notably model airplanes, but also playing the piano and singing. Norma Jean’s educational background was in music, so between the two of them, there was always music, piano playing and singing in their home. He took great pride in his home, always making home improvements, room renovations and working in the yard. He enjoyed building model airplanes from the age of 12, football, fishing, camping, opera, playing cards, especially Bridge, as long as the other players were experienced Bridge players. Dick was a mentor and was always willing to offer singing, automotive, appliance, home repair, and career advice to those who would ask and listen. His children generally left the room or covered their ears at the start of sporting events due to his very vocal critiques of the singer’s interpretation of the National Anthem. He was recognized as an operatic tenor, studying music at Oklahoma State, Evansville, IN, singing in Central City, CO, and the Armed Services choir. Most of all he loved his Lord and Savior, and his family. Dick took care of his beloved Norma Jean up until her death in 2007. He was of the Presbyterian faith, and a member of Sertoma International, Society of Automotive Engineers and several free-flight model airplane clubs such as The Tulsa Glue Dobbers, The Central Ohio Free-Flight Club and most recently, The Texas Cloud Climbers. Dick served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. A Celebration of Dick’s life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 21, 2019, at Reflections Chapel at Rest Haven Funeral Home in Rockwall. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations may be made to The Academy of Model Aeronautics Scholarship Fund (https://amafoundation.modelaircraft.org/scholarships).