Iain Taylor was nominated by his friend and Intro Pilot trainer, Barry Mattison. Barry shared the following sentiment about Iain and his support:
"As the founder of the LVSC Junior Pilot Program, I am always looking for opportunities to bring young people into model aviation in a safe, structured, and supportive environment. One day, a scrawny teenager showed up at the field on a scooter, pulling a homemade wagon loaded with several little UMX airplanes held together with glue, paint, and tape. He wanted to learn to fly and his enthusiasm was infectious to the point that he couldn't stop talking about airplanes.
That teenager was Iain. As Iain progressed, I eventually gave him his first larger airplane and helped him prepare it for its first flight. From that point on, there was no slowing him down. He quickly progressed from small UMX airplanes to flying scale helicopters, continually surprising me with his unwavering enthusiasm, determination, and growing flying skills. Today, Iain competes in local events and has already earned several trophies besides learning to fly full scale aircraft. Just as importantly, he gives back to the hobby. He regularly helps event staff, supports club activities, and is always willing to step in and lend a hand when something needs to be done.
Iain represents what is best about model aviation. He demonstrates the value of mentorship, perseverance, sportsmanship, and giving back to the community.
He is a wonderful representative of the AMA, the clubs he belongs to, and the people he flies with. I cannot think of a better example of how model aviation can positively impact a young person's life—or a better young ambassador for the AMA and our hobby."
