Foundation News

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Iowa City Aerohawks Awarded with a Club Recognition and Reward Grant

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has awarded a $175 Club Recognition and Reward Grant to the Iowa City Aerohawks of Iowa. Local television station KWWL TV contacted the Iowa City Aerohawks to talk about the new FAA registration requirements and their effect on the model aviation community. Club president Rich VeDepo and Roger Schultz both expressed their dissatisfaction with new regulations, noting the 400 feet requirement to be most inhibiting. The story was broadcast on January 9 and the transcript of the broadcast can be found on KWWL’s website. 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.

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Ozark Mountain Barnstormers Awarded with a Club Recognition and Reward Grant

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has awarded a $75 Club Recognition and Reward Grant to the Ozark Mountain Barnstormers of Springfield, MO. The club held an inaugural Toys for Tots fundraiser on November 14, 2015 at their home flight site in Nixa, MO. The event attracted the attention of the local Nixa Enterprise newspaper and it was detailed on the front page of the November 25, 2015 issue. With 50 people in attendance, the club managed to collect $600 worth of new, unwrapped toys which were donated to the Springfield U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. 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.

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Donor Spotlight: Charles E. Klabunde

It’s always sad when the AMA community loses a dedicated model aircraft enthusiast, but many ensure their interest in flying continues well beyond their passing. Charles E. Klabunde has donated over $16,000 to the AMA Foundation in support of the future of our hobby, the preservation of timeless artifacts, and the fight to protect member’s right to flight. Born October 28, 1931, Charles lived in Niagra Falls, NY and graduated from NFHS, the local high school, in 1949. He would then go on to graduate from the University of Illinois in 1955 with a Master of Science degree in physics. Later working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Charles researched a number of topics, most recently super-conductivity. He retired in 1996. In his retirement, he was a man of many passions, dedicating himself to hiking, folk dancing, photography, and model flight. Charles was an active member of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, the Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy leading many hikes along the Appalachian Trail through the Smokies. Friends knew him as Charlie; a consummate advocate for the conservation of natural Tennessee. He was a regular at the Oak Ridge Folk Dancers, sweeping many lucky partners off their feet. He built and flew multiple radio control model planes throughout the course of his life. Charles passed away from cancer earlier this year at the age of 84 in Oak Ridge, TN. Friends and family will miss a truly dear friend. We are thankful for members like Charles whose passionate commitment to model flight continues to support the AMA Foundation. To learn more about the AMA Foundation and how to donate, visit the Foundation website.

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California Dream Flight Sweepstakes Winners Chosen

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...

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.

[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.

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Family of Don Tichenor donates 50+ model airplane kits

Don Tichenor has been gone for some time, but his passion and love for the hobby continues to fuel AMA’s future. Don was an accomplished professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at Tri-State College (now Trine University) in Angola, IN from 1959 to 1993. He met his wife, Dolores, at Tri-State when she was hired to fill his vacant mathematics positions as he moved to mechanical and aerospace engineering. They married two years later. Don was an enthusiastic modeler and control line flier throughout his whole life. He was a member of the AMA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the DeKalb Fliers, and the Steuben Model Aircraft Klub. A few years ago, five of the model airplane kits he collected, but never built, as well as an originally designed and built twin-engine control line model were donated to the AMA Museum. The remaining 47 model airplane kits are being donated to the AMA Foundation with the proceeds to be used for scholarships. Sadly, Don passed away in January of 1993 at his home in Angola. His wife, Dolores, is bringing the remaining kits to the AMA this month.