On March 14, 2026, AMA Foundation Executive Director Steve Haston joined AMA staff at the TechPoint Youth Indiana Robotics State Championship. Joined by AMA Education Director Kyle Jaracz, Education Development Coordinator Gwen Mathis, and Marketing Director Mark Benson, Steve assisted with sharing the joy of model aviation through the AMA Model Aviation Experience Sponsored by Wing: our flight simulator trailer! He had the following to say about his time at this event:
"The day of this event was one of those days that just sticks with you. I spent the day at Lucas Oil Stadium during the TechPoint Youth Indiana Robotics State Championship with three other staff from AMA. If you've never heard of this event, imagine an entire stadium filled with hundreds of young people running robots, cheering for their teams, and learning a lot more than they probably realize in that moment.
"We were there with the AMA Model Aviation Experience Sponsored by Wing, letting kids try their hand at flying model aircraft virtually. I'd guess close to 150 students, in addition to their family and friends, stopped by to give it a try. Some were nervous at first, but other jumped right in like they'd been waiting for the chance all day!
"It's so cool how naturally these robotics kids connected with flying. They're already thinking like engineers, working with RC controls, and quickly learning to fly. When they stepped in front of the simulator, you could see their minds working the same way they do with their robots.
"I kept telling them something I really believe: a lot of the model aircraft flying today are basically robots in the sky! Many have flight controllers, stabilization systems, and sensors that help keep them flying smoothly. When you explain it that way, you can almost see the light bulb turn on for them. Suddenly, flying a model airplane doesn't feel so different from building the robots they've been working on.
"Right next to our trailer, something pretty special was happening. Kids were building little balsa wood gliders! Nothing fancy, just simple wooden pieces that fit together; however, there's something timeless about watching a young person build something with their hands and then see it actually fly.
"I watched one young student finish putting his glider together, walk over to an open spot, and give it a toss. That little plane caught the air and floated along nicely. The smile on his face said everything. It reminded me of the same feeling many of us had the first time something we built actually flew.
"Moments like that are why I enjoy these events so much. These kids are already learning robotics, programming, and engineering. When you introduce them to model aviation, it's just like opening another door. The same curiosity and creativity they're using on the ground can take them into the sky.
"By the end of the day, I was tired in the best possible way. We met a lot of great young people and their families, shared a little bit about flying, and hopefully planted a few seeds.
"My hope is that some of those kids go home thinking about airplanes the way they already think about robots. Maybe one of them will start building and flying, and maybe another will grow up to design full-size aircraft or spacecraft someday!
"Either way, it was a good day watching the next generation build things, learn, and discover that the sky might be the next place their ideas can go."
