2020

Thirteen students awarded a total of $50,000 for academic pursuits The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has helped graduating seniors achieve their dreams since 1970, with individual scholarships ranging from $500 to $8,000 each year. This year, $50,000 was awarded to students. Student scholarships are awarded each year thanks to the generous support of AMA members and AMA Foundation donors across the country. AMA has awarded more than $1.1 million in scholarships since founding the scholarship program. Award designations are set by the AMA Scholarship Committee, which is made up of model aviation pilots and enthusiasts. The committee evaluates each application and ranks it based on GPA, community involvement, model flying experience, and model flying competition participation. AMA and its foundation want to thank each family that has contributed to the memorial scholarships, as well as the hundreds of other donors to the scholarship program. Without their generous contributions, these gifts would not be possible. AMA would like to congratulate the following students who have been selected this year to receive the Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship and other scholarships: Matthew J. Harmon (Peachtree City, GA): $2,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Lucas Javier Gandarillas (Pembroke Pines, FL): $3,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Andrew Sabini: $1,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Benjamin Robert Mills (Ozark, MO): $5,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship, $1,500 Ryan Sherrow Memorial Scholarship Lily Gwendolyn Mikes (Oklahoma City, OK): $5,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Ethan Ater (Louisville, KY): $4,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Luke Young (Greenbrier, TN): $2,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Rylan Ritch (Magnolia, TX): $2,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Robert van Zyl (Peachtree City, GA): $1,500, Basil and Dorothy Cooper Memorial Scholarship Nicole Kane (Arlington Heights, IL): $7,000, Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship, $500 Toledo Weak Signals Club Scholarship Jack Spencer Ireland Samson (Olympia, WA): $3,000, Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Sabrina Fogel (San Diego, CA): $6,000, Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship, $5,000, Clifford and Nancy Telford Memorial Scholarship Donnie Petsche (Chula Vista, CA): $4,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship, $500, Toledo Weak Signals Club Scholarship

The Casa Grande RC Flyers held their annual RC Air Show on Saturday March 14th, 2020. The crowd size was not the largest the club had seen, but that didn't mean the donations also decreased, in fact it was the opposite. During the event, more food was donated to the Casa Grande Food Bank than during the previous years. They also raised a large amount for Pets In Need Action League through the event. The event this year had demonstrations, seminars, races and more!

Learn more about the Casa Grande RC Flyers on modelaircraft.org.

The Casa Grande RC Flyers, an award-winning Academy of Model Aviation (AMA) chartered club, will hold their 7th annual Air Show for charities on Saturday March 14, 2020, between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM at the club airfield located at 2725 S Isom Road, directly across from the public shooting range.  This year’s event, benefitting the Casa Grande Food Bank and the Pets in Need Action League, might be the club’s largest yet. The field gate will open at 8:00 AM allowing those wanting to set up for the event’s swap meet to display their goods before the official event start time of 9:00 AM 

On hand will be representatives from Pets in Need Action League who will serve coffee, hot chocolate, and pastries for donations, as well as, Casa Grande food vendor, Secret Ingredients,  who will provide morning and lunch items. Superstition Hobbies, a large Queen Creek hobby shop, will again be present displaying the latest in radio-controlled aircraft and radio-controlled car racing products.  Their Team Manager, Alan Moulton, will hold a special, free Spektrum Transmitter seminar assisting hobbyists to take advantage of all the unique features of their Spektrum transmitters.  The seminar will start at approximately 11:00 AM.

Casa Grande RC Flyers’ lead instructor, Maurie Sumption, will be available offering free radio-controlled flying lessons using his Apprentice model aircraft under his expert guidance and dual control.  The lessons will be offered throughout the entire event. Rick Chitty, a professional pilot representing Hitec/Multiplex, will again fly his spectacular “flying lawnmower” and other interesting aircraft.  Representatives from Superstition Hobbies and members of the Casa Grande RC Flyers will also fly many different and unique aircraft including jets, gliders, drones, biplanes and others throughout the morning.  Club members will be on hand to answer questions about the hobby.  Of special interest that morning will be a “Combat” dog fight scheduled to start at 10:00 AM and a radio-controlled car race demonstration offered by club members Jim Hernandez and Rick Downing, using the club’s expanded radio-controlled race track directly in front of the bleachers.  There will also be a raffle for a new airplane and other many items with the drawing held at noon.

Although this is a free event, the club asked people attending to support the Casa Grande Food bank with donations of non-perishable food items or cash.  There is never a charge to enter or park at the club’s events.  Pilots who are not CG RC Flyers members are asked for a small guest fee to fly at this event or to set up on the club’s swap meet tables. If flying, one must bring and show their AMA or MAAC membership card to the club’s safety officer.  Direction to the field and club information can be found on the club web site: www.CasaGrandeRCFlyers.com.

Despite a cold start, Saturdays Fly-In benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Casa Grande Valley turned into a wonderful morning.

Visitors to the club’s airfield 2725 S Isom Road arrived later than usual because of the morning wind and chill, but the day ended successfully for both the Boys & Girls Club and the Pets In Need Action League, who were on hand providing hot coffee and pastries to the attendees. 

Both non-profits raise money from club members and visitors who came to watch the flying, try a free model flying lesson and view items at the club’s swap meets. According to club President, Alan Friedman, “the biggest event of the season will be the annual Air Show which will take place on Saturday March 14th this year”.  He also stated that, “because of the cold mornings, next will run from 9 AM until 1 PM instead of 8 AM to Noon as in the past.”  At the club’s recent meeting, their board of directors was also increased from five members to seven.

The Casa Grande RC Flyers is an Academy Of Model Aeronautics award winning club and an Arizona non-profit corporation devoted promoting interest in model aviation and raising money for area charities.  The club’s efforts also benefit the Valley Humane Society, Hospice Charitable Fund of Central Arizona and the Casa Grande Food Bank who will be the recipient of their efforts at the March 14th air show. 

All those charities, now to include the Boys & Girls Club, have an annual event for their benefit at the club airfield. A list of the clubs’ activities, charitable and educational work and field and membership information can be found on the club’s website. 

The Golden Hawks Radio Control Club will host their Winter RC Air Fest. The event will begin at 9am on February 8 at the club's airfield at the DeLand Municipal Airport. The club will offer food and refreshments for those in attendance. The event will also include flying demonstrations as well as a swap meet with large model airplanes. The club will also be celebrating all of the money that they were able to raise to provide toys for their local Toys for Tots program. The event is $5 per car.