AMA Foundation

Congratulations to Kevin Conners of Westbrook, CT, the 2016 winner of the AMA Foundation for the Future Sweepstakes. Kevin and his brother-in-law flew to California for the ride and to attend AMA Expo. Kevin was really excited to win. He had been checking modelaircraft.org to see if a winner had been selected. “When I called you and was told I had been selected, I was surprised, and excited, and felt very fortunate to be the winner. The ride in the P-51 will be remembered and treasured forever!” Kevin said. Dr. Kendall Wagner has agreed to donate another ride in 2017. Stay tuned for more information, and make sure to visit our website to learn more about Kevin and his experience, amafoundation.modelaircraft.org.     [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OXGNvIaocM[/embed]

The Kentucky Float Flyers has been awarded with a $75 Club Recognition and Reward Grant by the AMA for their float-fly charity event held on Memorial Day. The Kentucky Float Flyers are a unique club to aviation hobbyist, they flow over water. While the club was waiting to board approval to receive access to this land to use for their club, they put in all their efforts to host a charity for the community. They chose to donate to several charities including, Winchester Youth Soccer League, the Clark County Animal Shelter and the Nursing Home Ombudsman Association. The club was able to raise hundreds of dollars for each charity. For their commitment to the community, the club was granted another five years to access to the land. The AMA Foundation thanks organizations, like the Kentucky Float Flyers, for truly making a difference in our communities.  

Coachella Valley Radio Control Club enjoyed their weekend hosting an annual War Birds Fun Fly benefiting Wounded Warrior Project and Rebuilding American Warriors.  The event had more than 30 pilots flying model military airplanes from World War I and II. Coachella Valley Radio Control Club has remained a Gold Leader Club for consecutively 12 years. They allow anyone at any age  to join their club if they wish to fly planes and are passionate for the hobby. “This is just one of those thousand points of light for people to enjoy that helps others at the same time. We are so proud of our facility and the fact that it was built with no public money” said club President, Dan Metz. The AMA Foundation admires the non profit club for working to make a difference in the community and sharing their love of model aviation to all. To view the full story, view here.  

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has recently awarded the Sarasota RC Squadron with a $175 Club Recognition and Reward Grant. The Warbirds were featured in Suncoast News Network for their Feel Good Friday Feature. The Sarasota RC Squadron hosted a fly-in benefiting the Sheriff’s Associations. The event was open to anyone interested in the hobby and encouraged attendees to bring a stuffed bear for cops to keep in the back of their car if a child is ever found to be in a bad situation.   Board member, David Speed, said the event was “nothing but radio control warbirds in honor of the veterans that worked on planes from WWI, WWII and the Vietnam War.” The event had a multitude of planes flying such as, real jets, P25’s, P51’s and airplanes ranging from $400 to $10,000. The AMA Foundation would like to thank the Sarasota RC Squadron for their efforts in raising over 40 bears for children. Their dedication to the hobby does not go unnoticed. 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.    

Save the date for FPV Fly-In event on Friday, June 16 to Sunday, June 18, hosted by Ready Made RC. The fly-in will be held at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana. Proceeds from the event will generously donated to the AMA Foundation. Visit the event page on Facebook to learn more.  

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has awarded the River City Radio Control Club with $175 with a Club Recognition and Reward Grant. The 25 member RC club was featured in a  Vicksburg Living Magazine article. The article featured the River City Radio Control Club member Sam Pitchford, an aviation hobbyist since the  1960’s. Pitchford talked about his love for model aviation and how he got started on the hobby.  “It’s good therapy. When you’re flying you can’t think of anything else but what you’re doing. Your problems disappear. They’re not around when you’re flying that airplane.” said Pitchford. The members of the River City Radio Control Club utilize the Crosswind Air Park. The air park is an old landfill off of 16th Section school property, however, when it closed the club began leasing the field. Now you will find the club out every Sunday afternoon and on some days throughout the week. The members have a wide range of model airplanes from P-51’s to aerobatic craft and home built airplanes costing up to $5,500. One particular member of the AMA, President Phillip Cameron, is currently working on building a model of World War II B-17  bomber. He has previously built a B -17 RC model plane and an electric plane. The Vicksburg Living Magazine discusses how all members of the River City Radio Control Club are members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. Richard Dunaway, the clubs longest member, states “It protects us and the landowners. Our membership is open to anyone as long as they are AMA certified and flies a plane.” The AMA Foundation appreciates the members of the River City Radio Control Club for their membership and dedication in the organization. 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.

Gateway RC Club held its annual fundraiser for USMC Toys for Tots in Jacksonville Florida. Despite the destruction of shelter from Hurricane Matthew, the event was able to donate $682.93, toys and 24 bicycles. The event came together with more than 30 flyers. Guests entry fee was an unwrapped toy worth $10 and a bicycle if they had an extra one. The club has been known for working hard in the past to donate more bikes than any other organization. For more information about the Gateway RC Club, view here. The AMA Foundation thanks the Gateway RC Club for bringing people together to support a meaningful cause.    

The AMA foundation would like to congratulate the York County Flyers club and Clover High School team, the Soaring Eagles UAS4STEM , for their efforts in raising $2,225 to benefit Hospice and Community Care, an organization that works to improve the quality of life for patients and families, and works to be the compassionate guide for end of life care. The two clubs paired together to host the annual Fallen Eagle Memorial Fly-In Event. The event consisted of electric flying all day, mission demonstrations by the UAS4STEM team, a make-n-take glider contest for children, an afternoon buddy box contest, and FPV pilots on a new 300 yard trail with obstacles and gates. The event included a raffle table with over $2,000 in prizes. The efforts of the two organizations does not go unnoticed and we thank them for working to better our community.

The AMA is currently participating in #GivingTuesday to help us hit our 2016 goal of raising $200,000. What is #GivingTuesday? It’s a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Why should you give? Because model flying is what you love, and we love to help you fly. AMA’s team stands up for members everyday by providing membership services, working with the FAA and in DC, engaging youth and building educational programs using model aviation, building partnerships to enhance the hobby, and much more.  

9 departments

9 hours

1 hour of standing

Please help us take a seat.

Our goal is to raise $2,500 for the AMA Foundation. That’s $278 per hour. Once each team hits their goal they can take a seat, or be left standing for the entire hour. Join in on the fun and make a tax-deductible donation! DONATE NOW

The AMA Foundation has recently awarded the Olympic RC Modelers Club a $125 club Recognition and Reward Grant. The club was featured in Peninsula Daily News for their fundraiser they hosted for Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County. The Olympic RC Modelers paired with the Sequim RC Aeronautics to provide a light up show of hot air balloons, RC planes and helicopters. Attendees had the chance to buy raffle tickets benefiting the Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County. The event also featured West Coast Spin Doctors, Mike and Marilyn Mason. The Mason’s demonstrated wing walking in a 1943 Stearman. Children had the opportunity to take part in paper airplane race, while adults attended a car show. The first 100 people were granted with free wooden planes. 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 learn more about this program.