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The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently awarded Southwest Area Park R/C Model Club with $150 Club Recognition and Reward Grant. The club was featured in the Arbutus Times on Oct. 10, 2016, and also on Fox News 45. The story, titled “Hobbyist Fliers Watch Air Traffic Soar,” shares the story of the competition for airspace among model airplanes and real planes. The Baltimore County runway hosted an airshow for venues across the nation to compete. The airshow was almost was not able to take place due to the new rules and laws under the FAA to regulate hobbyist. With the help of the AMA, the event was able to take place so hobbyist fliers could fly freely. The association said, “"We successfully worked with the FAA to roll back these unnecessary flying restriction.” To view the full story, click here. 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.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently awarded the Hudson Valley Radio Control Club with a $75 Club Recognition and Reward grant. The club was featured in the Rockland Journal News for their 7th Annual Haverstraw Air Show. The Haverstraw Air show held dozens of fliers from planes ranging from 7 inches to 104 inches. The event was an opportunity for families and friends to get together to spend time watching planes zig zag through the sky. The club president, Bruce Leach, was interviewed by the paper and spoke about how model airplanes bring parents and their children together to do hands on activities. Model airplane flying is unlike any other sport and allows for a different type of interaction with their children. For more information about the event, view Hudson Valley Radio Control Club website here.   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.

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.  

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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.  

The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently awarded Tri State Model Flyers with a $75 Club Recognition and Reward Grant. The club was featured in an article in the Greater Ashland Beacon about their 5th annual fly-in. The club opened their event to the general public at no cost. They had a fly-in, a night fly and a new activity where people could bring their old, unwanted planes for others to shoot paintballs at. Those in attendance purchased five paintballs for $1. The club wanted to have a new activity to generate new interest in flying. More club information can be found on their 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.

Before starting at the AMA I worked for a local Chamber as the Membership Director. I really enjoyed interacting with business and community leaders. One of the people I most enjoyed talking to and working with was Charles (Chuck) Rife. Chuck was always in a good mood and was one of those people who knew a lot about all kinds of different things. He was really involved with videography, but he also was great at leading others to do great things for the city of Dunkirk. Chuck and his wife became dear friends of mine, and I truly admired the love Chuck had for his wife, his family, his friends, and his community. His other love was for aviation. He often told me about model flying, and eventually took my ex-husband under his wing and taught him to fly. When I told him I was interested in applying for a job with AMA he was so excited. He encouraged me to go for it, and was really excited when I got the job. Sadly Chuck passed away in July this year. He had been fighting illness for a long time. Aside from missing some hair, and walking a little slower—you never would have known Chuck was not 100 percent healthy. He still had a smile on his face, still checked in on me all the time, and he still did his best to come to my themed parties. The last time I talked to Chuck was weeks before he passed away. He was trying to clear out his work room so that he and Gay Ann could downsize. We talked about the donation process and he was very happy to see his models come to us to help with our efforts and to be sold to people who would really enjoy them. As always he was thinking of others before himself, and planning ahead. When we cleared out his work room Gay Ann told me I could keep an airplane shelf that he had hung up. It’s hanging in my office and I’m so proud to showcase it. Chuck will be missed by so many, and I am so happy to have known him and to make sure that his love of aviation is known and passed down to others through his collection. Mandee Mikulski Director of Development

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More about Chuck:

Charles (Chuck) Rife was a man who was enamored by the idea of flight, flying, planes, eagles, and everything airborne. He enjoyed sharing his love of flying with everyone with whom he came into contact. Chuck organized the Dunkirk Proptwisters Club and served as its president for twenty years and was a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics for over twenty-eight years. He was a devoted husband to his wife of fifty-seven years, Gay Ann. They had three children together and eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Chuck was a man with a big heart. Chuck loved his country and was a leader in his community.  He was involved with many things in his community including CASA, Junior Achievement, Job's Daughters, the Jay County Chamber of Commerce, the Dunkirk Beautification Committee, and the Dunkirk Elks Lodge.      

When beginning your online holiday shopping don’t forget you can support the AMA Foundation just by shopping on Amazon.  #StartWithaSmile at smile.amazon.com/ch/52-0799408 for your holiday gifts and Amazon donates to Academy of Model Aeronautics Foundation.   What is AmazonSmile? AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support the AMA Foundation every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to the AMA Foundation. How do I shop at AmazonSmile? To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. How do I get started? On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you need to select a charitable organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping.  AmazonSmile will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make on smile.amazon.com will result in a donation. Which products on AmazonSmile are eligible for charitable donations? Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile? Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same. How much of my purchase does Amazon donate? The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. The purchase price is the amount paid for the item minus any rebates and excluding shipping & handling, gift-wrapping fees, taxes, or service charges. Is there any cost to charitable organizations or to customers? No. There is no cost to charitable organizations or to AmazonSmile customers. The shopping experience is identical to Amazon.com with the added benefit that the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate to the charitable organizations selected by customers. Thank you for supporting the AMA Foundation! If you have questions about the AMA Foundation's participation in the AmazonSmile program, please email donations@modelaircraft.org.    #StartWithaSmile at smile.amazon.com/ch/52-0799408 for your holiday gifts and Amazon donates to Academy of Model Aeronautics Foundation.

The AMA Scholarship Fund was created to award qualified AMA youth members with scholarships to pursue scientific/technical careers. Since its inception, AMA’s Scholarship program has bestowed over $1,000,000 in awards to college-bound aeromodelers. Donations to this fund will support our youth members who will be future leaders in aviation, technology, and science. [caption id="attachment_3101" align="alignright" width="300"] Bob Hanford[/caption] Robert “Bob” Hanford was one of the earliest recipients of an AMA scholarship. He was one of three modelers who received scholarship money in 1971. He was awarded $500, which he used to earn a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Oklahoma State University. “It paid most of my first year’s tuition—how times have changed!” Bob said of the scholarship. He applied for an AMA scholarship when he was a senior in high school. “It was a tremendous help. My parents divorced about that time, and weren’t able to help with college expenses.” Bob said after participating in the 2016 Free Flight Nats that he competed in his first Nats in 1964 when he was 11 years old. His father, a member of the 1949 US Wakefield Team, taught him how to build and fly at the age of eight. Bob’s aeromodeling experience has aided him in his career as a licensed professional engineer, and in his current position as a manager of civil/structural engineering. “The aeromodeling background definitely helped—knowing how to read and prepare drawings, spatial relations, strength of materials, and direct structural applications as I had experienced in modeling,” he commented. Over the years, hundreds of AMA youth members like Bob have benefited from the scholarship program. Donating to the AMA Scholarship Fund helps secure the future of aeromodeling's next generation.

As the new member of the AMA Foundation team, I am experiencing a lot of things for the first time. Recently, I experienced my first donation pick-up. It was in Eaton, Indiana, not far from AMA headquarters in Muncie. Mandee, Tony and I jumped in the truck with the trailer attached and off we went! After a brief detour (we went the wrong way…twice) we made it to the beautiful home of Jeff Irving, son of William (Bill) Irving. Jeff had previously contacted us about donating some of his dad’s collection. He really wanted to make sure that his planes got into the hands of people who shared his love of model aviation, so he reached out to the foundation for help. Jeff greeted us with a smile and warm welcome, showing us into the house to begin collecting some boxes stored inside. As we entered the den, I was in awe of the beautiful planes on display, including a never-flown Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing. Bill clearly loved model airplanes and took pride in the ones he built and owned. Back out in the garage, we began taking down the planes that were being donated.  All of Bill’s planes were in pristine condition, including a J-3 Cub on floats with an 8 foot wingspan. This plane made my jaw drop when I first saw it. It was built by Bill from a kit but as far as Jeff knows, it was never flown. This plane took a bit more work than the others to get down and taken apart to fit in the trailer. Don't worry, I left this task to the professional...Tony. I am a newbie and am still learning so I’m not trusted to do much of anything beyond holding screws! Thank you to Jeff and the rest of Bill's family for their donation from Bill's collection. The foundation received several of his planes which will be for sale soon at different shows and on our impending RC Resale eBay store. Make sure to stay-tuned for more information. Chrystal Pearson Development Communications Coordinator   About Bill Bill was a longtime member of the AMA. He loved building models airplanes even more than he loved flying them. Bill also enjoyed adventures such as hunting, fishing, boating trips, and spending time with his grandchildren. He had a great sense of humor and was very proud of his hole in one at Albany Golf Course. Bill was an avid fan of Ball State Basketball and Football games. [caption id="attachment_3089" align="aligncenter" width="130"] William (Bill) Irving[/caption]

Tony and I are becoming pros when it comes to accepting model airplane collections. As I am sure a large percentage of AMA members know, the models can really add up, and before you know it an entire U-Haul is filled. Our trip to Lee’s Summit was no exception. In fact, this ended up being the largest collection we have ever received. In total, we accepted 98 model airplanes. Months ago Craig Brown contacted the AMA Foundation with information about Wayne Nyberg’s collection. Wayne was a friend and club member who had recently passed. He told me that the collection was massive and that he was sure we would be interested. Thankfully, Randy Cameron, District VI VP was willing to view the collection and take pictures. He also thought it was a collection that we should accept. [caption id="attachment_3022" align="alignright" width="169"] Tony and I love BBQ![/caption] Fast-forward to October, and there we were, again on our way to pick up a collection. We drove all the way to Missouri, reaching our final destination, and stopping by a local BBQ restaurant for dinner. The next morning Craig, Randy, and Randy’s wife Fina were all there to help us out. They were so helpful, and because of everyone’s hard work we finished going through the airplanes and loading them in less than 10 hours. [caption id="attachment_3023" align="alignleft" width="300"] Randy Cameron, District VI VP[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3024" align="alignleft" width="225"] Our 27 ft U-Haul was packed![/caption]         I want to thank Craig, and of course Wayne's wife, Betty, for reaching out to the AMA Foundation about the collection. The proceeds will benefit the AMA Foundation Education Fund, which funds several AMA programs. We had a great time, and I got to learn about some model airplanes I had never seen before. Wayne had a great collection, and we are very excited to offer them for sale in the near future! Below is a sneak peak of some of the airplanes we selected. Thank you to the Madison County R/C Flyers for inviting the AMA Foundation to be part of its 18th annual swap meet. We will be selling some of the airplanes at the show. This year’s event will be held in Elwood, IN on November 26 from 9 am to 1 pm. Admission is only $4.00. You won’t want to miss out on some great deals.   [gallery link="file" ids="3039,3038,3037,3036,3035,3034,3033,3032,3031"] If you are interested in donating your model airplane collection please contact us via email, donations@modelaircraft.org. Mandee Mikulski Director of Development AMA Foundation   About Wayne Wayne H. Nyberg was known for his sense of humor and fun loving nature. His curiosity, inventiveness, and love of science began at an early age. He learned how things worked and how to fix them from his father who was a mechanic. Wayne graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in chemistry and worked as a research chemist contributing to medical, food, and plastics research. Wayne carried his inventiveness and ability to fix things into his hobbies; sailing and radio-controlled airplanes. He taught himself how to make and repair sails for a variety of sailboats and also built and flew radio-controlled airplanes. Wayne and his friends at the 95th Street Flying Group and KCRC Flying Club at Lake Jacomo enjoyed many great flights together. He was known there for his sense of humor and fun-loving nature. Wayne is greatly missed by all who knew him.