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Join the AMA Foundation in celebrating the ninth annual National Model Aviation Day, August 15, 2020!

National Model Aviation Day was created to encourage clubs to celebrate their hobby by sharing it with their communities. Year after year, clubs use this day to raise money for the AMA Foundation and other charities close to their heart. Donations made to the AMA Foundation are used to inspire the young and young-at-heart to pursue a hobby that will inspire creativity and advanced learning through the use of hands-on applications. Read what District X Associate Vice President Jim Mohan has to say about this day of fun and celebration:

Our celebration [of National Model Aviation Day] is our club’s chance to reach out to neighbors and invite those in the area to come out and enjoy a nice day with RC model flying, food, and a chance to fly one of the club’s trainers under the supervision of an instructor. Activities also include several raffles used as fundraising tools. National Model Aviation Day falls during the hottest part of the summer in the Phoenix area. With that in mind, the Arizona Model Pilots Society (AMPS) shifts its celebration to November when the weather better cooperates with outdoor activities. 

This past year, our event outreach and advertising resulted in roughly 30 registered pilots, but more importantly, nearly 100 guests stopped by to take in the activities. Approximately 25 visitors of all ages took advantage of the opportunity to fly an RC airplane. Several current club members got their start with model aviation as guests at our open house and National Model Aviation Day celebration.

Supporting the AMA Foundation on NMAD is a “no-brainer.” 

Although there are many worthy causes supported by several excellent groups, celebrating National Model Aviation Day calls for dedicating proceeds to the AMA Foundation. Last year, raffle proceeds allowed us to contribute $500 to the AMA Foundation. The foundation’s support of a variety of model aviation causes and activities provides clubs like ours the opportunity to contribute without the extra work of vetting and determining which activities deserve financial backing.

Having recently received an AMA Flying Site Improvement Grant, AMPS’ ongoing support of the AMA Foundation is one way to pay it forward to provide funding for other clubs and their projects. 

-Jim Mohan, AMPS president & District X associate vice president 

Register your club to participate or Find an Event at https://modelaviationday.com/

  For more information, contact: Kelsie Walker (kelsiew@modelaircraft.org) or Austin Perlee (austinp@modelaircraft.org).

A total of $56,069.32 has been awarded in grants.

Congratulations to the 2020 recipients of the Flying Site Improvement Grant and the Take Off and Grow Grant.  

Flying Site Improvement Grant (FSIG)

26 clubs were awarded Flying Site Improvement grants in 2020! AMA established the Flying Site Improvement Grant program to invest in the continued improvement and growth of AMA chartered clubs and fields. Grant funding is provided through an allocation of membership dues each year as well as from funding from the AMA Foundation. These clubs are making a difference in the model aviation community, and the communities in which they operate. This year, $41,464.32 was awarded.

ClubAmount 

Rhode Island Aeromodelers $1,538.36

Southern New Hampshire Flying Eagles R/C Club $2,621.75

Brauer's Aviators $441.35

Fairfield League of Yankee Radio Controllers  (FlyRC) $393.20

Anderson Flyers RC Club $533.58

Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club $3,000.00

Charlotte Aeromodelers $3,000.00

District of Columbia Radio Control (DCRC) Club $972.00

Bay City Flyers $3,000.00

Blount County Model Aviators $1,135.00

Seminole Radio Control Club $1,811.00

Flying Cardinals of Northern Kentucky $1,841.75

Fort Wayne Flying Circuits $377.00

Henderson RC Model Airplane Club $516.57

Mid-Missouri Radio Control Association $1,660.47

Midwest Air Wing R/C Club $3,000.00

Des Moines Modelaires $1,298.35

Flying Pilgrims $1,606.82

Lake County Modelers and Flyers Association $3,000.00

Wausau RC Sportsmen $1,476.00

ARF RC Flying Club $516.50

Good Ole Okies Flying Society $1,090.00

Sky Corral R/C Club $1,940.75

Silent Electric Fliers of San Diego $496.45

Tri Valley RC Modelers $3,000.00

Puget Sound Silent Flyers $1,197.42

   

Take Off and Grow (TAG) Grant

23 clubs were awarded Take Off and Grow Grants in 2020! AMA awards up to $1,000 to clubs that implement a Take off And Grow (TAG) program in their local communities. TAG programs provide newcomers to model aviation an opportunity to learn about the hobby as well as practice flying model aircraft with experienced club members. TAG grants are awarded each year, thanks to the generous support of AMA members and AMA Foundation donors across the country. This year, $14,605.00 was awarded.

Club NameAmount

Aeroguidance Society$790.00

Meroke Radio Control$1,000.00

Penn Ohio Radio Kontrol Society (PORKS)$800.00

Valley City R/C Club, Inc.$1,000.00

Holly Springs Skyhawks Radio Control Group$800.00

Johnston County Aeromodelling Club$1,000.00

Largo Flying Club$500.00

Flagler City Radio Aero Modelers$800.00

Stone Mountain Radio Control Flyers$500.00

Henderson Radio Control Model Airplane Club$715.00

Madison Area Radio Control Society (MARCS)$500.00

Lake County Modelers & Flyers$500.00

Milan Flyers$400.00

Capital Area Radio Drone Squadron$400.00

Corsicana R/C Flyers$300.00

Richardson Radio Control Club$1,000.00

Casper Airmodelers Association$400.00

Rapid City Propbusters$500.00

Longmont Electric Aircraft Flyers, LEAF$500.00

Lincoln Sky Knights$400.00

Casa Grande RC Flyers$1,000.00

Oasis Flyers (Flying Aces)$800.00

   

 

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.

Trevor Burke, a now current student at Southern Methodist University in Texas, received the Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship and is now looking back at his first semester in college. With the help of the scholarship, Trevor has been able to attend Southern Methodist University and pursue a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics and has had the opportunity to join several clubs on campus. Trevor completed his first semester at the University with all A's and was one of 27 recipients out of the entire freshman class to be selected as a Hunt Leadership Scholar. He learned a lot about leadership and how to manage motivation and the process that come along with management positions. Outside of class, Trevor is involved in the SMU Mustang Marching Band where he plays the tuba. They have played at several different games, stadiums, and tournaments including the Boca Raton Bowl in Florida and the Cotton Bowl. In order to make the most of his time in college, Trevor also joined several engineering clubs on campus. These clubs work on creating new ideas and improving already existing designs. Trevor has had a hand in implementing new designs for a stronger engine, smaller wheels, and a longer body for Hilltop Motorsports. He has also had hands-on experience with the SMU Rocketry Club wherethey design and test rockets for the Spaceport America Collegiate Competition. So far the club has created the airframe and body of the rocket and chemically produced the rocket fuel. "Overall, this semester has been very memorable. Thank you so much this scholarship. I really appreciate it and am continually mindful of your trust and confidence in me. With it, I am able to eagerly pursue my studies as an engineer and explore many different and exciting organizations on campus at SMU." - Trevor Burke

In memory of fellow AMA member, Andy Kane, the Southwest Area Park R/C Model Airplane Club made a $100 donation to the AMA Foundation. Andy was a true ambassador of the hobby, not only for his home club (DCRC), but also for numerous local and regional clubs. He attended the majority of the club's annual major events over the past 25 years helping to make them the successes they were. His leadership and promotion of radio-controlled modeling will surely be missed.

The Casa Grande RC Flyers were mentioned twice in their local newspaper recently. The first sections highlighted their upcoming event, which is aiming to benefit Hospice Charitable Fund of Central Arizona. The event is free to the public and you can watch the pilots fly, see what is up for grabs at the swap meet, take a free flying lesson, and see the new track. Lunch will be provided by food vendors and the Pets In Need Action League will be handing out free coffee and pastries. The Hospice Charitable Fund will have several representatives in attendance collecting donations. The second clipping is a letter from the editor in which the Pets In Action League sent their greatest thank you to the club for donating.       

Lazy Eight RC Club recently received an AMA Club Recognition and Reward Grant for $75. The club is located in Johnstown, NY. The club held an event in which they raised money for Warm the Children. At the end of the day, the club was able to had a check for $855 over to the organization so they could provide clothing for children for the winter. 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.