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On Saturday, Nov. 5, Hampton Roads Radio Control Club hosted their 10th Annual Fun Fly Event benefiting Suffolk’s Toys for Tots Program. With more than 45 registered radio-control pilots, the event was able to raise more than $15,000 and collect thousands of toys for Toys for Tots program in the county.  “This is one of the best days we’ve had in five years, because of the weather,” said Chris Weeks, club vice-president. “The contributions exceeded our expectations.”     The day consisted of free Starbucks in the morning, a fly in with planes of all shapes and sizes and some electric powered, and Christmas themed parachutists. Santa was accompanied by elves who jumped out of the airplane to hear about children’s Christmas wishes. At the end of the day, Club President Jeff Haywood presented Skydive Suffolk owner Mike Manthey, members of Kingdom Kuts and Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Department with plaques for their help in sponsoring the event.   Hampton Roads Radio Control Club has done a wonderful job bringing in members of the community to support a great cause.

Chuck Orrick, a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics for over 25 years, recently purchased two bricks along the Walk of Fame. During interactions with AMA staff regarding the bricks, he shared his unique story and gave permission for it to be shared. Orrick is a lifelong model airplane enthusiast whose first memory of a model airplane dates back to the 1960’s. He was in kindergarten, showing his first small balsa airplane his father carved for him during show and tell. His father carved a few more airplanes for him, but in 1976, when Orrick was 16 years old, his father passed away. However, Orrick’s love for model airplanes has continued to this day. [caption id="attachment_3276" align="alignright" width="213"] Orrick's father, Charles Orrick, Jr.[/caption] In the early years of Orrick’s AMA membership, he inquired about having his long and hard to remember member number changed to “1701.” However, that number was already taken so he accepted 17701 instead. Several years later, during the 1990’s, Orrick was cleaning out his grandmother's closet and found a picture from 1946 of his father holding an airplane with the number “17702”. Orrick never knew that his father was an AMA member and couldn’t believe their member numbers were just one away from each other. While further investigating the picture, he stumbled upon a very touching article. The article featured a story about his grandfather, Capt. Charles Orrick. Little did he know, his grandfather helped to form the first flying club in Thomaston, Georgia. Orrick had no idea his grandfather was involved, and had such influence in, model aviation, something that had been a part of his life for as long as he could remember. Orrick had a deeper connection to his father and grandfather than he could ever imagine. He had gone many years loving his hobby of model airplanes without knowing that his father and grandfather both had strong ties to the hobby as well. [caption id="attachment_3277" align="alignleft" width="300"] Chuck Orrick (left) and Gene Seinkbeil (right)[/caption] Today, Orrick continues in the legacy of his father and grandfather. He and his friend, Gene Seinkbeil, built the “Martian Spaceship.” It was from an old free flight plan converted to R/C in the 80’s that they converted to electric. In 2008, Seikbeil and Orrick competed at the SEFF, and won the title “Best of Show.” The AMA is proud to help Chuck honor his family’s love for model aviation by placing his bricks in the Walk of Fame. To learn more about the brick program, visit: https://amafoundation.modelaircraft.org/walk-of-fame-donation-ama-foundation/

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.

Boy Scouts of America clubs from Arizona towns:   Nogales, Tucson, Sierra Vista, Marana and more attend a Camporee Aviation Day with the Sonoran Desert Flyers. The 3 day event held over 150 scouts and their leaders to learn about the trade. Scouts had the opportunity to learn how they could receive free flight training and other events the Sonoran Desert Flyers put on. Scouts were able to see FPV quads through a 3D extra and a static display of the clubs electric planes. The Sonoran Desert Flyers showed their passion to the scouts. Leader member, Bob Schumann, stated, “The fpv goggles and monitor had the scouts enchanted.” The club was able to reach retired U.S. Colonel and Congresswoman, Martha McSally. She dedicated her time out of her day to talk to the scouts about her time commanding an A-10 squadron in combat. The AMA recognizes the Sonoran Desert Flyers for their love and passion for the hobby. Their dedication does not go unnoticed. Also, the AMA would like to thank the Sonoran Desert Flyer club for the $50 donation toward the year- end giving campaign.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has awarded a $75 Club Recognition and Reward Grant to  Wintonbury Flying Club. The AMA recognized “Gold Leader”club was featured in Bloomfield Messenger for their 12th annual Giant Scale Fly-In in Bloomfield. The Wintonbury Flying club fly-in event gave the public a chance to admire the aircraft they feature. The public saw demonstrations, took part in a Q&A and children had the opportunity to fly in a 110 inch Olympic 2 glider. The club has been located in Bloomfield and actively involved with the community since 1972 and has over 215 members. Every year the club participates in donations for the food pantry and Toys for Tots Program. For more information about the club, view the 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.

  The academy of model aeronautics recently awarded the St. Louis Whirly Birds with $150 Club Recognition and Reward Grant. The club was featured in Fox 2 News in St. Louis for their 32nd  Fun-Fly event. View the full story here.  The club opened their event to the general public. There was a mix of young and old participants for three days of the event.  Anyone who had an interest in flying was able to take part in the event and be eligible for door prizes.  For more details about the St. Louis Whirly Birds, visit their 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 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 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.