members

Visit the National Model Aviation throughout the month of February to learn more about the history of African Americans in aviation and celebrate Black History Month. The museum will host “Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight”—a Smithsonian traveling exhibition—to honor the history of African Americans in flight, as well as a speaker series on February 10, 2018. The exhibition will open at the National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, Ind., on February 1, 2018, and will be on view through the month of February in honor of Black History Month. The Wright brothers signaled the arrival of the new air age with their historic flight in 1903, they sparked America’s new fascination with and exploration of flight. And while many African Americans were enthusiastic about flight, they still faced racial discrimination and were denied access to formal training as pilots and mechanics. The Smithsonian traveling exhibition “Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight” chronicles the powerful group of aviation proponents who challenged these obstacles and created their own legacy in the world of flight. “Black Wings” will open at the National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, Ind., on February 1, 2018, and will be on view through the month of February in honor of Black History Month. Developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, the exhibition was made possible by the generous support of the MetLife Foundation. On February 10, 2018, the National Model Aviation Museum will host a special speaker series featuring members of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) who will be sharing their experiences in the aviation industry. Returning panelists include Captain Albert Glenn (OBAP) and John Graham (FedEx), and joining them will be A.C. Glenn (F3A Team USA). The discussion will begin at 1 p.m. inside the gallery of the National Model Aviation Museum. Admission to the panel discussion and the museum will be free of charge for members of the community. This event is presented in partnership with the YWCA of Muncie and the Muncie Chapter of the Indiana Black Expo, Inc. This exhibition chronicles some of the most important black figures from the past and present who helped make the dream of careers in flight and space exploration possible, including Bessie Coleman, a young African American woman who desired to fly but whose race prevented her from doing so in the U.S. To combat this injustice, Coleman went to France to learn to fly. Another important figure, William J. Powell, led an ambitious program to promote aviation by establishing the Bessie Coleman Flying Club and later sponsored the first all-black air show in Los Angeles in the late 1930s. These are people who shaped the lasting legacy African Americans would forever leave on aviation. Divided into six sections, “Black Wings” chronicles the evolution of aviation through the stories of African Americans who dreamed of flight, left their mark and helped pave the way for those who would follow. Figures whose contributions are explored include the Tuskegee Airmen—the first military division of African American pilots who fought in World War II—and Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to fly in space. The exhibition is based on the book “Black Wings: Courageous Stories of African Americans in Aviation and Space History” (HarperCollins, 2008) by exhibition curator Von Hardesty of the National Air and Space Museum. The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum maintains the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world, is a vital center for research into the history, science, and technology of aviation and space flight, and memorializes the national development of aviation and space flight. Learn more online, airandspace.si.edu. SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. Exhibition descriptions and tour schedules are available at sites.si.edu. For more information please visit our Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/1939877386332461/?active_tab=about.  

The Foundation team recently visited Ontario, California for AMA Expo West. We love getting the opportunity to travel because it gives us the chance to meet members from all over the country. This trip was especially exciting because in addition to the expo, it was also the weekend the winner of the AMA Foundation for the Future Sweepstakes got to take his ride in Lady Alice, and our AMA Marketing team made a big announcement. [caption id="attachment_4488" align="alignleft" width="300"] Nathan and Dr. Wagner just after landing[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4489" align="alignright" width="300"] Dr. Kendall Wagner (left) Nathan Metzler (center) Dan Bott (right)[/caption] Nathan Metzler was the lucky winner of the AMA Foundation for the Future Sweepstakes.  His prize package included an all-expense-paid trip to Ontario, free admission to AMA Expo West, and the ride in Lady Alice, a P-51 Mustang, donated by Dr. Kendall Wagner . Nathan was elated when he learned he was the winner and selected his 10-year-old daughter, Madeline as his plus one for the trip. The weather was perfect Saturday morning for the ride and Nathan said it best when the plane landed and he said "You cannot put a price on that!" Click here for more photos. [caption id="attachment_4498" align="alignright" width="225"] AMA Foundation staff, Mandee (right) and Chrystal (left)[/caption] Foundation staff members had a great time during the Expo, spending the weekend talking to people about the Foundation and the programming it supports. We set a fundraising goal for the weekend and thanks to our generous supporters, hit our goal! Thank you to everyone that supported the Foundation that weekend and to all who support our efforts throughout the year! The AMA Marketing team also had an exciting weekend, making a special announcement from the main stage during the show... AMA Expo West is moving! Beginning this year, the show will be in November at the Fairplex Exposition Center in Pomona, California. Join us in 2018 for AMA Expo West November 2-4. For more information, visit www.amaexpowest.com   Chrystal Pearson Development & Communications Coordinator AMA Foundation

Dean Palermo (Miami area, Florida) Dean Palermo is a Client Relations and Business Consultant for Palermo, Landsman, and Ross P.A. (full service account service). Palermo takes his extensive experience working with Fortune 500 companies from which he offers consulting services to our client base of entrepreneurs, athletes, entertainers, and high net-worth individuals. Dean takes their passion and dreams to the next level. He organizes the firm’s involvement in numerous charities and not-for-profits for our clients and associates in the South Florida community. His involvement with the AMA and AMA foundation include: -2014 Sony open with Rich Hanson, RJ Gritter, Nick Maxwell -2015/16 NBC Today Show/Good Morning America. Matt Lauer, Kerry Saunders. Rescue assist from flood waters Live Show, life jacket to swimmer LifeGuard assist program Live Show, Drone safety in Hotel “Live” -2015/2016/2017 Facilitated several demos and training sessions for UAS for safety, inspection, etc. -2006-17 Vista View RC 501c3 nonprofit Electric only club due to city requirement (236 active members) -2015/16/17 Educational/safety events to the public “boy scout Jamboree” “multi GP Safety Grant given”, and Private Crest” both Nonprofit and for profit -2016 ESPN college Final ESPN Blimp with interactive FPV gear -2006-17 Deans RC Keeps, Wire-Keeps, Battery-Keeps Etc. original distributor for 8 years, Horizon Hobby. From Dean: “A lot of behind the scenes work goes into building a reputation and culture. I have enjoyed every moment helping others get into the hobby as hobby and others build a carrier around what they love. I have been flying Scale RC plans, Gliders, Jets, Helis, quads ect… All aspects of aircraft and truly enjoy it all and have built a club site where they all interact together sharing and enjoying that common bond of the pure enjoyment of RC flight   Francis “Rusty” Kennedy (Poquoson, VA 23662)   Rusty Kennedy is retired. He served in the United States Air Force from 1975-1997. He was the owner and operator of a retail hobby shop from 1997-2007. His involvement with the AMA and AMA foundation include: -AMA member for a few years in the 60s, 1979 - present AMA Member -AMA Leader Member 1983 - present -Life Member L716 -Life Member AMA Museum Patron -Lifetime Contributor AMA Foundation -AMA Distinguished Service Award 2015 -Associate Vice President AMA District IV   Terry Fleener   Terry Fleener is the Director of the National Rugby Foundation. His long and noteworthy involvement with the sport of rugby began in 1963 when he was a Founding Member and player for the Quad-City Rugby Football Club in Davenport, Iowa. In 1967 he served in his first of numerous administrative positions as he served on the Board of the Midwest Rugby football Union.   In 1975, Mr. Fleener was a Founding Member of the Board of Directors of the Western Rugby Union. That same year, he was also elected to the first ever Board of Directors of the Western Rugby Union. He remained a USARFU Board Member until 1999 serving among other positions as Treasurer from 1983-87 and President from 1987-89. He was also the first president and a member of the Board of Directors of the Pan American Rugby Association from 1992-2001. From 1996-2001 Mr. Fleener served as USA Rugby Director of the Pacific Rim Rugby Championship and was Chairman, Board of Directors, of the Pacific Rim Rugby Championship, Inc. from 1998-2001. In 2004, Terry joined the Board of Directors of the United States Rugby Foundation, a position he continues to hold today. Terry also continues to serve as a Trustee of the Green and White Rugby Trust, the non-profit arm of the Denver Barbarians Rugby Football Club. And he’s also been to every Rugby World Cup as a spectator.   Mr. Fleener recently retired as Director of Marketing for Ball Aerospace, a company in Colorado developing products for the civilian and military Space Programs. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from the University of Iowa, and a Masters in Business Administration from Denver University. He has been married to Jane since 1969 and they have two sons, Clint and Clay, and two granddaughters. He is an AMA member and a multi-rotor pilot.   Paul Frankum (Atlanta, GA)   Paul Frankum is transitioning into a position in Atlanta at the corporate office to serve as lead for one-third of global business ($1 billion annual revenue) for Flower’s Foods. He has worked with Flowers Foods for 30 years and has served as president of operations for five locations within the company.   His involvement with the AMA and AMA foundation include: -Lifelong modeler in Georgia -Served as AVP for 6+ years -Leader members -Turbine Waiver holders -Contest Director -AMA Foundation Donor  

The AMA Foundation is taking RC Resale on the road February 23-25 to set up in the Swap Shop at AMA Expo East in Secaucus, New Jersey. Thanks to a generous donation from Charles Sylvia, we will have over 20 planes for sale.This is the third time Charles has donated planes to the Foundation and the second time we will be selling from his collection at Expo East. Last year we had a great experience in the Swap Shop and sold all of the planes Charles had donated to us that weekend. To read about our experience at AMA Expo East in 2017, click here. More information for AMA Expo East 2018 can be found at https://amaexpo.com. We hope to see you there! All sales through RC Resale benefit the AMA Foundation and the programs it supports.

1. DO-27  w/Rx
2. F6F-Hellcat (EMS) w/Rx
3. C-310 Semi scale w/Rx
4. Mig-17 (EDF) w/Rx
5. SNJ (EMS) w/Rx
6. P-47 foam w/Rx
7. C-185 (EMS) w/Rx & Floats
8. AD-1 (EMS) w/Rx
9. P-39 foam w/Rx
10. T-45 EDF w/Rx
11. P-51 foam w/Rx
12. C-172 foam w/Rx
13. T-28 ParkZone sm Rx & Bat
14. F4F Wildcat ParkZone w/Rx
15. Spitfire foam w/Rx
16. Vision Aire Night w/Rx
17. Carbon Cub SS UMX Rx & 3 Bat
18. Commander twin foam w/Rx
19. Duke B-60 twin foam w/Rx
20. Drone & TX, Rx & Bat -6 blade/GPS
21. TP820CD Charger
22. JR 12 Ch Tx & Rx./ 2 Sat Rx
23. T-34B Mentor kit Top Flite
24. E-Flite Power 90 motor
25. C-310 twin GAS with accessories
26. EMS T-28/Rx & 2 5S/5000 LiPo
27. T-33 1/6 Scale EDF Jet w/rx 3S/4500x3
28. F6F Hellcat foam w/Rx
29. RC 3748 600kv Brushless Motor X 2

  [gallery columns="5" ids="4473,4474,4475,4476,4477"]     [caption id="attachment_4531" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Charles Sylvia with the EMS T-28[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4562" align="aligncenter" width="300"] All the aircraft ready to be picked up.[/caption]

The Local Area Fun Flyers (LAFF) are located in Bullhead City, AZ. The club was covered in the Mohave Valley Daily News on Dec. 27. The RC club has 30 members and they meet at the Rodney Briscoe Memorial Flying Field at Rotary Park in Arizona. LAFF is actively looking for other RC aircraft enthusiasts in their area to join them in their flight plans. The club is planning a fun fly day in February that will be open to anyone interested in learning about the sport. Andy Murphy, a member of the club, said “This field is a great place to come out to fly. People can come out with us and give it a try before they invest in the sport; if they find they are interested, we can help get them started and give good advice on how to do it as inexpensively as possible.” For more information about LAFF email localareafunflyers@yahoo.com. To read the story from the Mohave Valley Daily News, click here.

Palomar Radio Controlled Flyers club recently received an AMA Club Recognition and Reward Grant for $75. This club is located in San Marcos, CA. The club was recently in “The San Diego Union-Tribune” because the club needs a new home. They have been gathering in a big, vacant field in Fallbrook, CA. The property is 90 acres and is a private land owned by a development company. This field was ideal because it is in isolation from residential neighborhoods and retail centers. It allows members to fly without concern for bothering anybody or hitting anybody. The club has existed since the 1950s and has around 200 members today. The field includes a 600-foot-long runway for the club members to use. Steve Gebler, the incoming president of the club told the reporter, “Within a 1.1-mile radius, 1,100 homes are going in and right past that tree line is where Palomar College is building a new campus.” The property is not currently slated for development but club members think that will soon change due to land surveyors and engineers being on the property. Gebler is concerned that in two years people will be complaining and the club will be shut down. Members of the group have been looking for somewhere to relocate but they've had no luck. The leaders of the group have also had unsuccessful talks with government agencies who appear to have little interest in providing a flying area. Steve Gebler asks anyone who might have suggestions for a new location to contact him. For more information about the club, 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 Radio Control Sports Flyers recently received an AMA Club Recognition and Reward Grant for $50. The club is located in Kansas City, MO. The club hosted an AMA sanctioned memorial fun-fly on Sept. 17 to honor two recently deceased club members, Bob Processor of Greenwood and Herb Hestand of Lee’s Summit. This fun-fly included a memorial plaque honoring all deceased members which was placed inside the shelter at their field. Also, family and club members shared their thoughts about the hobby. The RC Sports flyer club provides free flight instruction and helps individuals of various ages to learn how to build and fly radio control aircraft. The AMA would like to thank this club for holding a memorial service for lost members 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 Desert Hawks recently received an AMA club recognition and reward grant for $75. This club is located in Lake Havasu City, AZ. The club hosted their 32nd Seaplane Classic which was held on Saturday, Nov. 4. The event was free to spectators. Sixty-one pilots registered for the event and had to pay a fee to participate in the classic and all the money collected will benefit the club. Club president Tim Price told “Today’s News-Herald” that most of the funds goes toward field maintenance throughout the year. The pilots did not have to be members of the club however, they were required to fly RC float planes and be members of the AMA. 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 would like to thank the members of the National Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA) for their continued support. The NMPRA sold 300 tickets for a raffle and raised $6,300 to donate to the Cliff and Nancy Telford Scholarship Fund. Each year AMA awards this specialized scholarship to the applicant who shows dedication to the hobby through participation in competition activity. Dillon Graves was the 2017 recipient of the Clifford and Nancy Telford Scholarship. Dillon has accumulated many honors in the past six years including: Two time Junior National Champion F3J and unlimited Thermal Duration in 2011 and 2013, National Champion Open Class F3J Thermal Soaring 2013, Overall Florida Soaring Society Champion as an Expert in Unlimited 3rd 2012 and 1st in 2013 and Master in 2015, and first Sportsman Gator F3B World Cup 2013. Dillon currently attends the University of Central Florida.  Thank you to the following for their contributions for the raffle and direct donations for the raffle:

• Mario Salazar
• Mike Helsel
• Lloyd Burnham
• Randy Etken
• Dennis O'Brien
• JR Americas  
• APP Advanced Pylon Products
• Mike Helsel
• Robert Holik
• Aero Racing Engines
• CMAD Racing
• Jett Engineering, Inc.

AMA would like to thank Tom Scott and the leaders of NMPRA for the continued support. Your work has helped many with their college expenses and helped AMA award more than $1 million in scholarships. To learn more about this year’s scholarship recipients visit:  /amafoundation/dillon-graves/

The Desert Hawks RC Club recently received an AMA club recognition and reward grant for $75. The club is located in Lake Havasa City, AZ. For over 35 years, the Desert Hawks RC club complex has been home to RC airplanes and helicopters. The club members wanted something to do when it was too windy to fly their planes. The club decided to expanded to include RC truck and buggy enthusiasts by constructing race tracks on its grounds. Ed Hail, vice president of the club and track chairman, was interviewed by Chelsea Curtis from Today News-Herald. Hail told Curtis that he thinks it is a good thing for the community because it gives people who like this hobby a place to come and legally participate in the hobby. At first, the Desert Hawks constructed a small oval track for the club to use. The track became very popular that Ed Heil began to collect donations from club members to build a larger RC course. The club raised enough money to build a larger course but there is no set date for the track’s grand opening. The club is hoping to have the grand opening in the next few weeks. The Desert Hawks RC club complex is open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and non-members are allowed to try the RC tracks once for free. Once they try the track, they are able to join the club for a fee. Also, in order to join the club, they are required to become a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. For more information on the track and becoming  a member, click here. The AMA would like to congratulate the Desert Hawks RC Club on raising enough money to construct a large track and making it fun for everyone! 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.