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The Central Connecticut RC Club recently received an AMA club recognition and reward grant for $75. The club is located in Farmington, CT. The members of the club attended a drive and fly-in at a local airport. The event the club attended was the 32nd annual Simsbury Fly-In and Car Show. This event attracts around 15,000 spectators, and it has about 150 businesses as sponsors, advertisers, and exhibitors.The annual show was hosted by the Simsbury Flying Club, and proceeds from the event helped keep the Simsbury Airport in operation. The fly in and car show featured hundreds of airplanes and cars that could be seen up close. The airplanes ranged from antiques dating back to the 1920's, to homebuilts, helicopters, small former military aircraft, and brand new models on display by dealers. The AMA would like to thank the members of the Central Connecticut RC Club for attending this event. Thank you for helping other AMA clubs host successful events. 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 Holly Springs Skyhawks Radio Control Group recently received an AMA Club Recognition and Reward Grant for $75. The club is located in Holly Springs, NC. The club hosted their Wings Over Springs fly-in and SWAP Meet event on September 2. This was the clubs first organized event. The event was open to the public as Wings Over Springs Model Aviation Day. It was a free event designed to educate and entertain the public about RC flying. There was a Drone Racing Course, operated by local MultiGP club members, next to the main event. Several hundred spectators came to the air show. Many different planes were at the event including  a Magnum PI Hughes 500D replica, an aerobatic quad copter flown line-of- site, 3D pattern, and many more.  The club raised $400 in support of Meg’s Smile Foundation. To learn about the Foundation, click here. The AMA would like to congratulate the Holly Springs Skyhawks Radio Control Group for hosting their first organized event and making it a successful one. 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 Rogue Eagles RC Club recently received an AMA Club Recognition and Reward Grant for $125. The club is located in Medford, OR. The club hosted their 39th Annual Air Show at the Agate Skyways air field. The Air Show ran from noon to 2 p.m. August 29-30. Admission was $5 per person or $10 per carload, with kids allowed in free. The proceeds from the event benefited Children’s Miracle Network health care services provided to local kids through Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. The club members flew everything from real drones to models of fighter jets to gliders and biplanes. There was also an Avanti electric-powered jet that reached 110 miles per hour. The event was family friendly and a bomber replica ended the show each day by dumping pounds of candy on the runway for kids to grab. The AMA would like to thank the Rogue Eagles RC Club for hosting a family friendly event and raising money for the Children's Miracle Network. 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 Airmasters Model Airplane Club (AMAC) recently received and AMA Club recognition award for $150. The club is located in Albany, GA. The club recently got handicap-accessible bathrooms on their field. County leaders spent $40,000 on the bathrooms. Each year, AMAC holds an event to showcase planes on the ground which attracts a couple hundred residents. The club also shares their field with 4-H. "They were real nice to us. When they gave us this field here. It wasn't in this shape. We did the best we can with it. And then Lee County came out and helped us level it off and get it ready," said Samuel Williams, AMAC Treasurer. AMAC members welcome any residents interested in learning to fly model to come out on Saturdays and Sundays. The AMA would like to congratulate AMAC for the new addition to their field. The AMA would also like to thank the club for hosting events and including the public in these events. 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 Minot Aircraft Modelers located in Minot, ND received an AMA Club Recognition Reward of $125. The club currently has 32 members and is growing quickly. Members of the club have various types of aircraft including planes, helicopters and quad-copter drones. On Aug. 5, the club hosted their International Fun Fly and had 49 participants. Anthony Martinez, a member of the club, used his drone to take still photos and videos of the activities during the local group’s International Fun Fly. To watch the video from the event, click here. The Minot Aircraft Modelers hold different events throughout the year. The club normally holds an annual event at the Dakota Square Mall and holds an open house in the spring at their flying field. They invite the public to their flying field where they put on a show and teach about model aircraft. The AMA would like to thank the Minot Aircraft Modelers for holding different events throughout the year to show the public about the hobby. 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.

On June 16 & 17, RC Resale hosted a swap meet at the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC). Hundreds of donated items were for sale, with all proceeds benefiting the AMA Foundation and the programs it supports. It was a fun two days of selling planes, meeting members, and hearing all the reasons why they shouldn't take any more planes home. I lost count of the amount of times I heard 'my wife won't let me in the house with these' or 'I'll have to sneak this in when my wife isn't home'. But we all know, you can never have too many planes! We sold many items with the help of our co-worker, Tony Stillman, and hope to have another swap meet at the IACwhen the weather gets a little cooler.  Over $3,000 was raised that weekend, but Mandee and I will remember this event as a success just for the amount of members we got to know. [gallery columns="2" ids="3870,3883,3881,3882"] Thank you to everyone that came out to help set up, tear down, and shop the swap meet! Chrystal Pearson Development Communications Coordinator AMA Foundation  

Robert O’Connor was born on May 24, 1929. As a kid in the 40's, Robert built model airplanes and played stick ball. As with other families, his parents decided to move from the Bronx to the suburbs, to a little town called Mahopac, New York.   Robert’s love of flight followed him. He got the opportunity as a young adult to get flying lessons in a Piper Cub for helping out at the local airstrip. When he got married to his wife, Diane, they decided that his feet should stay on the ground. After Robert married, he decided to get into RC planes. He would come home after work to build a Top Dog, Falcon or one of the many others. On the weekends, Robert would always fly his planes. Sometimes in triumph and sometimes in disaster. At this time his friends nicknamed him "Crash n Burn". He loved it. Roberts son, Michael O’Connor, can still remember him running to catch up with a plane when Robert lost the signal. The planes they flew together had an actuator system in them that wasn't reliable. Mike remembers the days that him and his dad, Robert, would be searching for a plane or climbing a tree to get it down. Robert eventually included his son, Michael, in his hobby. He started Mike out on simple and stable models. Mike had a hard time landing the planes. He would get nervous and turn the wrong way which made the plane cartwheel into the ground. Robert worked with his son to teach him landing skills and rebuilding skills. Robert was a loving father. Michael's dad brought RC flying all together for him through the plans, pins, glue, sandpaper, hopes, dreams and fun. Robert O’Connor passed away on July 10, 2009. Michael donated an AMA Walk of Fame brick in his father's memory and honor. The brick was placed at AMA headquarters in Muncie, IN. Robert O’Connor will be sorely missed by family, friends and members of the model aviation community. Visit the AMA Foundation website or click here to learn more about the AMA Walk of Fame program.

The Desert Eagles Flying Club located in Idaho Falls, ID, recently received an AMA Club Recognition Award for $175. On June 24, the club hosted their annual Open House. This year, the club decided to make the event a fundraiser for the Idaho Food Bank. Spectators were given the chance to shoot paintball guns at moving model airplanes. For $2, a person was able to take ten shots. Every dollar that was raised was donated to the food bank. Several donors helped with the event. Gary Oswald G&H Paintball let the club use paintball guns and donated the paintballs and the local HobbyTownUSA donated $100 toward a $250 gift certificate that was raffled off. Members of the club also donated fuel and SPADs that were used as the moving targets. While the paintball was going on, there were other activities happening at the event. The club flew model demonstrations, provided free hot dogs and drinks, and did buddy box introductory flights. The club ended up raising $923.80 for the Idaho Food Bank. The AMA would like to thank the Desert Eagles Flying Club for hosting a fundraiser event and making it so successful. 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 Casa Grande RC Flyers has recently been awarded a $175 Club Recognition and Reward Grant. Casa Grande RC Flyers club has been featured in The Robson Ranch Views monthly from Jan. to March and the April issue of the AMA Magazine. Casa Grande RC Flyers is an Arizona nonprofit corporation that raises money for local charities. Membership is open to anyone wanting fly or learn to fly radio-controlled aircraft. They also offer free lessons taught by any of nine AMA certified instructors. The club has about 156 members that include local residents and winter residents. Club members have visted area schools, 4-H groups, science nights and festivals to teach youth about aviation. The AMA Foundation thanks the Casa Grande RC Flyers for spreading awareness and the messages of our organization to all ages in their community. For more information: https://www.casagrandercflyers.com/communityservice.html 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.

Bremen Hobbies recently held a silent auction promotional event giving shoppers the opportunity to purchase a Balsa USA 1/6th scale Sopwith Pup, built and ready for receiver and battery. The aircraft was built at Bremen Hobbies by Chuck Hamilton and Lee Watkins of Hangar 331. Balsa USA donated the kit, covering materials, and accessories, and Bremen Hobbies donated the electric motor, speed control and servos. The winner was announced in the store in Bremen, Indiana on April 29th. Brad Hjerpe was the top bidder and winner of the aircraft. All proceeds from the winning bid were donated to the AMA Foundation, a total of $779.00 to the Scholarship Fund.

This video originally appeared in the June 1, 2017 edition of AMA's webcast: AMA Air. Find more episodes at https://air.modelaircraft.org.

The AMA Foundation would like to thank Bremen Hobbies for this wonderful opportunity to give back to the AMA Scholarship Fund. For more details about the scholarship fund, view here. AMA Foundation staff members would also like to thank Joe Vermillion for his efforts to help us capture video and pictures from the live winning bid announcement.