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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.

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.

In the past the Muncy Indoor Flyers of Muncy, PA were well-known for their large indoor flying site. After the dome they used to fly collapsed, the club needed a new place to call home. Lee Eisele, a lifelong farmer and avid modeler, and his wife, Kitty, opened up their field and on-site hobby shop to the club and they became the Muncy Flyers. AMA President, Bob Brown and his wife, JoAnne, visited the club on many occasions over the years. During one of their visits, Bob suggested that the club begin holding events. The club was in agreeance and they began hosting great fun-fly events. As a result of the events, the club started making money and was able to install a fabric runway. The club continued to fly at the field, eventually named The Lee Eisele Memorial R/C Park, until both Lee and Kitty passed away. Although the club wanted to continue to operate, a lack of a flying site led the members to find other sites and clubs. Collectively the members of the Muncy Flyers wanted to give back to AMA for its help throughout the years and honor Lee and Kitty. It was decided to give some to nearby clubs to help them keep flying, and to support the AMA Foundation. They purchased a brick along the Walk of Fame in memory of Lee and Kitty and donated the remaining money to the Foundation. Tony Minnella, who was the latest president of the club said: “The AMA always supported our club. Because of that, we wanted to help support them.” We appreciate this gesture and want to wish each member of the club good luck and happy flying in the future.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently awarded the Fort Wayne Flying Circuits with a $150 Club Recognition and Reward grant. The club was featured in KPC News and The Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette for two separate events they recently held. The KPC News featured an article about the club's participation in the community's seventh annual Balloons Aloft event on July 5, 2016. The event included many different activities including dancing, classic cars, face painting,  a 1-mile family walk, and of course, R/C aircraft. The club was participating for the first time in the event and members were excited to put on a good show for the community. To read the full article, visit KPC News. [caption id="attachment_2924" align="alignright" width="300"] Flying Circuits President, Tom Hayes, with his giant model airplane.[/caption] The Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette featured the club's 35th annual Monster Mash and Swap Meet. This year's event was in celebration of National Model Aviation Day. The club president, Tom Hayes, said the purpose of the event was to bring pilots together, but also to share the hobby with the public. Hayes' hope was that spectators at the event would develop an interest in model flying. Visit the Journal Gazette to read more about the event. 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 Mountain Modelaires Club was recently awarded with a Club Recognition and Reward Grant in the amount of $150 after being featured on Wellsboro Home Page in both May in June. The May article featured the 5th annual Earth Day that was held at Mill Cove in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. The Mountain Modelaires Club participated in the event by displaying a broad selection of model aircraft with an emphasis on electric flying. The June article featured a video interview of club member, Frank Granelli, promoting an upcoming open fly-in the Modelaires were having at their field. He invited the public to attend and learn to fly using basic trainer aircraft with a dual control system. You can watch the video 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. [caption id="attachment_2747" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of the RC Mountain Modelaires Club at the 5th Annual Earth Day event[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2748" align="alignright" width="300"] Article video[/caption]

The Academy of Model Aeronautics awarded a $50 Club Recognition and Reward Grant to Cajun R/C Club of New Iberia, Louisiana. The club hosted their first Fly-in Invitational in two years under the new leadership of current President, Mitch Folse, who hopes to make the event popular again. There were no prizes or competitions at the fly-in, but club members from all over the state participated. [caption id="attachment_2736" align="alignright" width="300"] Barry Breaux controls his R/C plane as it hovers the ground during the Cajun R/C Club's Fly-In Invitational.[/caption] 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 has awarded a $75 Club Recognition and Reward Grant to Boerne Area Model Society (BAMS). Club members were featured on the front page (below) of the Hill Country Weekly on April 14, 2016. BAMS hosted their 2016 Spring Fun Fly with forty RC model pilots flying in several scheduled events. Spectators at the event enjoyed highly technical aerobatics and candy drops. The club provided inexperienced flyers the opportunity to use simulators and fly with a club member in a Buddy Box. BAMS funded the entire event and donated all proceeds to local charity, SAM'S Kids.     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.

It’s always sad when the AMA community loses a dedicated model aircraft enthusiast, but many ensure their interest in flying continues well beyond their passing. Charles E. Klabunde has donated over $16,000 to the AMA Foundation in support of the future of our hobby, the preservation of timeless artifacts, and the fight to protect member’s right to flight. Born October 28, 1931, Charles lived in Niagra Falls, NY and graduated from NFHS, the local high school, in 1949. He would then go on to graduate from the University of Illinois in 1955 with a Master of Science degree in physics. Later working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Charles researched a number of topics, most recently super-conductivity. He retired in 1996. In his retirement, he was a man of many passions, dedicating himself to hiking, folk dancing, photography, and model flight. Charles was an active member of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, the Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy leading many hikes along the Appalachian Trail through the Smokies. Friends knew him as Charlie; a consummate advocate for the conservation of natural Tennessee. He was a regular at the Oak Ridge Folk Dancers, sweeping many lucky partners off their feet. He built and flew multiple radio control model planes throughout the course of his life. Charles passed away from cancer earlier this year at the age of 84 in Oak Ridge, TN.  Friends and family will miss a truly dear friend. We are thankful for members like Charles whose passionate commitment to model flight continues to support the AMA Foundation. To learn more about the AMA Foundation and how to donate, visit the Foundation website.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has awarded a $50 Club Recognition and Reward Grant to the Johnson City Radio Controllers of Tennessee. The club attracted the attention of a Northeast Tennessee magazine, Out-N-About in September 2015. Club members Rich Koenig and Mike Starnes were featured in the three-page spread about the Johnson City Radio Controllers and their interests in aircraft modeling. 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.

 Azarr, age 70, was an admired and respected member of the RC community. A lifetime member of the AMA, he took great joy in the sport and was a mentor to many. At age 9, he was introduced to RC modeling by his uncle and was hooked.

The Springfield Model Airplane Club has donated $310.00 to the AMA Foundation in honor of its long-time friend and member. The SMAC wants to help further Azarr’s support of the Foundation’s goals and programs which were of importance to him.

Azarr passed away in his home on August 14, 2015 and will be sorely missed by family, friends and members of the model aviation community.