PROPS, cops, and kids equal education,
recreation, and drug awareness. Who knew?
Officer Randy Dullum knew, that’s who.
In January of this year, I received a call
from Randy Dullum, a police officer in
Buffalo, Wyoming. Randy had some
questions regarding the development of a
new flying site.
Normally I can provide the answers to
such questions, provide the appropriate
support to the member, and get ready for
the next call. This case was different. Sure,
Randy had a few questions, but he also had
a story to tell.
Randy shares responsibility for the
D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance
Education) program in the Buffalo area.
The program tries to provide education and
alternatives to youngsters who might
otherwise make life-ruining choices with
respect to illicit drug use.
Having a lifelong interest in aviation,
Randy came up with the idea that model
aviation—accessible in one form or another
to virtually every student—might be an
outreach mechanism through which the
D.A.R.E. program could be presented to
local students.
With the nucleus of the program in
mind, Randy approached Mike Dahmer, the
chief of police in Buffalo, explained the
concept, and received a thumbs up to go
forward with the effort.
Next, Randy explained his concept to the
local school principal. Again, the concept
was enthusiastically embraced.
Well, we have lots of support, but no
place to fly. What to do, what to do …?
The next stop for Randy was the city of
Buffalo administrative offices. One wellreasoned
presentation later, Randy had the
city’s agreement to provide flying space,
and the Props, Cops, and Kids RC Park was
established.
Here’s how the program works:
Randy and a group of other volunteers
from the Buffalo Police Department and the
Johnson County Sheriff’s Department make
up the instructional staff. They are
supported by a member of the faculty at the
local junior high school.
The volunteers go into the sixth- through
eighth-grade classrooms twice a week for
an hour. The focus is on all aspects of
aviation. The activity provides an
alternative to drugs and alcohol and,
according to Randy,
provides a solid
basis for dreams of
future possibilities.
As part of the
presentation to the
students, an
explanation of all of
the possibilities for
employment in
aviation or aviationrelated
industries is
reviewed. That’s
just what D.A.R.E.
wants to do!
Technical
subjects are
covered. Lift,
thrust, weight, drag,
pitch, roll, yaw …
Yep, it’s an
education, but it’s
an education the kids can see and feel in
action as they progress from building to
flying their radio-controlled aircraft.
But that’s not all. In late March, the
EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association)
chapter in Gillette, Wyoming, a staunch
supporter of the concept, provided Young
Eagles flights to 43 students and parents as
part of the program. The wow factor is alive
and well in Buffalo!
The work done by Randy hasn’t been
restricted to in-town negotiations. It takes a
lot of support to make such a program a
success. To help realize the maximum
potential of the program in Buffalo, Randy
asked for and secured support from
manufacturers and distributors in the
model-aviation arena, including such firms
as Horizon Hobby, Hobbico, Hobby Lobby,
Great Planes, and myriad other suppliers as
well as luminaries in full-scale aviation
including Patty Wagstaff and Kirby
Chambliss.
The Buffalo Props, Cops, and Kids story
is but one example of model aviation’s
potential positive impact on a community
and its members. It doesn’t take a police
department to get such a program moving.
It takes a vision, a plan, and a willingness to
put yourself in front of people who can
share your vision and help move it toward
fruition.
How could something like this work in
your community?
Next time, we’ll review a case of dogged
determination and a refusal to take No! for
an answer. It’s an object lesson in the value
of getting to the right person.
Flying Site Assistance Wes De Cou | [email protected]
Announcements, news, and information from the
Academy of Model Aeronautics and the elected district representatives.
AMA News
Wes De Cou, Coordinator
Western Region
Districts VIII - XI
Voice: (480) 460-9466;
Cell: (480) 296-9515;
Fax: (480) 460-9434;
202 W. Desert Flower Ln.
Phoenix AZ 85045
E-mail: [email protected]
How could something like this work in your community?
152 MODEL AVIATION
Joe Beshar, Coordinator
Eastern Region
Districts I - VII
198 Merritt Dr.
Oradell NJ 07649
Tel.: (201) 261-1281;
Fax: (201) 261-0223
E-mail: [email protected]
Finding—Preserving—Maintaining
Need help getting or keeping a flying site?
We’d be happy to help. Contact AMA’s
Flying Site Coordinators at the following
addresses.
Randy Dullum and 10 of Buffalo’s future aviation magnates.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/07
Page Numbers: 152