District I—Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Portland ACE Academy
It has been a few years since I reported on the Propsnappers R/C Club of Portland, Maine, and its participation in Aviation Career Exploration (ACE) Camp programs. Frank Maguire sent event photos and information about this summer’s ACE Camp.
This was the third year the club hosted an ACE Academy program. ACE programs are cosponsored each summer by the FAA along with other organizations. Depending on the cosponsors, ACE programs vary in tuition cost, duration, age groups, field trips, and educational focus. The camp is a hands-on, interactive aviation experience that allows students to have fun while exploring a variety of aviation careers.
The Portland ACE Academy was a weeklong junior day camp for up to 20 students, ages 12 to 16. It was sponsored by the Portland International Jetport and the Boy Scouts of America’s Pine Tree Council. Tuition was $250.
Activities
During ACE Camp week, students received lessons and participated in activities, including:
- Aviation history, theory of flight, and basic aerodynamics
- A tour of the airport and meetings with airport managers
- Discussions with pilots, air traffic controllers, and technicians
- Use of a flight simulator and flights in various full-scale aircraft
Propsnappers R/C Club participation
Eighteen students were taken on a field trip to the Propsnappers R/C Club field in Scarborough, Maine. AMA club members Larry Ventura, Peter Flanagan, and Bill Lairsey provided an overview of the sport of aeromodeling, including the role of the AMA, clubs, and the AMA safety code. They explained and demonstrated the basic components and operation of R/C aircraft.
This was followed by hands-on R/C trainer flying for each student on a buddy box. Many of the students said this was one of the highlights of the ACE camp program.
Find an ACE Academy
Go to the FAA website and click on "Find an ACE Academy":
There are more than 30 ACE programs held each year throughout the country, offering opportunities for nearby AMA clubs to participate.
Acknowledgment
We applaud the Propsnappers R/C Club members for participating in this collaborative effort to promote aviation and aeromodeling to the younger generation.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
