AMA News: Education Through Aviation-2013/02

ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news154Model Aviation February 2013www.ModelAviation.comI’ve just returned from a visit to the Western Michigan Aviation Academy (WMAA) with District VII Vice President Tim Jesky. It’s an amazing facility that provides a charter high school experience with lots of aviation resources available. One of its best resources is the local AMA chartered club, the Kent Radio Aero Modelers (KRAM) and the club’s president, Nikolei Zinsli. Not only does Dean of Aviation George Pavey recognize the value of modeling, the local AMA club knows a great opportunity to share its wealth of talent and experience. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning KRAM members can be found building and flying with the students at WMAA. Below is a great report from George Pavey on what’s going on.Modeling, as you know, goes beyond airplanes. What the KRAM members are doing is behavior to be modeled!Energetic Youth Meet Experienced Elderly StatesmanFew things in life compare to watching young adults experience the excitement of aviation while enjoying firsthand the confidence that comes from building and flying a remote control aircraft for the first time. That has been happening in western Michigan with a partnership between the Kent Radio Aero Modelers club and West Michigan Aviation Academy, a charter high school located at Grand Rapids International Airport. KRAM members have enjoyed more than 40 years as an AMA club and have also been designated as a Gold Leader Club. KRAM enjoys the membership of more than 75 fliers and hosts several popular annual RC events for the community. WMAA is a relatively new charter high school serving the western Michigan region for students interested in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education with an emphasis in the field of aviation. Newly hired Dean of Aviation at WMAA, George Pavey, a retired Marine officer and naval aviator, established a relationship with KRAM members to help develop an aviation-related activity for interested students. George worked with Lee Frederickson, AMA District VII associate vice president and KRAM member, to complete his indoctrination into the world of RC flying—experiencing the challenges and joys associated with learning to fly from a new perspective, on the ground! Many KRAM members, including Dan McLaren, Danny Osborn, and Nikolei Zinsli helped. The “elderly statesmen” of KRAM have begun to share their years of expertise with the eager students of the recently establish David J. Eyde Memorial R/C club for students who attend WMAA. Through a generous donation from the Eyde family, whose father was unfortunately killed in an aircraft mishap, several Real Flight 6 RC simulator stations, scratch-built aircraft trainers for construction, tools, and several indoor electric airplanes are available. Additionally, many members of KRAM continue to donate their time and related resources. To highlight the establishment of this Model Aviation Student Club (MASC) and promote interest, 13-year-old national competitor and KRAM member, Jase Dussia, provided an impressive demonstration of flight maneuvers in the WMAA gymnasium. The crowd was in awe of his performance. Jase’s father, John Dussia, was the show’s commentator. During the demonstration many KRAM members brought an impressive collection of aircraft for a static display, sparking countless questions from students and faculty.Many KRAM members volunteer an hour of their time twice a week to support the student club, which meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings before school. Sharing their experience and knowledge has been phenomenal! Students have enjoyed indoor flight as well as constructing bigger aircraft in anticipation of the spring flying season. Student club members have been eager and receptive, while KRAM volunteers enjoy the opportunity to share their passion for the sport! Although the relationship between KRAM and WMAA is still new, there is no doubt that it represents a great opportunity to further promote RC flying.There you go! Look around your club’s area and consider the contributions you could make to an area school. Tell an educator about our MASC program and what it’s meant to these kids—they’re all having a blast.Fly and have fun! Education through aviation by Bill Pritchett, Education Director“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” — Mark [email protected] Western Michigan Aviation Academy. Photos by Dave Kingma.