HI FOLKS! I had the great opportunity to
experience the first-ever Las Vegas RC
community’s Toys for Tots fun-fly. These
Vegas clubs have the right idea of
community involvement and I’m confident
their efforts will be rewarding.
Event organizer David Weiss provided
the following report.
“On behalf of the Rebel Squadron, Las
Vegas Remote Control Club, and the Vegas
Aces, I would like to thank all participants
for their presence at our Toys for Tots Fun
Fly. This was a combined effort to put this
event on by all the clubs involved.
“This was our first year for this event
and it was a great success with over 80
fliers attending the event held at the
William Bennett Flying Field in Las Vegas,
Nevada, on December 19, 2009.
“From the generous donations of fliers
and spectators alike, we were able to donate
to the Marine Corps Reserve over five full
boxes of toys for their annual Toys for Tots
drive.
“Several major RC distributors and local
hobby shops contributed numerous RCrelated
gifts for our raffle including Great
Planes, Horizon Hobby, Hobby People,
Hobby Town, and Cutting Edge Hobbies.
“Aside from the great weather that we
had, the Las Vegas Search and Rescue
performed a flyby over the runway during
the lunch hour and we also had
demonstrations by helis, a 40% aerobatic
model, and a turbine jet aircraft.
“Again, I would like to thank all fliers
and spectators who attended. Without their
support for this event, so many children in
the Clark County community would have
gone without any toys this holiday season.
“We are already in the planning stages
for next year’s Toys for Tots Fun Fly.”
Our youth is mission
critical!
Although the previous
report makes me extremely
proud of the men and
women involved in this
great hobby, I am concerned
about the attitude expressed
by a few involving youth in
aviation. I realize that we
spend much time working
with youth only to have
many of them become
distracted and leave model
aviation; but we need to
plant the seed!
With the help of AMA
staff’s research, I would like
to share a bit of our rich
history.
It seems as though the
movement for an
organization to support
youth aviation began in 1932 when
Lieutenant H.W. Alden and William R.
Enyart started the Junior Membership plan
of the National Aeronautics Association.
This later merged into what we know as
our Academy of Model Aeronautics. I
suspect this is why the word “Academy” is
incorporated into our name.
Although I could not find
any AMA survey data, the
1945 Model Airplane News
magazine’s readership
survey showed that 65% were from 14 to
17 years of age, 13% were 9 through 13,
11% were 18 through 21, and the
remaining 11% over 21. Today, the average
age of our AMA membership is 59 years
old!
Another interesting fact is that our
overall membership has declined 18% from
our peak in 2002; however during this
same timeframe, our Junior membership
dropped 52%!
These statistics should be a wake-up
call for all of us and I urge you to lend a
hand in nurturing our young aviators so this
great hobby can continue. Hey, you
grandpas out there ... I sure hope you have
engaged your grandchildren in model
aviation!
Following are a couple of pictures for
your enjoyment. Please note that 12-yearold
Jake Bottita earned his Jet waiver when
he was only 10! His dad, Dave, told me
Jake has to maintain excellent grades to
keep flying.
Now there are some parents who have
their priorities straight!
As you may be aware, the RC community
lost a husband, family man, leader, and
avid modeler when District X Vice
President Jim Giffin passed away on
January 31.
I spoke with Jim while he was in the
hospital just two days before he died. I am
confident Jim is now enjoying clear skies
with warm breezes straight down the
runway. His leadership will be missed on
the AMA Executive Council.
Keep in touch, have fun, and don’t forget
to slather yourself with sunscreen!
Executive Vice President
Mark Smith; [email protected]
Mark Smith
Executive Vice
President
14632 W. 50th St.,
Shawnee KS 66216
Tel.: (913) 568-4347
Above: Jake and Dave
Bottita.
Right: You can tell this
young aviator is trying his
best.
Pictured are the three club presidents who sponsored this
great event along with two of our finest servicemen. From
left to right, David Weiss, Rebel Squadron; Darrell Stubbs,
Vegas Aces; and Tom Brandt, Las Vegas Radio Control
Club.
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