District I - 2010/10

144 MODEL AVIATION
IN KEEPING with its mission to promote
and encourage the hobby of building and
flying model airplanes, the Propsnappers
R/C Club (PRCC) of Portland, Maine, took
part in the Aviation Career Exploration
(ACE) Academy Camp program on July 27.
ACE Academy Camps are summer
educational programs for middle and high
school students that last up to a week and
are cosponsored by the FAA along with
other organizations. The ACE Camp is a
hands-on aviation experience that allows
young people to explore a variety of
aviation-related careers. Professional,
military, and civilian experts may introduce
students to aviation history, the principles of
flight, flight simulators, and more. Young
Eagle flights, flown by pilots of the
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA),
often provide rides for students.
PRCC club member, Frank Maguire,
described the contribution his club made to
the ACE Camp program as follows:
“Working with Marcia Wescott, who is
both the director of the ACE program in
Maine and a flight instructor at the
International Jet Port, we hosted 10 boys
and girls at our club field in Scarborough,
Maine. Club members Bill Reeve, Elliot
Randall, Ed Estabrook, and I first gave the
students a ground school session on RC
aircraft, explaining how the model aircraft
are built, the basic components, functions,
and operation.
“We reviewed safety guidelines that are
involved in flying RC airplanes and our
flying site boundaries and rules. Then each
of the students had a turn at flying the club
trainer under the tutelage of instructor Bill
Reeve, after which they were awarded club
flight certificates, along with information on
the club and the AMA.
“We ended the session by having club
members perform demonstration flights with
a variety of aircraft that thrilled and engaged
the students. The partnership with ACE
Academy was so successful that we hope to
participate in the program again next year.”
The ACE Academy plan is to have at
least one program in each state and US
territory. This program reaches
approximately 2,000 students each summer.
Dates, locations, cost, and age requirements
vary according to sponsoring organizations.
The AMA applauds the Propsnapper club
members for engaging in this collaborative
effort to promote aviation with the younger
generation. I encourage other AMA clubs to
check the FAA Web site at www.faa.gov/
education/student_resources/ace_camps and
consider participating in this worthwhile
program.
District I
Andy Argenio, District I Vice President; [email protected]
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Andy Argenio
3 Sheila Ln.,
Smithfield RI 02917;
Home: (401) 231-
6901; Work: (401)
231-5380
For a complete listing of district
officers and volunteers, please visit
the District 1 Web site at
www.amadistrict-i.org
D i s t r i c t I
The ACE Academy in Portland was sponsored by International Jet Port, Pratt & Whitney,
Maine Aviation, and the FAA. The camp was directed by flight instructor Marcia Wescott.
At this ACE camp, hosted by the United
States Air Force 934th Airlift Wing, students
experience hands-on, full-scale airplane flight
simulators. Students board a C-130 for an orientation
flight at this ACE camp in Minnesota.
The Propsnappers R/C Club of Portland, Maine, hosted a model airplane educational activity
as part of the ACE Academy weeklong aviation camp for junior high school-aged boys and
girls.
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