District II — New Jersey, New York, Europe
District II Vice President
Eric Williams Vice President
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 4242 Amanda Ln., Schenectady, NY 12303
- Tel.: (518) 356-2057
- Website: www.amadistrictii.org
Among the many District II clubs involved in their communities are the Meroke RC Club of Wantagh, New York, and the Cumberland Controliners of Millville, New Jersey.
Cumberland Controliners — Intro to Aviation
Cumberland Controliners club members Bill Mazzoni and John Saunders introduced me to an education program called Intro to Aviation — Aviation Through Model Aeronautics. The Controliners work in conjunction with the Millville Army Air Field Museum’s 12- to 16-week youth aviation program that starts with aerodynamic fundamentals and culminates with students building and flying model aircraft.
Interestingly, the program uses CL (control line) airplanes. Controliners’ president Roy Wilson explains: “Two benefits of control line aircraft are reduced cost and students acquire a ‘feel’ for their aircraft through the flying wires.”
Noted New Jersey state aerospace educator Howard Bueschel leads the Intro to Aviation program. Students construct aircraft in a specific order, maintain notebooks, and follow handouts. Materials, adhesives, and tools are covered, and students are issued their own engines. This is real aeronautical course work!
In only four years as an AMA club, the Cumberland Controliners have become well-known community members. The program is recognized in local newspapers, and the club’s flying site is provided courtesy of the Millville Department of Parks and Recreation. It’s a win-win for the club and the community!
Meroke RC Club — Come Fly With Us
The Meroke RC Club’s flight instructor Philip Friedensohn and vice president Charlie Lando provided information about the club’s Come Fly With Us event, held annually on the third weekend in May.
Based on AMA’s Take Off and Grow (TAG) program, the Merokes’ event is publicized in March at the Model Aircraft Expo at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. The Merokes invite Expo visitors to fly a simulator and encourage visitors to sign up for the real, hands-on event at Lufbery Aerodrome in Nassau County’s Cedar Creek Park.
An aggressive publicity campaign follows the Expo. The Merokes announce the Come Fly With Us event in local newspapers, invite Boy Scout troops to participate in conjunction with their Aviation Merit Badges, and place event flyers in libraries, schools, and other public places.
The Merokes generally have about 75 youth and parents preregistered for Come Fly With Us. During the event, each student is scheduled a training time. Participants are first introduced to flight theory and familiarized with the controls used to fly a buddy-box trainer. Later, a Meroke AMA Intro Pilot takes each student for a 5- to 10-minute intro flight. The Merokes’ well-organized event is supported throughout the year by the club’s AMA Intro Pilots and club trainers who are always at the ready.
Recognition
Congratulations to Lloyd Quick of the Mid Hudson Modelmasters for receiving an AMA District Service Award, recognizing his outstanding service as a mentor, instructor, club officer, and contributor to our hobby.
Remember, it’s not about what we fly, it’s about the people!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
