Education Through Aviation - 2010/11

162 MODEL AVIATION
DO YOU THINK you’re too old to learn
something new? Have you got it all figured
out? Go figure again, my friends!
I attended a gathering of modelers—no,
craftsmen—no, artists—no ... Maybe you
realize that I’m at a loss for words to
describe the scene I discovered in Blue
Ash, Ohio.
Under the passionate leadership of Bob
Munson, who is a retired engineer from
GE after 30 years of working on Jet
Aircraft Engines, a group of 30 to 35 men
get together every Wednesday morning for
a couple hours.
They all bring what they’ve built,
projects they’re working on, or what
they’re planning. They range in age from
60 to 90-something, and every week they
learn something new.
The synergy in their meeting is
amazing; they all respect and learn from
each other. They build airplanes, sailboats,
riverboats, steam engines, dulcimers, and
harps—yes, harps—all crafted by hand to
perfection. Most amazingly of all, it
doesn’t matter what you make; it’s
admired and respected. These men learn
something every week to take home and
apply to their next project.
Too old to learn? Not in Blue Ash!
One big observation for me was that it
doesn’t matter what your modeling interest
is. You know how some who fly can be
narrow-minded about other disciplines,
even to the extent of including other
aviation disciplines? Not in Blue Ash!
I saw an RC riverboat that was
absolutely museum quality. Every bit of it
was crafted at home. The group has a pond
for the boats, a flying field, and of course,
to stay sharp in the winter, a gymnasium to
fly their micros.
Moral of the story? You already know.
“To be just as enthusiastic about the
success of others as you are about your
own.” This is one of the promises given in
The Optimist Creed. I’m not a member,
but have always fancied myself an
optimistic person.
I was the guest speaker for the
Downtown Indianapolis Optimist Club and
this was one of the items in the club’s
creed that jumped out at me. We’ve all
heard the criticisms of others at the flying
field. Maybe it would be best if we simply
offered to help them.
I’m convinced that many of our flying
buddies want some help, but are afraid to
ask. Many of our club members might
have soloed on that perfect day with the
wind right down the runway. But
conditions change, the results are different,
and a flier is needlessly discouraged. By
improving each other, we make ourselves
better ... like those in Blue Ash!
Anyone who has been a flight instructor
has learned from that experience! Does
your club instruction include preflight of
an aircraft? Do you insist that student
pilots work under different wind
conditions, engine-out landings, etc.?
These are things that break an airplane
and possibly a spirit, especially in the
beginning of a student pilot’s growth.
Offer it up. Help a member of your club
and be just as enthusiastic about his or her
success as you are about your own!
As Director of Education for the
Academy, I am fortunate to have a wide
variety of opportunities and experiences.
As I write this, we will soon be traveling to
the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, one
of the world’s finest (if not the finest), to
finalize our role in the NASA grant we are
sharing with the museum.
While I’m there I get to do a flying
demo for the museum staff, share what the
Academy does for our membership, and
relate to others the potential role model
aviation plays in education and career
paths.
Additionally, I am proud to support Dr.
Gordon Schimmel, our Education Outreach
Specialist. Gordon is a wonderful
component of our educational team. He is
also an amazing speaker and educator.
If you would ever like to have a round
table get-together with area clubs featuring
his presentation on how your club could do
educational community outreach, you
couldn’t do any better than Gordon.
Call AMA Headquarters and we’ll put
you in touch with Dr. Schimmel.
Finally, one of the latest opportunities I’ve
had is to serve on the Model Aviation
Standards Committee led by Rich Hanson.
I won’t bore you with all the details, but
the work this committee is doing is simply
outstanding.
The document produced by this
committee, following approval by the
Executive Council, will be what we submit
to the FAA—you know, the agency that
controls the National Air Space, even the
space you fly in, so yes, it’s that important.
One of the most impressive things
about the committee is the quality of
people serving on it: AMA members who
give so freely of their time, talents, and
especially their intelligence.
Once again, the best group of people to
be around is modelers! Go be around your
modeling friends or, make a trip to Blue
Ash and learn something!
Fly and Have Fun!
Bill Pritchett | [email protected]
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256, ext. 516
[email protected]
Education Through Aviation
Help a member of your club and be just as enthusiastic about
his or her success as you are about your own!
By improving each other,
we make ourselves
better ...
One of the most
impressive things about
the committee is the
quality of people serving
on it: AMA members who
give so freely of their
time, talents, and
especially their
intelligence.