August 2011 145
AMA News
Announcements, news, and information from the
Academy of Model Aeronautics and the elected district representatives.
I’VE ALWAYS ENJOYED what Yogi had
to say. His thoughts make us pause a
moment and think.
I also think this is one of the single
greatest things about participating in model
aviation. We hear so much today about
multitasking. Really? Can we really do
multiple things at the same time and do them
well? I’m not convinced. Fact is, I doubt it.
We try—some even take pride in their
abilities to do so, and maybe some can
multitask to some extent, but do them well?
Modeling is about focusing. Focusing on
the plans, the build, the maiden flight, and
the tuning and tweaking for improved
performance. Modeling is about focusing on
the moment—not the next, but now. It’s
about focusing on nothing else in life that
always seems to speak to us with that inner
voice, but focusing on right now, this very
moment in time.
What a great feeling to be free of the
mental weight of everyday life concerns and
to really put our minds around something
else, something we enjoy so much,
something you just can’t do well when
distracted! Multitasking? No, at least not
when we’re with our models!
Others feel the same. “The focus and the
concentration and the attention to detail that
flying takes is a kind of meditation. I find it
restful and engaging, and other things slip
away.” That quote is from Harrison Ford.
I traveled to visit great friend and flier,
Archie Stafford, and his Pax River club on
my way to FAA meetings at the Joe Nall
Fly-In. It worked out that the weekend
before Nall was the club’s open house.
Arch is the club president and he hosted
a great event that featured a superb
noontime demo and buddy-box flying for
kids and adults all day. I would estimate that
more than 100 buddy-box flights took place
that day.
I have to report that the Pax River club
has an animal … a flying, teaching, buddyboxing
animal. His name is Al Burton. Al
never left the buddy-box area. Not once. His
energy, enthusiasm, and easy-going
approach gave a lot of people a thrill that
day. Everyone who went through that
experience left with a smile on his or her
face.
It’s all about that guy, that individual,
that single person who’s willing to do a
difficult job. Many of you have had
beginning fliers on a buddy box and know
the tremendous amount of effort it takes. Al
was simply amazing in his approach, so the
results were amazing as well!
I was intrigued that he used a Goldberg
Tiger 60 as his trainer airplane. We often see
the typical trainer with the Kadet planform
used, but the Tiger really worked great. Al
had set up the right surface throws and it
was easy for everyone to see.
Nice work Pax River club and great job,
Al Burton!
Although the Pax River club is typical in
many ways, it’s also very special. Many of
the members are involved in naval remotely
piloted vehicle (RPV) work at the Pax River
Naval Air Station.
One particular member is very special—
especially to the AMA. Naval Captain Tom
Huff, who has more than 600 carrier
landings to his credit and currently heads
naval air training, gets a huge smile on his
face when he’s flying a model airplane.
Tom went through helicopter school just
to say he could, then did the same with
model helicopters. He’s an accomplished
pilot, and handles model airplanes like the
former pattern pilot he is.
Archie and I decided to invoke the tactic
of peer pressure on Tom and see if we can
get him back in the pattern game. Wish us
luck! You couldn’t ask for a nicer guy to fly
with.
The concept of “Each One Teach One” has
been shared here before. What if an AMA
member was also an educator who wanted to
teach a bunch? Well, that’s exactly what
Ron Hubbard has accomplished during his
tenure in education.
Ron started teaching a “shop” class in
1983 at Bryant High School in Bryant,
Arkansas. At approximately the same time,
he started flying RC with a small group and
Education Through Aviation Bill Pritchett | [email protected]
“I never said most of the things I said.”
—Yogi Berra
Archie Stafford and Al Burton are sharing the fun with Bailey Mewhinney.
Where do I sign
up for this class?
Education Through Aviation
Continued on page 146
11august_11amanews.qxd 6/22/2011 12:15 PM Page 145
146 MODEL AVIATION
was instrumental in starting the Central
Arkansas Model Aviation Association
(CAMAA).
His students were interested in the model
airplanes hanging in the classroom, so they
began building and flying at school. Within
a few years it had evolved into some
students building their own designs. Most of
them flew pretty well.
Ron Hubbard in his techology education
classroom.
In 1990 Ron changed the class from shop
to a computer-based “technology education”
class and slowed down on building large
nitro-powered airplanes. The technology
class students did, however, study both
civilian and military uses for RC and started
to build smaller nitro- and electric-powered
aircraft.
In 2005 Ron’s class was moved from the
high school to the middle school and
changed from a yearlong class to one
semester. Younger students and less class
time required another change to keep model
aviation in the curriculum. Ron’s solution?
Now, all of the students study flight, RC,
RPVs, and utilize available RC simulators in
the classroom to experience RC flight.
Each year a few students want to take it
to the next level and Ron helps them find
airplanes and RC equipment that local fliers
are not using any more.
Ron says he has lost count of how many
students he has taught to fly but every time he
goes to the field or a fun-fly he will see at
least one former student.
Ron Hubbard is proud to share our
hobby with all these kids and takes great
pride in their aviation accomplishments.
Ron, we’re proud of you. On behalf of
The Academy of Model Aeronautics,
thanks!
I’m finishing this column on the one-year
anniversary of my move to this position
with the AMA. I think it’s critical for all of
you to know how hard your elected
leadership, appointed volunteers, and
individuals in positions ranging from club
presidents to district associate vice
presidents work on your behalf. I had no
clue, and would guess many of you don’t
either.
It’s been great to meet so many
remarkable people who share the love of
flying models. To witness so many who go
that extra mile in their efforts to support
model aviation has truly been a personal
pleasure for me.
To all of you who share what you know,
don’t stop. I suggested last month that you
“get crazy.” Go ahead—get crazy. Al
Burton and Ron Hubbard got crazy. It works
for them!
Fly and have fun!
Education Through Aviation
Continued from page 145
Ron’s technology education classroom.
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256, ext. 515
[email protected]
Help AMA advocate for aeromodelers!
One of the biggest reasons an AMA membership is important for aeromodelers is the Academy’s strong
advocacy and government relations program.
Stay informed and help AMA defend your right to fly by going to www.modelaircraft.org/gov where
you’ll find background information and all the latest interaction with such government agencies as FAA,
FCC, EPA, municipal governments, and more.
Do you have a specific question to ask the AMA Adocacy Team? Contact this group by emailing
[email protected].
AMA is there for you in the halls of power. Won’t you consider being there for AMA by continuing your membership and
helping add to the collective voice for the aeromodeling community?
Let your voice be heard. What could be more American?
AMA Government Relations
11august_11amanews.qxd 6/23/2011 8:30 AM Page 146
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/08
Page Numbers: 145,146
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/08
Page Numbers: 145,146
August 2011 145
AMA News
Announcements, news, and information from the
Academy of Model Aeronautics and the elected district representatives.
I’VE ALWAYS ENJOYED what Yogi had
to say. His thoughts make us pause a
moment and think.
I also think this is one of the single
greatest things about participating in model
aviation. We hear so much today about
multitasking. Really? Can we really do
multiple things at the same time and do them
well? I’m not convinced. Fact is, I doubt it.
We try—some even take pride in their
abilities to do so, and maybe some can
multitask to some extent, but do them well?
Modeling is about focusing. Focusing on
the plans, the build, the maiden flight, and
the tuning and tweaking for improved
performance. Modeling is about focusing on
the moment—not the next, but now. It’s
about focusing on nothing else in life that
always seems to speak to us with that inner
voice, but focusing on right now, this very
moment in time.
What a great feeling to be free of the
mental weight of everyday life concerns and
to really put our minds around something
else, something we enjoy so much,
something you just can’t do well when
distracted! Multitasking? No, at least not
when we’re with our models!
Others feel the same. “The focus and the
concentration and the attention to detail that
flying takes is a kind of meditation. I find it
restful and engaging, and other things slip
away.” That quote is from Harrison Ford.
I traveled to visit great friend and flier,
Archie Stafford, and his Pax River club on
my way to FAA meetings at the Joe Nall
Fly-In. It worked out that the weekend
before Nall was the club’s open house.
Arch is the club president and he hosted
a great event that featured a superb
noontime demo and buddy-box flying for
kids and adults all day. I would estimate that
more than 100 buddy-box flights took place
that day.
I have to report that the Pax River club
has an animal … a flying, teaching, buddyboxing
animal. His name is Al Burton. Al
never left the buddy-box area. Not once. His
energy, enthusiasm, and easy-going
approach gave a lot of people a thrill that
day. Everyone who went through that
experience left with a smile on his or her
face.
It’s all about that guy, that individual,
that single person who’s willing to do a
difficult job. Many of you have had
beginning fliers on a buddy box and know
the tremendous amount of effort it takes. Al
was simply amazing in his approach, so the
results were amazing as well!
I was intrigued that he used a Goldberg
Tiger 60 as his trainer airplane. We often see
the typical trainer with the Kadet planform
used, but the Tiger really worked great. Al
had set up the right surface throws and it
was easy for everyone to see.
Nice work Pax River club and great job,
Al Burton!
Although the Pax River club is typical in
many ways, it’s also very special. Many of
the members are involved in naval remotely
piloted vehicle (RPV) work at the Pax River
Naval Air Station.
One particular member is very special—
especially to the AMA. Naval Captain Tom
Huff, who has more than 600 carrier
landings to his credit and currently heads
naval air training, gets a huge smile on his
face when he’s flying a model airplane.
Tom went through helicopter school just
to say he could, then did the same with
model helicopters. He’s an accomplished
pilot, and handles model airplanes like the
former pattern pilot he is.
Archie and I decided to invoke the tactic
of peer pressure on Tom and see if we can
get him back in the pattern game. Wish us
luck! You couldn’t ask for a nicer guy to fly
with.
The concept of “Each One Teach One” has
been shared here before. What if an AMA
member was also an educator who wanted to
teach a bunch? Well, that’s exactly what
Ron Hubbard has accomplished during his
tenure in education.
Ron started teaching a “shop” class in
1983 at Bryant High School in Bryant,
Arkansas. At approximately the same time,
he started flying RC with a small group and
Education Through Aviation Bill Pritchett | [email protected]
“I never said most of the things I said.”
—Yogi Berra
Archie Stafford and Al Burton are sharing the fun with Bailey Mewhinney.
Where do I sign
up for this class?
Education Through Aviation
Continued on page 146
11august_11amanews.qxd 6/22/2011 12:15 PM Page 145
146 MODEL AVIATION
was instrumental in starting the Central
Arkansas Model Aviation Association
(CAMAA).
His students were interested in the model
airplanes hanging in the classroom, so they
began building and flying at school. Within
a few years it had evolved into some
students building their own designs. Most of
them flew pretty well.
Ron Hubbard in his techology education
classroom.
In 1990 Ron changed the class from shop
to a computer-based “technology education”
class and slowed down on building large
nitro-powered airplanes. The technology
class students did, however, study both
civilian and military uses for RC and started
to build smaller nitro- and electric-powered
aircraft.
In 2005 Ron’s class was moved from the
high school to the middle school and
changed from a yearlong class to one
semester. Younger students and less class
time required another change to keep model
aviation in the curriculum. Ron’s solution?
Now, all of the students study flight, RC,
RPVs, and utilize available RC simulators in
the classroom to experience RC flight.
Each year a few students want to take it
to the next level and Ron helps them find
airplanes and RC equipment that local fliers
are not using any more.
Ron says he has lost count of how many
students he has taught to fly but every time he
goes to the field or a fun-fly he will see at
least one former student.
Ron Hubbard is proud to share our
hobby with all these kids and takes great
pride in their aviation accomplishments.
Ron, we’re proud of you. On behalf of
The Academy of Model Aeronautics,
thanks!
I’m finishing this column on the one-year
anniversary of my move to this position
with the AMA. I think it’s critical for all of
you to know how hard your elected
leadership, appointed volunteers, and
individuals in positions ranging from club
presidents to district associate vice
presidents work on your behalf. I had no
clue, and would guess many of you don’t
either.
It’s been great to meet so many
remarkable people who share the love of
flying models. To witness so many who go
that extra mile in their efforts to support
model aviation has truly been a personal
pleasure for me.
To all of you who share what you know,
don’t stop. I suggested last month that you
“get crazy.” Go ahead—get crazy. Al
Burton and Ron Hubbard got crazy. It works
for them!
Fly and have fun!
Education Through Aviation
Continued from page 145
Ron’s technology education classroom.
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256, ext. 515
[email protected]
Help AMA advocate for aeromodelers!
One of the biggest reasons an AMA membership is important for aeromodelers is the Academy’s strong
advocacy and government relations program.
Stay informed and help AMA defend your right to fly by going to www.modelaircraft.org/gov where
you’ll find background information and all the latest interaction with such government agencies as FAA,
FCC, EPA, municipal governments, and more.
Do you have a specific question to ask the AMA Adocacy Team? Contact this group by emailing
[email protected].
AMA is there for you in the halls of power. Won’t you consider being there for AMA by continuing your membership and
helping add to the collective voice for the aeromodeling community?
Let your voice be heard. What could be more American?
AMA Government Relations
11august_11amanews.qxd 6/23/2011 8:30 AM Page 146
