Education Through Aviation - 2012/02

February 2012 159
BEFORE THIS month’s column begins,
please make sure we have your email
address. There hasn’t been a time more
critical to the future of enjoying model
aviation than today. We need to make sure
that we can send information to you
regarding the upcoming FAA ruling in a
timely manner! Please go to www.model
aircraft.org and click “sign in.” If you need
to, create an account, and then access your
account. There, you can enter your email or
confirm the accuracy of what we have.
Please!
So much has been said about the United
States economy lately; and, I always like to
share the wisdom of Yogi. I couldn’t resist
saying hello this month with this one from
the master.
While it’s true that the economy has not
been good to many, I think it has been
generally good to model aviation. If we look
back (and not so far back), it’s easy to see a
time that flying (especially getting started)
cost much more than it does today. There
hasn’t been a less-expensive time than today
to explore, and more importantly, share the
fun of flying models.
By the time you receive this, we will be
close to February 24 and 25, 2012, which
are the opening dates of our model aviation
display, “CSI: Flight Adventures,” at The
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
First, let me share a little bit of
information about the museum. The
Children’s Museum (TCM) of Indianapolis
is the largest children’s museum in the
world, with more than one million visitors
annually … yes, million!
From my experience, I believe it is the
largest museum because it’s the finest. TCM
is at the forefront of creating learning
experiences, with the power to transform the
lives of children and families. The museum
is a pioneer in both the education and
museum worlds, offering engaging exhibits,
interpretive activities, standards-based
school programs, and teacher development
workshops.
“Flight Adventures” will be a
multifaceted exhibit that isn’t really an
exhibit, but an experience. There will be few
static models, but plenty of model aviation
experiences for the kids to see, touch, build,
and fly. TCM is one of the best
opportunities the AMA has had to share the
joy of modeling with kids.
Rick Crosslin, AMA member and
science instructor, is the liaison for the
museum and has done a tremendous job of
developing this project, which is being
funded by a NASA grant Rick and Gordon
Schimmel put together for TCM and the
AMA. This is going to be a long-term
relationship with TCM. For the many of you
who travel to the International
Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana, be
sure to plan a few hours at TCM. You will
be proud to be involved in model aviation
and to be a member of the AMA.
Stay tuned for announcements regarding
videos, activities, and great content that will
be made available to all of you to use and
share in your communities.
Last month I highlighted an announcement
via press release that the AMA received the
prestigious Frank G. Brewer Trophy from
the National Aeronautic Association (NAA),
and wrote a bit about the history of the
AMA Education Committee and the
committee’s current roster. Mark Smith,
then-executive vice president, Dave
Mathewson, executive director, and I were
honored to attend the award ceremony and
represent the thousands of AMA volunteers
nationwide who, through their generosity of
time and talent, have utilized the amazing
resources of model aviation in an
educational way. It was an honor to be
recognized in a room full of aviation heroes.
Mark gave a wonderful acceptance speech,
closing by saying:
“The Brewer Trophy is a welcome
recognition of the Academy’s work for
many years, and we thank you very much,
but it now says to us that we must keep our
momentum going, to honor this award that
the NAA has so kindly bestowed, and to
reach yet another generation of young
people to take to the skies with models and,
very likely, with full-scale aircraft.
“We believe passionately in the potential
of our young people—and are thrilled that
you share that passion with us.”
The honor requires us to continue, with
all possible momentum, into a future that
encourages youth into aviation activities,
leading them to an interest in the industry.
So many young people think of aviation as
pilots and air traffic controller jobs, but there
is so much more! Models can take them to
those other fun, rewarding, and challenging
careers that this nation will need for a long,
long time.
Following the award ceremony, we
received the following from Jonathon
Gaffney, president and CEO of the NAA:
“Congratulations again on the Academy
of Model Aeronautics receiving the Frank
G. Brewer Trophy for aviation education.
Your outstanding accomplishments are an
inspiration to our industry and our country.
We hope you had an enjoyable evening at
the Fall Awards Dinner. It was an honor to
have you with us.
“As I mentioned in my closing remarks
at the dinner, while the National Aeronautic
Association Awards Program is a wonderful
vehicle for identifying and honoring the
leaders in our nation’s aviation community,
it doesn’t happen by accident. Nominations
are identified, conceived, reviewed, and
voted on by people throughout that ballroom
and throughout the industry. So not only do
we owe you our thanks, but we owe you our
encouragement to help us identify and select
people and accomplishments throughout our
industry that meet the standard of joining the
‘history and record books’ of aviation.
“Congratulations again, and we look
forward to working with you in the future.”
Jonathon and NAA, thank you! And to
the many modelers who, for so many years,
made this happen for the AMA in its 75th
year, thanks.
Do you still get a little excited about the
maiden flight? Still feel satisfaction in the
success of that new airplane or the
accomplishment of someone you’ve
assisted? If your answer is yes, then you
have to appreciate this story and photo with
a big smile on your face.
Dalton Rogers, Houston, celebrated his
birthday this year by becoming an AMA
Youth Member and receiving his first model
airplane. He had worked diligently on a
computer simulator to learn how to fly and
recently took the Champ for its maiden
flight. Congratulations, Dalton, and
welcome to our wonderful hobby!
Fly and have fun!
Education Through Aviation Bill Pritchett | [email protected]
“A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.”
—Yogi Berra
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