I am the AMA-2013/02

DirectorJS: How did you get involved with model aviation? MS: My father was interested in aircraft, and at a very early age I started building plastic models. As a youth, my dad had fl own CL models so in about 1985-86 we started there, but when my dad was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, one of his employees, George Luke, fl ew RC models. He took us out to the local club’s fi eld on the north side of the city and we joined and built a Sig Kadet MK II that he taught us to fl y.JS: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career?MS: I have always been interested in aircraft and building models. When my eyesight hampered my desire to join the military, I decided that the only way I could still be around the aircraft I enjoyed was to go into the museum fi eld. I volunteered in numerous aviation museums and then was fortunate enough to be employed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. The bad part was it was a contract position, so when my time expired, I returned to a job that I had held at the National Archives. My father and I were still interested in model aircraft though, and received Model Aviation magazine. The job of AMA museum curator was posted in the magazine and I applied. JS: What disciplines of modeling do you currently participate in?MS: I presently just sport fl y but really enjoy Scale and the detail associated with it, so I am presently working on trying to scratch-build a Vickers FB.12. JS: What are your other hobbies?MS: I am an avid cyclist and at one point many years ago actually raced. I fi nd the technological aspect of the sport very fascinating. JS: Who (or what) has in uenced you most?MS: Not to sound like a cliché, but my parents. My mother was a history teacher, so whenever we moved, museums were one of the main points of importance, and my father’s interest in aircraft heavily infl uenced the direction that my thoughts turned. JS: What would you like members to know about the National Model Aviation Museum?MS: I would like members to know: • The museum is truly a fantastic, ever-changing, and evolving place. In fact, just recently the museum’s acquisition committee met and voted to accept seven new pieces into the collection. • The museum is not just artifacts but also the stories of those pieces, and through the archives and history program, it includes the stories of AMA members, AMA clubs, and associated aeromodeling businesses. You can read more at www.modelaircraft.org/museum/history.aspx. • That the museum has a staff of trained museum professionals who deeply care about the collection and strive to ensure its protection for generations to enjoy. • I hope everyone gets a chance to see the museum at least once, but we know given distances, etc., this is not going to be a possibility. We are working toward developing more information about the collection for the Internet.