I Am the AMA
Jay Smith
JS: How did you get involved with model aviation? KS: I started going to the flying field with my father when I was two years old. I would go every weekend and I fell in love with model aviation. I first learned to fly airplanes and helicopters when I was six years old.
My dad gave me my own computer with the RealFlight simulator. Our friend Juan Rodriguez showed me how to land a plane on the simulator and I took it from there.
JS: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career? KS: I absolutely love anything that flies. I practice on the simulator and get out to fly every chance that I get. I enjoy being part of Team SAB and Team Futaba and getting to travel around the world and meet new people. I plan to have a career in computer engineering after I graduate from college, but I will still continue to fly.
JS: What disciplines of modeling do you currently participate in? KS: I mainly fly and compete with helicopters but I occasionally play with airplanes. Airplanes have always been something for me to relax with. My father wants to introduce me to Control Line flying like he did when he was a kid.
JS: What are your other hobbies? KS: I am very interested in computers and I'm taking computer programming classes in school right now.
JS: Who (or what) has influenced you most? KS: My biggest flying influence has been my father. He has supported and encouraged me throughout my career. Pilots who have influenced me include Curtis Youngblood, Alan Szabo, and my good friends Bobby Watts and Bert Kammerer. And I always enjoy bouncing ideas off of my friend A.J. Jaffe.
JS: What advice would you give to someone looking to take his or her helicopter flying skills to the next level? KS: Keep practicing. If you are comfortable with doing a maneuver in one orientation, try it in another one. Do things that take you out of your comfort zone. The possibilities for different maneuvers are endless. Ask for feedback from your buddies.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
