View from HQ by Dave Mathewson, AMA Executive Director
Museum models accompany the shuttle's final trip
It was an exciting day for AMA on September 19, 2012, when the Space Shuttle Endeavour, carried on the back of NASA’s 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on its final three-day voyage to Los Angeles International Airport.
Riding inside the SCA was a 1/40-scale RC Boeing 747 and space shuttle combination, built in 1975 and 1976 by John Kiker and Owen Morris. The models reside in AMA’s National Model Aviation Museum and were instrumental in the design and development of the Space Shuttle program, proving that a shuttle could be carried on top of a 747.
According to Gary Ash, chief of the Aircraft Maintenance and Quality Assurance Branch, Aircraft Operations Division of Johnson Space Center, carrying the models on the trip was “both a tribute to him [John Kiker] as well as an educational tool to illustrate the value that models have in demonstrating innovative concepts.”
Along its route, Endeavour made stops at:
- Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center
- El Paso, Texas
- NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California
At each stop, visitors and the media were given an opportunity to tour the SCA and view the models. AMA is proud to have played a small part in Endeavour’s last flight.
FAI visit to the International Aeromodeling Center
In mid-August, AMA played host to Dr. John Grubbström, FAI president, and Bob Henderson, FAI executive director. FAI is the world governing body for all air sports, with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
During their visit to the IAC, Model Aviation magazine Assistant Editor Jennifer Orebaugh spent time with Dr. Grubbström and Bob Henderson. The following is an account of that visit.
AMA President Bob Brown and Executive Director Dave Mathewson met with FAI officials in August at the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana. Dr. John Grubbström and Bob Henderson toured the AMA and IAC facilities, met AMA staff, and attended the 2012 International Radio Controlled Helicopter (IRCHA) Jamboree, the largest RC helicopter event in the world.
The purpose of their visit was to listen to AMA officials’ concerns and philosophies and to present information about opportunities for aeromodeling competitions and possible collaborations between the two organizations.
Grubbström said that the creation and development of new and exciting things has had a positive effect on the aviation and air sports communities. FAI officials acknowledge that their organization has been European oriented, but by taking a more global view they hope to build more U.S. participation. They also hope to modernize operations with more marketing, greater use of the Internet and social media, and new technology. Grubbström noted that there is also the serious work of fighting burdensome regulations—which AMA shares—but the overall plan is to educate, preserve, and promote air sports for the future.
Henderson has been appointed chairman of the newly created shareholder company, FAI Air Sports Marketing and Events (FAME). Based in Switzerland, FAME’s goal is to create new air/aviation sports and events and promote aviation by making these sports and events more visible to the public.
Using classical competition to attract the public has not worked as intended. By creating exciting niches—such as the IRCHA Jamboree and 3-D helicopter flying—and by bringing on global, well-known sponsors (for example, Swiss watch company Breitling), FAME intends to market and promote worldwide at large public events such as football games, auto races, or via sports television.
Grubbström and Henderson were impressed with the IAC flying field and AMA facilities. “The facilities are amazing. I am impressed by the diversity, the leadership, the office staff, and the museum,” Grubbström said.
They have decided to nominate the National Model Aviation Museum as an FAI-recommended museum. This program recognizes museums around the world that educate the public about aeronautics and aviation, especially children.
Both officials were enthused by the way AMA has conducted government-relations actions and how memberships are handled. After visiting the grounds of the IRCHA Jamboree and seeing pilots of all ages attending from around the world, Dr. Grubbström stated, “It’s an eye opener. We are here to serve and can see more clearly how we can help the AMA. It has been a very positive meeting with Bob Brown and Dave Mathewson.”
See you next time …
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
