District I—Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Andy Argenio
Vice President
brandshobby@gmail.com
3 Sheila Ln., Smithfield RI 02917
Tel.: (401) 231-6901; www.amadistrict-i.org
It’s nice when a District I club member submits an event report from a club that we haven’t seen in this column. Such is the following report sent to me by the club’s secretary, Ron Faanes.
On February 4, 2016, members of the Fairfield League of Yankee Radio Controllers (FLYRC) club of Southbury, Connecticut, held its second indoor flying demonstration at the St. John the Evangelist School in Watertown, Connecticut. This is a private school for children in prekindergarten though eighth grade. All 180 students enthusiastically attended to learn about traditional RC model aircraft and drones that utilize autopilot systems for autonomous flight.
An introduction to the club included the location of the club’s flying sites and times at Mitchell’s Farm in Southbury, Connecticut, and Newtown Field in Newtown, Connecticut. Students were told that the club welcomed new members and was dedicated to advancing members’ model building and flying skills. The basics of flight, distinguishing types of model aircraft and power systems, and using a radio to control the model’s flight path were discussed.
Club members delighted students with an hour-long session of flying a variety of model aircraft from Vapors to multirotors. The FLYRC team also talked about the role of the AMA in providing insurance for members and flying sites, creating rules for safe competition and fun-fly events, and representing and promoting the hobby.
The big hit this year was real-time video transmitted from the quadcopter’s onboard cameras to a large television monitor. The students and teachers were able see themselves on the big screen from the drone’s birds-eye camera view as it flew in the gym.
The flight demonstration ended with a question-and-answer session around a static display of model aircraft. As expected, many of the students had received multirotors for Christmas, and they had many questions.
Members of FLYRC who participated in this student education event, as well as the teachers and students, expressed their enjoyment of another mutually beneficial experience and look forward to doing this again.
The FLYRC club especially thanks Ron Faanes, Bob Milanese, and Jay Wiener, who did the flying and presentations and to school principal John Petto for giving the club an opportunity to interest the students in aeromodeling.
On a sad note, my predecessor on the AMA Executive Council, Don Krafft, 82, passed away on March 19, 2016. He was an airline pilot for 35 years who retired from full-scale flying in 1991. We are grateful for his service to the members and clubs as District I vice president and for his efforts on the AMA Executive Council for approximately 18 years. May Don rest in peace.
