Education Through Aviation
by Bill Pritchett, Education Director
“When I was making Star Wars, I wasn’t restrained by any kind of science. I simply said, ‘I’m going to create a world that’s fun and interesting, makes sense, and seems to have a reality to it.’” —George Lucas
Last month, we played “Spin the FAA” and hopefully came to the realization that there might be a positive outcome right away from all of the Washington, D.C. noise—a second look. This month, let’s go in a different direction: inside our heads.
It’s always interesting to talk with modelers, but even more fascinating to discuss their dreams, aspirations, and visions for aviation. While we fly just models, toy airplanes, or whatever term is used to try and place modeling in a lower tier of the aviation food chain, those who fly models are extremely passionate about it.
Throughout the years, we’ve seen just how critical the role of modeling is in that aviation food chain. The shuttle riding on top of a 747 would have never happened without John Kiker proving it would work with a model. If you’ve ridden in any full-scale airplane in the last 30 years, it’s been vetted with a model in a wind tunnel.
Skip Stewart of Skip Stewart Airshows told me something funny recently. I asked him why, as an air show pilot, does he still enjoy flying models. He replied, “When I first started flying models, it was my goal to fly like a full-scale plane would fly. Now, I try to add to my air show with maneuvers that the models are doing!” So it’s a little bit like the age-old chicken/egg discussion, but the modeling side is huge and undeniable.
During the course of virtually everyone’s modeling experience, there comes learning and understanding of aviation principles and aviation history, and many of our interests and specific choices of models are a result of that experience. Although we spend a lot of time and resources on STEM and the science of flight, George Lucas created Star Wars without science—and without science, what’s left? In this case, it would be imagination. To use imagination is to dream of what could be, how it might look, the way it would fly, etc. Then, and only then, take a look back and figure out how and why.
To a certain extent, science is unavoidable, but dreaming is our imagination. Lots of research exists about our dreams, but this isn’t about those kinds of dreams. This is about our dreams of flight and how we imagine the next project, the next improvement, and the next flight.
I started last May’s column with “By now, all of you should have checked your gear out twice and put up 50 flights in your mind’s eye …” Your mind’s eye is your imagination—our fun and interesting world that usually makes sense, and when executed, does indeed have a reality to it. I’ve ended every column written here with “Fly and have fun!” I mean that. Enjoy the entire process, and don’t let the science get in your way. Make it work, and then figure out why it does …
The AMA Education department is fortunate to have some great resources. Last month, one of the resources I’m fortunate to have available, the AMA Education Committee, was introduced in detail. This month I want you to know exactly what our staff does. Julia Bladen joined us recently and offered this:
April [2016] will be my sixth month working in the AMA Education department, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for being so helpful and welcoming during my acclimation. The AMA is a wonderful place, and very busy this time of year. Some of my duties include overseeing and administrating our student clubs, updating our website content, posting event updates and blogs, providing outreach and presentation material to clubs and student mentors, and promoting AMA education at trade shows, conventions, and expos.
The AMA Education department has several programs that provide outreach to schools, youth, and anyone who has an interest in model aviation. For information about our programs, please visit our website at www.amaflightschool.org. If you’re an instructor needing guidance for starting a club at your school, you can contact me at juliab@modelaircraft.org. Thank you for your support and efforts. I hope to hear from some of you soon!
Our belief in supporting individual and club efforts to reach out to their communities is so strong that Julia is specifically tasked with making sure the Model Aviation Student Clubs (MASCs), University Model Aviation Student Clubs (UMASCs), and additional club and individual resources are available and understood by all. Julia is a fantastic addition to our department, and the AMA in general. We’ve witnessed her background in customer service make our programs shine, and that’s an important aspect of making sure we have happy members. Thanks, Julia!
Our summer is packed with events and we look forward to seeing many of you. The UAS4STEM regionals will be especially fun because there’s nothing better than watching youth use their creativity.
I’m personally looking forward to making it to a few local Pattern contests with my son, Greyson, and enjoying his continued growth. He’s really turned out to be an excellent instructor—he’s helping his old man a lot!
Fly and have fun!
