District II—New Jersey, New York, Europe
Eric Williams
Vice President
rcpilot@nycap.rr.com
4242 Amanda Ln., Schenectady NY 12303
Tel.: (518) 356-2057
www.amadistrict-II.org
www.facebook.com/DistrictIIAMA
Bringing youth into our hobby is the future of model aviation. District II member and AMA 2017 scholarship winner, Ryan Barry, exemplifies that future.
The son of Ed and Kathy Barry, Ryan loves everything about airplanes. His aviation interest started as a toddler when his father would take him to Central Jersey Regional Airport to watch general aviation airplanes take off and land. Ryan’s enthusiasm rekindled his dad’s interest in model aviation and Ed renewed his AMA and contest director (CD) licenses with Ryan along as a new AMA member.
A longtime member of the New Jersey’s Garden State Circle Burners and the Middlesex Modelers, Ryan competed in his first Control Line (CL) Aerobatics (Stunt) competition in 2008. Throughout the years, he advanced from a beginner to the advanced level, completing his first Stunt Pattern at the age of 10. He has won many contests in the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels of the Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association, flying in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Ryan has had excellent results flying the Flite Streak, Smoothie, and Vector models.
In addition to his impressive contest record, Ryan has assisted his dad and other CDs at every level of competition—from running scoresheets and pull-testing, to judging contests all the way to the Expert level. He is highly respected for his skill, maturity, and unassuming demeanor by everyone who knows him in the CL community. Although CL Acrobatics is his first love, Ryan has also flown Free Flight and RC and he taught a friend how to build and fly RC models.
Ryan’s love of aviation led to him taking private flying lessons when he turned 16. Seventeen months later, he earned his private pilot’s license, training at the highly respected Princeton Flying School in New Jersey, flying a Cessna 172. He plans to enhance his flying skills by taking lessons in spin/stall control and glider piloting this spring and summer.
Ryan’s other interests include computer programming and construction. He is also heavily involved in the Hillsborough High School music program. A trumpet player, Ryan was the drum major for the Hillsborough High School marching band for two years and performed in many of the school’s ensemble groups. He is frequently called upon by the community to play at Memorial Day and Veterans Day activities.
Ryan has lived in Hillsborough, New Jersey, for all of his 18 years. He will graduate from Hillsborough High School and will be attending Rowan University, majoring in electrical and computer engineering starting in September of this year. He also plans to join ensemble performing groups at the university.
Ryan hopes to continue his passion for aviation as an avocational or possible career activity. He plans to become a certified flight instructor to share his aviation passion with new and aspiring pilots. Ryan is grateful to AMA and the Scholarship Committee for his award.
Young people will join in our hobby if we lead them to it. The kids you take to the flying field today will be the Ryan Barrys of tomorrow.
Remember, it’s not about what you fly, it’s about the people and the friends you make.
Associate Vice Presidents: Dennis Andreas, Freeport NY; (516) 379-0135; danandreasdhqhsd@juno.com; Fred Backhaus, Medford NY; (631) 289-6964; motodert@optonline.net; Reid Condon, Greenville NY; (518) 966-8329; rcairforce@live.com; Frank Costello, Somerset NJ; teams3fpv@gmail.com; Chuck Davis, Sayville NY; (631) 589-7690; arcdavis@verizon.com; Gene Gavin, Staten Island NY; (718) 967-0598; Gavin1957@aol.com; Jon Gerber, Staten Island NY; (718) 984-5013; taxman846@aol.com. Frank Granelli, Rockaway NJ; (973) 625-4995; granellif@aol.com; Bill Hauth, Hamburg NY; (716) 649-8582; toolmkr2000@msn.com; Thomas Murray, Basking Ridge NJ; (908) 766-5656; Anthony Rossi, Somerset NJ; (917) 320-2665; p510851@gmail.com; Joe Sarbello, Woolwich Township NJ; (856) 491-8481; donnajoe244@msn.com; Leonard Max Smart, Morrisonville NY; (518) 563-6878; hotrodsbymax@charter.net; Alexander Szemere, Kendall Park NJ; (732) 821-5641; drszemere@aol.com; Michael Wong, Mahwah NJ; kingmeow@verizon.net; Herb Ziegler, Baldwinsville NY; (315) 857-6266; herbz1957@yahoo.com. CL/FF Event Sanction Coordinator/AVP: Ed Barry, Hillsborough NJ; (908) 359-0288; ekbarry@comcast.net. Safety Coordinator/RC Event Sanction Coordinator/AVP: Al Kanser, New Lisbon NY; (607) 293-7974; akanser@hughes.net. Webmaster: Chuck Levine, webmaster@amadistrictii.org.
