Education Through Aviation
by Bill Pritchett, Education Director
“Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I’m possible!’” —Audrey Hepburn
Over the years, this column has touched on many subjects and hopefully done so from many perspectives. The assumption that you’re always right is a slippery slope.
While discussing various topics, it’s always been my intention to engage a number of components that I consider crucial to the mission of education at the AMA. First and foremost would be the overriding need to understand and to continue to learn about exactly how we learn.
There are countless studies with worldwide data for our review. There are current and ongoing studies that we can monitor today. Based upon these facts, I think the most accurate assessment I can make regarding our understanding of how people learn is that we’re not sure. If we knew, why would it continue to be such a hot topic for research?
I clearly recall the advice that I gave to every student teacher who ever worked with me: “You have to figure out how to say the same thing 800 different ways and make sure each way is intriguing, engaging, and entertaining.” The great ones could figure out how to do this.
The fundamentals of what we’re teaching do not change; the message however, must change to make sure it reaches the entire audience. While all of the studies are going on about effective learning and all of the things that play a role in the success of a student are being evaluated, a successful classroom teacher has to get that message across now.
The next critical component would be model aviation and the role aeromodeling plays in our world. That’s a broad brush! The history of the AMA could be the source of a column for the next 80 years. The use of model airplanes as an educational tool is truly as old as our organization.
As one reviews this amazing history, countless individuals, clubs, manufacturers, and organizations can be found putting a model airplane into the hands of a young person. Fast-forward to today and the need for a teacher has been diminished by technology. Or has it? More about that later . . .
The third and final component that our department has to address is nothing new or innovative. In fact, it’s one of the oldest concepts of all communication: know your audience.
The challenge that faces the academy in Academy of Model Aeronautics is the real ability we have (or don’t have) to know our audience. We still do our best daily to put that model airplane into the hands of a young person and with included material, hope beyond hope that the educational component lights up.
The membership we proudly serve is a world away from that child. Here we find a demographic of 55 years of age and older, résumés of model aviation experience and background that in many cases go beyond 50 years, and yet many of those people are eager to know more—to learn.
Recently, we’ve added the drone crowd. Who are they? I think we’re still figuring that out, but many are becoming AMA members, love stuff that flies, and are knocked out when they see our airplanes and helicopters for the first time. And, we can never forget, everyone else—the people who aren’t members. This is a tough group to understand. I know how much enjoyment flying a model airplane gives me and my family, so it’s difficult sometimes to relate to those who walk away.
The other group of nonmembers is those choosing to fly on their own, without belonging to, or participating in, a national organization. These people are a challenge. They purchased something that pretty much flies itself and they don’t initially see a need for help. I think it’s safe to say that our audience is a challenge.
These three components are always the overriding sources of evaluation for what the Education department does. How do we learn? What role does model aviation play? Who’s the audience? Stir ingredients carefully and slowly bake in a pan marked “Education Through Aviation.”
I previously mentioned the diminishing need for instruction in model aviation. When it’s possible to purchase a platform that can virtually fly on its own, without operator training, maybe that’s true. We work with lots of people who bought their “drone,” figured out how to fly it or break it, and wonder now what to do.
And please, don’t jump to conclusions here—it’s not simply multirotors. There are many airplanes advertised as “learn on your own,” “takeoff and land on your own,” etc. The days of needing help from a club member building that first airplane and then learning to fly have changed.
Many of you probably see this as a bad thing, detrimental to the continued prosperity of model aviation. Many of you have also contacted us to share your concern with the semiautonomous capability of platforms with the new technology and what a threat it is to our hobby.
Consider this: our small club has pilots flying everything from foamies to Giant Scale gas aircraft. One of the most impressive airplanes I’ve seen fly is a small Pitts biplane that has what the manufacturer calls AS3X technology. It’s amazing. This airplane probably has a 12-inch wingspan and weighs next to nothing, and yet this is what this man will get out and fly when it’s too windy for the big stuff!
The stability provided by this technology works great. Onboard systems in airplanes now range from these small foam airplanes to the largest and most expensive turbines available. The jet fliers I’ve been around all use it and it makes a lot of sense for them. Modern model helicopters are not flyable without it.
Here’s the tough pill for many to swallow. The stability technology that has provided these platforms from top to bottom developed out of multirotor technology. Drone technology. This simply wouldn’t exist without the new technology. So, we circle back and find that some of what we hear complaints about (drones) have provided amazing development for our traditional stuff.
I would never suggest that stick-and-rudder skills aren’t important. I would tell you that other skills have become important as well. Data downlinks, analysis, and software come to mind. Let’s all be friends—it’s possible.
Fly and have fun!
