District V
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands
Welcome back, everyone!
I harp on community involvement and the Can-Am Flyers of Zephyrhills, Florida, and club president, Randy Leapley, have risen to the occasion. This kind of outreach makes me proud of our clubs and members in the district!
As a military veteran, the Wounded Warrior Project and organizations such as that have a special place in my heart. Randy shared the following:
The Can-Am Flyers club of Zephyrhills was pleased to host a Wounded Warrior Project event at the club’s newly renovated field. More than 30 participants, including wounded veterans and their families, were introduced to the world of drones and received plenty of stick time.
Club members provided raffle prizes, a hamburger and hotdog lunch for all, and spotters for the enthusiastic pilots. Helbert Asprilla, the Wounded Warrior Project’s outreach coordinator, led the event that was designed to “empower warriors to enter the drone industry.”
During a short ground school, participants were introduced to the various types and sizes of drones. The discussion also covered operational issues and requirements, including commercial licensing, costs, potential employment opportunities, and safety considerations.
Everyone had a great time, and judging by the rapidly improving skills and widening smiles, the event was a great success.
My good friend
and Associate Vice President Keith Hall is the president of the Triple Creek RC (TCRC) club in Riverview, Florida (near Tampa). He invited me down for the club’s annual Warbird Fly-In, so I packed up my truck and headed that way.
I had a wonderful visit at TCRC and even managed to take home the Pilots’ Choice award, flying, of all things, a helicopter. My old Hirobo Tow Cobra has been converted to electric power and flybarless and I love showing up at warbird events with it and asking if it’s okay to fly a heli!
Of special note at TCRC, I struck up a conversation with several spectators who found out about the event via flyers that were distributed around town. Showcasing our hobby is a great way to attract new members both to local clubs and the hobby in general.
Until next month, stay safe and keep ’em flyin’!
Andrew Griffith
Vice President
barracudahockey@aol.com
12258 Bucks Harbor Dr. N.
Jacksonville FL 32225
(904) 993-4956
www.amadistrict-v.org
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Mickey Avery, AL; (334) 247-7123; district-V-AVP@email.com
Joe Dolliver, FL; (239) 218-2677; Joe33914@gmail.com
Rick Grim, AL; (256) 656-0859; uavpilot1@bellsouth.net
Keith Hall, FL; (813) 928-3861; wingman@verizon.net
Jose Melendez, FL; (321) 412-3078; rcjets12@hotmail.com
Bill Barbee, GA; (912) 660-2155; awbarbee@hotmail.com
Bob Dixon, GA; (478) 960-5200; rldixon3@cox.net
Nick Ray, GA; (865) 368-3820; lasray@gmail.com
Darrell Sprayberry, GA; (706) 280-5848; darrellhub@optilink.us
Dave Wenzel, GA; (912) 754-9619; davevfrguy@hotmail.com
Paul Verger, MS; (228) 826-4892; cpau1verger@yahoo.com
Edwin Medina, Puerto Rico; (787) 525-7768; captmedina@gmail.com
Don Wise, SC; (803) 534-8164; d7wise@sc.rr.com
Scott Anderson, TN; rcfoamy@hotmail.com
Dick Tonan, TN; (615) 995-6291; dtonan@mac.com
SAFETY COORDINATOR: Red Schofield, Johns Island SC; (843) 494-5225; redsch03@gmail.com
RC AND FF EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR: Dick Tonan
CL EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR: Dave Wenzel
WEBMASTER: Glenn Bond, d5amaweb@gmail.com
