District II
New Jersey, New York, Europe
Eric Williams
Vice President
rcpilot@nycap.rr.com
4242 Amanda Ln., Schenectady NY 12303
(518) 356-2057
www.amadistrict-ii.org
www.facebook.com/DistrictIIAMA
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Dennis Andreas, Freeport NY; (516) 379-0135; danandreasdhqnsd@juno.com
Frank Costello, Somerset NJ; teams3fpv@gmail.com
Chuck Davis, Sayville NY; (631) 589-7690; cjdavis60@verizon.net
Gary Fitch, Delevan NY; gmfitch@hotmail.com
Gene Gavin, Staten Island NY; (718) 967-0598; Gavin1957@aol.com
Frank Granelli, Rockaway NJ; (973) 625-4995; granelliff@aol.com
Bill Hauth, Hamburg NY; (716) 649-8582; toolmkr2000@msn.com
Tony Jensen, Binghamton NY; (607) 644-6873; trjavenpilot@gmail.com
Ron McGrath, North Chili, NY; ronmcgrath@rochester.rr.com
Anthony Rossi, Somerset NJ; (917) 320-2665; p510851@gmail.com
Leonard Max Smart, Morrisonville NY; (518) 563-6878; hotrodsbymax@charter.net
Alexander Szmere, Kendall Park NJ; (732) 821-5641; drszmere@aol.com
Michael Wong, Mahwah NJ; kingmeow@verizon.net
Herb Ziegler, Baldwinsville NY; (315) 857-6266; herbz1957@yahoo.com
RC EVENT SANCTION COORDINATORS
Tony and Trish Jensen, 23 Clarendon Dr., Binghamton, NY 13901; (607) 644-6873; trjavenpilot@gmail.com
CL/FF EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR
AMA Headquarters, Competitions Department; (800) 435-9262, Ext. 252; cpierce@modelaircraft.org
This month’s column comes from a report provided by District II Associate Vice President (AVP) Gary Fitch.
I had the opportunity to attend the Flying Knights of Hamburg, New York, Fun Fly, which was held on August 14 and 15. After 43 years in this hobby, I reexperienced the essence of why I fly model aircraft. It came in the form of a 10-year-old young lady, whose passion for flying knows no bounds.
Meet Lucianna Andolina, who came to the event with a small foamie, high-wing RC aircraft and wanted to fly. Her mother, Gloria, grandmother, and her four younger brothers and sisters came with her. The event’s contest director, Stuart Brierley, asked her if she had her AMA membership and she didn’t know what that was.
He brought her to me, asking if there was any way we could let her fly. Absolutely! We can work with non-AMA fliers, so we took Lucy to the flightline. Stu cleared the air and everyone watched that fearless young lady launch her aircraft to fly as high as 100 feet in a stiff breeze, and when the battery was used up, she landed the airplane at her feet. Everyone in the crowd gave Lucy a standing ovation.
I introduced Lucy to world-class aerobatics pilot Devin McGrath, who flew next, and Lucy, along with everyone else, was blown away by Devin’s performance. Lucy soaked it all in. I asked her a few questions, such as how many airplanes she had. She said she had 22, 21 of which were broken at home and don’t fly anymore because she taught herself to fly. Talk about persistence!
I learned that she has the commercial flight schedules of the major airlines that fly in/out of Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, and she begs her parents to travel the 45 minutes so that she can watch the aircraft take off and land. Wow!
Lucy had such a good time on Saturday that Gloria brought her back on Sunday, and she flew several more times, including on a buddy-box trainer that AVP Bill Hauth set up for her. Her mom said that she hung around all day with the fliers instead of her family. I told Eric Williams about Lucy and he agreed that she needed to become an AMA member. A day later, Gloria wrote via email that Lucy was still smiling.
I invited them to attend my club’s open house
two weeks later and Gloria and her five children drove 1-1/2 hours each way to attend. New AMA member Lucy didn’t disappoint anyone and again received standing ovations.
In all of my travels to flying fields throughout the country, I have never seen such a passion for flying and persistence to achieve flight as I did with this little lady. That kind of enthusiasm has to be nurtured, and The Flying Knights of Hamburg, New York, will do just that. Welcome to AMA Lucy, and to a whole new family!
Many thanks to Gary and to everyone who is encouraging Lucy and other young fliers. Remember, it’s not about what you fly, it’s about the friends you make!
