District I

District I

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

On Saturday, July 17, 2021, Associate Vice Presidents Daren Hudson and Steve Brehm and I participated in what was the highlight of the district’s outreach events this year.

The event was coordinated by the Discover Flying RC Club (DFRCC), Otis Model Aero Club (OMAC), and the Heroes In Transition organization (HIT). Colin Towers, the DFRCC’s contest director (CD), invited us to participate in the HIT event.

HIT is a nonprofit organization that assists veterans and military families. HIT provides financial services, home modification for disabled veterans, and therapy. Part of the therapy is engaging its members in enjoyable recreational activities. That precipitated the collaboration with the AMA clubs to introduce veterans to aeromodeling.

We advised Colin that we would provide a pop-up shelter, tables, flight simulators, hand-outs, magazines, a variety of airplanes for display and trainer flying, certificates for free three-month trial AMA memberships, and an Apprentice S2 airplane donated by Horizon Hobby with an upgraded charger and batteries from the district for the veterans raffle.

The agenda included brief welcome talks about programs and services from HIT Vice President Mike Procek, Colin, OMAC President Ken Luckraft, and AMA District Vice President Andy Argenio. Attendees were treated to demonstrations of Control Line flying, drone racing, and 3D RC aircraft and helicopter aerobatics.

Most of the day was devoted to the vets and their families, who enjoyed the thrill of trying RC model aircraft, flying on buddy boxes with instructors. Flight simulators and FPV flying were also available. Raffle tickets were drawn for the donated items, and the smiling winners were applauded.

Thank you to Colin, Ken Kehoe, Ken Luckraft, and the club members for coordinating and running this event. Everyone who participated had a terrific time.

We plan to participate in more initiatives that support and demonstrate AMA’s appreciation for the veterans who defend and protect the freedoms that we enjoy in the US. If your club is interested in doing any events to support veterans, please let us know.

Veterans and families gathered at an outdoor RC flying event — More than 100 veterans and their family members attended the event presented by the HIT organization and hosted by AMA’s DFRCC and OMAC clubs, located in Cape Cod MA.

More than 100 veterans and their family members attended the event presented by the HIT organization and hosted by AMA’s DFRCC and OMAC clubs, located in Cape Cod MA.