I AM THE AMA
GREG PRATER
AMA Plans Service
Coordinator
By Jay Smith | jays@modelaircraft.org
JAY SMITH: How did you become involved in model aviation?
GREG PRATER: After building and crashing two electric sailplanes, trying to learn to fly on my own, I decided I better get some help. I joined a local club and spent many weekends at the flying field learning to fly with an instructor. I found that I enjoyed the activity and the people I connected with, plus building models kept me busy during the winter.
JS: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career?
GP: A friend worked at the local chamber of commerce and told me that the AMA was considering moving its headquarters to Muncie, Indiana—my hometown. After it moved here, flying became a little different. Flying after work at the International Aeromodeling Center exposed me to new aspects of the hobby that I had not seen before.
I began flying Pattern, spending many hours after work practicing the sequences for competition. After that, I became interested in Soaring and constructing composite models designed by Mark Drela: the Bubble Dancer, Allegro Lite, and Supra.
I soon began volunteering at the AMA National Model Aviation Museum, working on exhibit displays and assisting in the Plans department, operating the foam-core cutting machine. After the Plans Coordinator moved out of state, I applied for the position and began actually working at the AMA. My office is in the museum, so I got to meet visiting modelers from around the world. Ten years later, it is still a privilege to work here.
JS: What disciplines of modeling do you currently participate in?
GP: I have a scale World War I S.E.5a on the workbench. I found the plans one day by accident and saw a level of detail that I had not seen before. It could take years to finish. During the summer, I also fly floatplanes. Additionally, you cannot beat the Radian for an afternoon of fun and to teach others.
JS: What other hobbies do you have?
GP: I spent several years in my 20s building furniture with my brother, so I have access to a large workshop where I build chairs, guitars, and hi-fi speakers. I also recently obtained my private pilot’s license and have joined a flying club that has a Cessna Skyhawk.
I play disc golf for exercise. Using the angle of the disc to plan your flight and judging the wind direction and the thickness of the disc’s airfoil for the shot required, makes it a challenging sport.
JS: Who or what has influenced you the most?
GP: That has to be AMA. As you can see, for me, having it in my local community has opened up personal and professional opportunities that I would not have seen had it gone elsewhere.
JS: How did flying models help you with learning to fly full-scale aircraft?
GP: I signed up for an EAA Discovery flight and I was hooked. I then contacted a local flight instructor for some flight lessons. On the first lesson, I did the takeoff on my own then flew to the practice area, where he talked me through a few maneuvers, turns, slow flight, and circles around a fixed point. The instructor commented, “Looks like you know what you are doing. Flying models has taught you a lot.”
