DU-BRO: DIAMOND-LEVEL SPONSOR OF THE NATS
By Rich Hanson, AMA President | richh@modelaircraft.org
AMA IS PROUD to have Du-Bro as our Diamond-level sponsor for the 2023 100th anniversary of the first Nats. Founder Dewey Broberg created Du-Bro Products in 1959 with dedication to pride and customer service. Du-Bro’s mission is to maintain the high level of quality in all that the company does, and this history is attached to every product produced.
The secret to its success has always been its ability to do almost everything the business needs in its own facility: injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, rotational foam molding, screw machining, thread rolling, drilling, tapping, tooling, punch pressing, assembling, vacuum-forming, packaging, and more.
Pride, loyalty, and service are not as common as they once were. Du-Bro strives to make every customer’s experience as pleasant as possible. The company invites you to let them know if you have any questions, suggestions, or even an idea for a new product. Feel free to give them a call or email them at rc@dubro.com. The website is www.dubro.com.
Additional sponsors for the 100th anniversary of the first Nats include: Platinum level, APC Propeller and Innov8tive Designs; Gold level, Ritch’s Brew and Valley View RC; Silver level, Ball State University, Radio Master, and Wind Catcher RC; and Partner level, Muncie Visitors Bureau.
We’re only a few short weeks away from the historic celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first Nats. The grand event commences at the International Aeromodeling Center on Thursday, July 6, following the Fourth of July holiday, and continues through the month of July. Preregistration is now open at: https://nats.modelaircraft.org.
Patrick Sherman
Patrick Sherman, pictured at the left, is the founder of the Roswell Flight Test Crew, an organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and expanding the drone UAS industry. He’s the public face of the Test Crew’s popular YouTube channel, which has more than 22,000 subscribers and 4.3 million video views. Known to his fans worldwide as Lucidity, Patrick has shared adventures online since 2011. The Test Crew promotes the safe, beneficial, and nonintrusive use of drone technology, providing real-world demonstrations in applications such as public safety, industrial inspection, and scientific research.
Patrick has long been a friend to model aviation and has partnered with AMA at numerous educational and operational events. For several years, he could be found at the AMA Expo, conducting attendee seminars and reporting on model aircraft innovations and activity. He’s been an active member of the recreational UAS community by organizing and directing several successful UAS events, including a nationwide contest for STEM students using UAS to benefit their local communities.
Patrick has been a leader in the UAS industry from the beginning. He has been flying drones since 2010, amassing a depth of experience uncommon in such a young industry. Working closely within the UAS community, he’s been directly involved in the development of innovative programming that supports the emergence of new UAS technologies. He has conducted extensive flight operations alongside firefighters and other first responders and, beginning in 2012, he performed pioneering work using drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras through a partnership with FLIR (forward-looking infrared) thermal imaging cameras.
He has also used drones to conduct other ground-breaking missions, including habitat restoration for native fish and wind-turbine inspections. Because of his expertise in testing and demonstrating drone technology, he was invited to Shenzhen, China, in 2016 to assess innovative new systems currently under development.
Patrick is an award-winning speaker, writer, educator, and a member of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s adjunct faculty—the first ever to join its distinguished Department of Flight. He has shared his knowledge and insights around the world.
Recognized for his contributions with an individual Excellence Award as the Drone Instructor of the Year by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), he has been quoted in the New York Times and the Washington Post as a drone expert. He is a certified Level 3 Remote Pilot Instructor through the AUVSI Trusted Operator Program (TOP) and a DronePro serving with the FAA Safety Team.
He is the author of more than 100 published articles that have appeared in magazines, including Drone360, RotorDrone, Drones, Model Aviation, and Drone from the U.K.
As a master scuba instructor and licensed private pilot, Patrick holds an undergraduate degree summa cum laude from the University of Southern California in sociology and English, as well as an MBA with honors from Willamette University. He also holds a Part 107 Remote Pilot certification.
Always seeking opportunities to support the acceptance and growth of the drone industry, Patrick serves as a member of the AUVSI Cascade Chapter board of directors and is a founding member of the AMA’s UAS Task Force and the Oregon State Legislature’s Drone Working Group. He is also an advisor to the National Council on Public Safety UAS and DroneResponders, as well as an advisory committee member and brand ambassador for the AUVSI TOP program.
Patrick has also hosted the coverage of the first national drone racing championship held at the state fairgrounds in Sacramento, California.
Rumor has it that Patrick is developing a new UAS manuscript, with the goal of providing a user-friendly, illustrated overview of how to get involved in remote piloting for someone with little to no background in the subject. His innovative approach is intended to be relevant to those who are looking at remote piloting as a recreational outlet, as well as those who are interested in pursuing a serious commercial venture.
Based on Patrick’s previous work, I believe this new edition will be of great interest to those who are seeking a better understanding of the drone industry and its ensuing intersection with the recreational aeromodeling community.
Keep ’em safe, keep ’em flying, and continue to enjoy this great hobby!
