District III
Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
I received the following from Keith Numbers of Dayton, Ohio:
The Bellbrook Middle School Golden Eagles Team in Bellbrook, Ohio, recently competed in the AMA Heavy-Lift Challenge. This STEM event involved the modification of a HobbyZone AeroScout trainer to carry water to a fictitious firefighting scenario. The team members included Andrew Bowser, Aiden Colsten, and Cooper Redfern, who were mentored by Keith Numbers and Tom Bean of the Miami RC Club in Xenia, Ohio.
The team held several design sessions and modified the AeroScout to carry 8-ounce bottles of water under each wing and drop them remotely upon landing. The students had minimal RC piloting experience, but quickly mastered basic flying skills using the AeroScout’s SAFE system.
The team developed the water carriage and release system, completed flight and AMA safety training, tested the design, and completed three rounds of contest flying all during the month of May. They produced a video showing their design activity, calculations, and flying activities, which was submitted to AMA. The Bellbrook team placed first, receiving a cash prize from AMA! More importantly, the Miami RC Club nurtured the next generation of RC enthusiasts.
Congratulations to Bellbrook Middle School for a fantastic effort!
On the subject of model aviation youth education, I received the following from Susan Weisenbach Johnson of Avon Lake, Ohio:
I thought I would share this photo of our recent 59th anniversary of the Northern Ohio Free Flight Association (NOFFA) contest, held in Muncie, Indiana, in June 2023. These are the Junior and Senior fliers who participated in our contest.
Holding their certificates and hardware are Sam Menano, Wes Reuter, Clay Menano, Sadie Menano, and Sarah Delecki. Standing behind them is Bill Reuter, one of two contest directors. (The other was Jim Gaffney.)
NOFFA contests have always encouraged and supported youth at each of our contests every year with AMA and the National Free Flight Society events.
Thank you, NOFFA, for supporting model aviation youth education. I know your organization will continue this tradition in the future.
When I was at the AMA National Fun Fly in June, I had the pleasure of helping a young man learn to fly an RC model.
In just three flights, 10-year-old Lucas was taking off and landing, thanks to a trainer with the SAFE system. Of all the things we can do in our hobby, nothing is more rewarding than seeing a young person’s enthusiasm when they fly a model for the first time.
Finally, elsewhere in this magazine you will see that there is an election this fall for the position of District III vice president. I decided, after 12 years as your District III representative, that it was time for me to step aside and make way for new blood.
Please read the candidates’ statements. When you receive your ballots this fall, vote for the person whom you believe will represent you best within AMA.
Until next month, stay safe and fly safely.
