THE AL KANSER
MEMORIAL GRANT
By Rusty Kennedy, AMA Foundation Chairman | rusty716@gmail.com
Approximately eight years ago, District II Associate Vice President and District II Safety Coordinator Al Kanser suggested that AMA have a program to help clubs purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to help save lives. Al was persistent in asking me to present the concept to the AMA Executive Council. Little did he know that the idea would have several challenges.
AMA District II Vice President Eric Williams spent many hours talking to AED manufacturers and suppliers to get acquainted with AED units and how they could be expected to perform in widely varying club field environments across the country. He learned a lot, including how many lives have actually been saved when an AED was readily available.
To say Al was known for championing AEDs is an understatement! Not only was Al highly motivated to have AMA create the AED program, but he also carried an AED to all of the club events he attended. Al personally funded his AED.
In Dave Gee’s November 2014 Model Aviation “Safety Comes First” column, Dave recognized Al and his commitment to AEDs. Al was also the coordinator of AMA’s safety booth at AMA Expo East. He collaborated with the Red Cross to help provide booth coverage and answer questions about safety and lifesaving preparedness.
In an ironically sad footnote, Al died of heart failure in 2017 outside of his home, alone, as he was preparing to travel to a club fun-fly. It was club members who found Al after he was a day late to the event.
The AMA AED spark started with Al, an AMA member of limited financial means who was passionate about health, safety, and looking out for his fellow modelers. Had it not been for his original persistence and commitment to lifesaving AEDs, we would not have an AED program today: the Al Kanser Memorial AMA AED Grant Program.
The AMA 2024 National Fun Fly is the place to be on June 28-30, 2024. This will be a celebration unlike any other! A combination of a traditional fun-fly and a community day, this free event will uplift the vibrant community of model aviation enthusiasts.
The vision for the 2024 AMA National Fun Fly is to foster a renewed spirit for our pilots, with enhanced community engagement. We envision this event being a dynamic activity that celebrates the thrill of model aviation, yet one that highlights the importance of nurturing the next generation of aviators.
There will be free open flying at Site 3 of the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana, throughout the event. Pilots can also find some great deals at the swap shop and enjoy fellowship with their comrades.
Through exciting and captivating experiences and hands-on activities, we aim to ignite the spark of curiosity in young minds, encouraging them to explore the fascinating world of full-scale aviation and model aeronautics.
At this year’s fun-fly, visitors will have an opportunity to try several hands-on activities, such as flying model aircraft, operating model boats, and racing RC cars on a dirt track. There will be drone racing and drone delivery demonstrations, as well as rocket and airplane building stations. After building a rocket or model airplane, attendees will have the opportunity to launch their creations.
Visitors will also have the chance to visit the National Model Aviation Museum, the largest model aviation museum in the world.
University professors will be at the IAC to talk about the future of aviation and STEM-related activities. Cabela’s will be on-site to share its goods. We also anticipate several community and hobby vendors, paramotor demonstrations, food trucks, and guest speakers. Registration is now open 15. Learn more at www.modelaircraft.org/funfly. (All activities are weather permitting and subject to change.)
