MODEL AVIATION: A HOBBY FOR ALL
Helping women get started in our hobby
By Clarissa Poston
clarissap@modelaircraft.org
Historically, the realm of both full-scale aviation and model aviation has been dominated by the male gender. So much so, that various individuals have taken it upon themselves to advocate on behalf of women in the occupational and hobby fields of aviation. One of these people includes Elizabeth Graham, an individual who wrote an article titled, “Exploring the Factors Behind the Gender Disparity in Piloting.” A brief excerpt from her article, in which she emphasizes the root issues of why women might be less present in the field of aviation, follows:
“ … the underrepresentation of women in aviation is a multifaceted issue with roots in societal norms, institutional barriers, and workplace culture … Traditionally, aviation has been perceived as a male-dominated field, with early pioneers and role models predominately being men. Stereotypes and societal expectations have discouraged women from pursuing careers in aviation, perpetuating a cycle of underrepresentation.”
Although the underrepresentation of women in full-scale aviation is an issue of its own, I want to focus on what I know we can impact, change, and improve—the representation and involvement of women in the hobby of model aviation.
There are various factors that could dissuade someone from entering a new hobby. For starters, new things are always intimidating. Whether it be starting a new job, meeting new friends, or traveling to a new place, a bit of trepidation is common.
Now, when you combine starting a new hobby and being a minority within that new hobby, you can only imagine how many additional nerves might be piled onto those already present! You might have concerns about being an outcast, not fitting in, feeling silly because you aren’t 100% sure what exactly it is that you’re supposed to be doing … all of which are normal concerns to have. In the case of being a hobbyist in model aviation, however, none of those concerns will become a reality.
Take it from me. As a female with absolutely no experience in the world of model aviation, I walked into AMA for the first time with only a minute arsenal of knowledge about the history of the company—and nothing about the hobby itself. Now, a year and some change later, I’ve never felt more accepted or encouraged in the workplace, especially when it comes to being encouraged to have fun within the hobby!
Everyone I’ve met at AMA, and every AMA member whom I’ve had the pleasure of emailing with, meeting face-to-face at events, and speaking to on the phone, has done nothing but encourage me to get involved in the hobby: “It’s okay that you don’t have experience, so many people are willing to teach you,” or “Once the weather calms down, I’m taking you out to the field and teaching you how to fly,” or “Come on out to the next event and I’ll teach you the basics.”
Never have I come across someone who has looked down upon me, spoken to me differently (aside from simplifying the occasionally confusing aeromodeling terms … in that case, speaking to me differently is much appreciated!), or anything of that nature. Everyone in the hobby sees my lack of model aviation experience as an opportunity for the hobby to gain another hobbyist; my inexperience is seen as an avenue for a new passion and new successes, and my gender is not seen at all.
Although I’ll still be nervous when the weather gets nicer and I’m learning to fly for the first time, my level of apprehension about the topic will have decreased tenfold. With the amount of support that the model aviation community provides, I know that, regardless of my flying successes (or failures), I will continue being supported, taught, and encouraged throughout the entirety of my learning process. What I once would’ve considered to be a scary, intimidating endeavor is now something that I have to look forward to with new friends and coworkers, all of whom I know want nothing but to see me succeed in the hobby.
In no way do the stereotypical insinuations accurately represent the capabilities and desires of women in the field of aviation, whether it be career- or hobby-based, nor do they represent how our hobbyists view, treat, or discuss women in the aviation realm; however, it does go to show that we, as a hobby, could put more effort toward seeking out the capable, driven women who would thrive in a hobby such as ours. It’s evident that there are plenty who are interested, yet hesitant, potentially due to Elizabeth’s previously mentioned stereotypes and underrepresentation.
As time has progressed, more and more women have found a home in the hobby of model aviation—but let’s not stop there. Prospective female hobbyists should feel as though they can jump right in, give it their best shot, and, whether success is immediately found in flight or not, find excitement and joy within the hobby’s community. That is precisely what AMA and the model aviation community desire and encourage, as we do for hobbyists of all ages, genders, and backgrounds … now, we just have to ensure that those outside of our hobby are aware of their open invitation to join us.
Seeing as I’m not yet fully immersed and participating in the hobby of model aviation, I wanted to get some insight from a few women who are fully immersed in the hobby. I had the pleasure of interviewing three women involved in various facets of model aviation: Geena Tucker, Aimee Olson, and Skilly DeLoach. All three of these women have excelled in their corners of the hobby. Their level of experience and success make them great resources for insight into how women fit perfectly into the world of model aviation. The following is a bit of brief background information on each woman.
Geena Tucker—RC Helicopters
Geena’s model aviation journey began in December 2010. She started with a Dynam E-Razor 450 collective-pitch helicopter and stated the following about her initial experience: “I had no one to teach me or guide me, so needless to say, I crashed a lot before I got the hang of it. I eventually got to the point where flying in the backyard was no longer an option, so I started looking for flying clubs in my area. From there, my passion for the hobby grew very quickly and I found myself attending my first helicopter fun-fly in 2011.”
Geena has earned several sponsorships for her skills and talents, including HeliProz, TSA Model, and GAUI. Her current sponsors are Miniature Aircraft, Kontronik Drives, bavarianDEMON, Pulse Battery, HeliDirect, KBDD International, and Xpert Servos.
Geena was the first woman to ever compete in the Battle of the Brands at the International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association (IRCHA) Jamboree in 2021, finishing in third place. She’s also earned three first-place finishes and three second-place finishes in local contests, in addition to placing seventh at the 2021 RC Helicopter F3C Nats.
Aimee Olson—CL Combat
Aimee has been involved in model aviation for as long as she can remember: “My family tells me that I started flying as a little girl held in my dad’s arms.” As she got older, Aimee flew a variety of events; however, Control Line (CL) Combat quickly became her favorite. She stated that “The fast-paced, adrenaline-filled event was what kept me flying year after year.” Although she’d been flying since she was young, Aimee started competing more in the 1980s, going to multiple Nats competitions with her family. “My dad, Mike Olson, and his dad, Seymour Olson, flew Jet Speed as their main event for many years. They were actually the first people to figure out how to run a jet on a pressurized tank, increasing the speed of the event significantly and holding the national record back in the 1970s. My mom, Bonnie Olson, even flew some Jet Speed back in the day.”
Aimee is currently on the US national team for F2D, being selected as the woman to represent the US; she was also selected as an alternate for the F2D US team in 2019, although the competition never took place because of COVID.
Skilly DeLoach—FF
Skilly has been flying since she was three years old, although she’s been around model aviation contests since she was a baby. She stated the following: “I have been flying for as long as I can remember, and as I got older, I became more serious about the hobby.” Skilly is most passionate about Free Flight (FF), including the Outdoor Rubber and Glider events. She attended her first Nats in 2019 and has been a member of the Magnificent Mountain Men FF Club for 12 years.
Skilly has won the National Free Flight Society (NFFS) National Cup four times, in addition to setting four records in P-30, Mulvihill Rubber, F1 Power, and E-36. With such success as a Junior competitor, Skilly’s future in model aviation is extremely bright.
Speaking to these three women and garnering an idea of their experiences as women in a male-dominated hobby has supplied bountiful insight into just how much our hobby supports hobbyists of all ages and genders. When asked about their experiences as women in the hobby, and if they’ve ever faced any negative stereotypes or challenges because of their gender, Geena, Aimee, and Skilly all answered in a positive manner. Their answers are as follows:
“To be honest, my experience as a woman in a male-dominated hobby has been a very smooth and pleasurable one. I have not been met with any derogatory or other type of negative treatment … We’re just
“Seriously, it was empowering to work alongside my dad, to compete against men, and be able to hold my own in a sport that there are almost no women in. I continue to find it thrilling to be able to compete in a male-dominated sport and actually be competitive ... I think that some men are surprised when women can actually be competitive, especially in a more physical event like CL Combat. However, everyone has been very nice and respectful to me, along with always being ready to help.”
“As a woman in model aviation, the support from the community has been enormous. There are fewer women in model aviation, but that simply makes the female model aviation community very tight-knit and supportive ... The small, female community in the hobby is one of the greatest parts ... I have not faced very many challenges or stereotypes within the hobby, except for the history of it being male dominated. But everyone is accepting and extremely kind.”
Although I hope that the testaments of Geena, Aimee, and Skilly encourage all female readers to feel confident and comfortable enough to pursue the hobby of model aviation, these three women also had great insight into how the already present model aviation community can make the hobby more inclusive, in addition to advice for those who are beginning their model aviation journey.
Geena recommended that current hobbyists encourage “more women to get involved and give model aviation a chance.” This could be as simple as bringing your female friends to the flying field, introducing them to the model aviation community, and showing them the exciting variety of aircraft and flying techniques. Her idea is supported by Skilly, who stated that “the model aviation community is inclusive and eager to teach and include anyone who is willing to participate in this unique hobby.”
Aimee advised that women who are trying to become involved in the hobby should “find a mentor,” noting that “it’s a difficult sport to be a part of without someone to help you.” Skilly mentioned that “reading the NFFS Digest or the AMA magazine is a great way to start being educated about model aviation and joining the community.” Skilly further noted that her advice “would be just to jump right in! There is enormous support and a community that is so accepting and helpful for anyone in need!”
Another piece of advice from Geena is to remember that, although the hobby is male dominated, “it’s our hobby too, and the guys are not going to give you a second’s worth of trouble for wanting to participate ... everyone, male or female, will go out of their way to help you ... stick with it, get good at it, and enjoy your passion for your hobby.”
Although AMA has more than 160,000 members, only a small number of these members identify as women. The exact number is difficult to pinpoint because AMA doesn’t explicitly ask our members to specify gender; however, there are only 4,346 members who use the prefix “Mrs.” or “Ms.” Of course, there are various other prefixes that our female members might use, such as “Dr.,” but even if we knew how many members that applied to, the percentage of female members would be small in the grand scheme of things.
This number is one that, if increased, would heavily benefit our hobby as a whole. Not only would we obtain strong, determined hobbyists, but we would obtain a renowned sense of inclusive community. In turn, the women who begin their journey in model aviation would receive a welcoming environment in which they feel confident to learn, fly, compete, and have fun.
There are many ways in which we can encourage women to give model aviation a shot. Spread the word about AMA’s three-month trial membership, invite the local community to your club’s flying field for a fun day of beginner model aviation activities, and share AMA’s informative Flight School “How Do I?” blog posts. The smallest event or conversation could make the biggest difference in a future hobbyist’s journey.
If current hobbyists need any additional incentives to encourage more women to join, keep the Sign 3 Fly Free program in the back of your mind. Current AMA members will receive a one-year AMA membership credit for each three new AMA members who join!
The hobby of model aviation maintains a community unlike any other. Although our hobbyists compete with the determination and steadfastness of any other, there is no community of hobbyists more willing to help you succeed in the same competition that they’re trying to win. The hobby’s camaraderie is outstanding, the sense of friendship and family is unbreakable, and the constant support and encouragement is top notch. Model aviation is a hobby for all to enjoy, regardless of gender, level of experience, or aircraft flown.
If you’re interested in model aviation but feel unprepared or undereducated, reach out to a local club or send me an email—I would love to talk about potential first steps to getting you involved! If you aren’t sure where your local clubs might be, check out AMA’s Club Finder tool. There are more clubs around you than you might think!
I’ll leave you with one last piece of advice from the words of Geena: “Come out to the field and try it. The worst thing that can happen is that you don’t like it. If you do give it a go and you like it, don’t give up and don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the hang of it right away ... Stick with it, and above all, have fun!”
To read extended interviews with Geena, Aimee, and Skilly, visit www.ModelAviation.com.
SOURCES:
AMA Club Finder Tool
www.modelaircraft.org/club-finder
AMA Flight School “How Do I?” Blogs
www.amaflightschool.org/how-do-i
AMA Sign 3 Fly Free Program
www.modelaircraft.org/membership/sign-3-fly-free-program
AMA Three-Month Trial Membership
www.modelaircraft.org/membership/enroll
“Exploring the Factors Behind the Gender Disparity in Piloting” by Elizabeth Graham
https://bit.ly/3JZr08S
