STAFF SPOTLIGHT
KYLE
JARACZ
AMA Education Director
kylej@modelaircraft.org
Q: How long have you worked at AMA and what is your current role?
A: I started out at the AMA nine years ago, as the art director and production manager, but, since 2019, I have served as the education director for the organization.
Q: What hobbies do you have?
A: I fly everything from paper airplanes, to multirotors, to fixed-wing aircraft of all styles. I got my start in RC building and flying high-start sailplanes. I’m not well-versed in helicopters or Control Line, but they sure are fun. I can safely take off, fly a pattern, and land just about anything. I am a licensed Part 107 pilot and do some work on the side as well to maintain my proficiency. I also fly paramotors. Outside of aviation, I enjoy shooting competitions and, of course, I have to keep up with the home handyman duties related to owning a home built in the 1860s.
Q: What is your favorite place to eat in the Muncie, Indiana, area?
A: My favorite place is a tough question. This guy likes to eat! In Muncie though, I am partial to The Guardian Brewing
Company and Savage’s Ale House for a quick lunch or dinner with friends. Depending on the time, the service can be a bit slow though, so fair warning!
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I grew up with horses, ponies, rabbits, dogs, and cats. Our family does not currently include any pets.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working at AMA?
A: I truly enjoy supporting our passionate members as they engage in outreach within their communities. Hearing about how they share their love of aviation is both inspiring and rewarding. It’s an honor to provide resources that help amplify their efforts and advocacy. I’m also grateful to the broader aviation community for recognizing the unique role model aviation plays in sparking a lifelong passion for flight and their continued support of our mission.
Q: Can you share a memorable moment from your time at AMA?
A: My first International Radio Control Helicopter Association event really left an impression on me. Watching so many skilled pilots pull off maneuvers I’d never seen before was fantastic.
Another standout moment was last year, when I had the chance to see so many of my passions coalesce into one weekend at the International Aeromodeling Center during the National Fun Fly. Paramotorists were flying around Site 4 alongside Free Flight enthusiasts, Dewey Davenport was giving biplane rides out of Reese Airport, and Sites 1 and 3 were alive with RC activity. It felt like a true celebration of flight, and it was amazing to see the community come together and respond so positively.
Q: What is a detail or aspect of your job that people outside of the AMA might not realize is so important?
A: One aspect that often gets overlooked is the importance of unity. The requirements for flying are manageable and, after you understand them, they don’t take away from the enjoyment. The reason they are manageable is because of our strong advocacy base. I’m proud of AMA’s proactive efforts to build meaningful relationships with industry and regulatory partners, as well as our ability to mobilize when needed to protect model aviation. This unity ensures that the skills developed through model aviation can continue to thrive in the US. The fun of flight is what brings people in and what keeps them inspired, but knowing we’re part of a collective voice working together to protect that freedom is incredibly powerful.
