Summary
On this episode of AMA Air, Matt Ruddick and Lee Ray learn more about the 2026 AMA National Fun Fly from AMA District XI Vice President Phil Tallman and AMA Executive Vice President Randy Cameron, discuss how you can get your hands on 2026 Club Training Day Starter Kits, interview AMA Foundation Chief Communications Officer Clarissa Poston about the details of the Pink Ribbon Good (PRG) Build Contest, and much more!
This month’s episode of AMA Air is sponsored by Advanced Radio
2026 AMA National Fun Fly – (4:26)
AMA Executive Vice President Randy Cameron and AMA District XI Vice President Phil Tallman join the show to talk about the return of the AMA National Fun Fly. This year’s event will take place from June 25-28 at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana, and feature a familiar return to everything that makes a fun fly great. Including vendors, a swap shop, a raffle, and of course, plenty of flying. Meet up with old friends, see some cool airplanes, and just enjoy the camaraderie. Pilot and Swap Shop registration can be found online. We hope to see you out there!
New FAI Junior Free Flight Records Set – (11:51)
Two AMA Youth members in California set FAI National Records in Free Flight competition. Kiana Lin set a new Youth Junior National Record in F1Q Electric Power Outdoor Free Flight with a time of 19 minutes, 47 seconds. Meanwhile, Aurelius Lin followed with a record-breaking time of 35 minutes, 18 seconds in the F1B Wakefield category. Congratulations to those two talented young flyers, a great start to the 2026 flying season!
Pink Ribbon Good Build Contest – (12:56)
Matt and Lee have a discussion with AMA Foundation Chief Communications Officer Clarissa Poston about the ongoing Pink Ribbon Good Build Contest. Pink Ribbon Good (PRG) is an organization dedicated to providing free meals, rides to treatment, peer support, and housecleaning essentials to individuals across the country who have been impacted by breast and/or gynecological cancers. The AMA Foundation has partnered with PRG to create this build contest to help raise awareness for PRG’s cause. The contest rules are simple; all you need to do is build a model plane (or boat, or car) and design it to include the PRG logo. Let your creativity take over! In the interview, Clarissa discusses some of the awesome prizes that can be won for first, second, and third place winners in the contest. Those prize packages include products from Hitec, Du-Bro, PRG, Horizon Hobby, the AMA Foundation, and more! More details on the contest, including the submission form, can be found online.
Club of the Month – (20:01)
The Club of the Month for April is the Indianapolis R/C Modelers. Founded back in 1953, this AMA Gold Club Leader features a 411’ x 45’ Geotex runway, five dedicated pilot stations, four covered work bench areas, a club house, and a large parking area (with space for campers and trailers). The club has over 75 members and is proud to have a very active Intro Pilot Program to help beginners learn to fly in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. To learn more about their club be sure to check out the club Facebook page or club website.
IFlyAMA Facebook Group – (22:09)
The IFlyAMA Facebook group is an online community for sharing useful tips, discussing model aviation news, and showing off your recent builds! A contest is held every month to determine the cover photo for the Facebook group. This month’s winning photo was submitted by Phil Camp, featuring his impressive custom modified Legend Hobby B17G ARC. Dave Rowan was the photographer.
National Volunteer Month – (25:12)
April is National Volunteer Month, which makes it the perfect opportunity to thank the countless volunteers who make up and support the AMA. Volunteerism has been a foundation of our organization’s success in many forms, going back to when it was established in 1936. From organizing events to assuming leadership positions in clubs, Special Interest Groups, contest boards, the AMA Foundation, the Leader Member program, and our Executive Council, volunteers are the backbone of AMA. Take a moment to thank the volunteers at your local club, without them, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the hobby that we do. Thank you, volunteers!
National Model Aviation Museum Opens – (26:11)
The National Model Aviation Museum opens for the 2026 season on April 13th. If you find yourself at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana this year, be sure to stop by this one of its kind experience. The hundreds of model aircraft, memorabilia, engines, trophies and more are a model aviation enthusiast’s dream. If you would like a preview of what all you can witness during a visit to the museum, or if you can’t make it out this year, be sure to check out the digital collections available online.
2026 Nats – (26:49)
Registration for the 2026 National Aeromodeling Championships is now open! This summer’s Nats will mark the 100th running of the event; you won’t want to miss this historic moment! To stay up to date on the Nats and join the conversation, check out the new Nats Facebook page.
2026 Club Training Day Starter Kits – (28:40)
The AMA Foundation is bringing back the Club Training Day Starter Kits for 2026! After the massive success of last year’s kits, the Foundation is upping the number of clubs that will be able to receive them this year. The kits will be available to all AMA Introductory Pilot Program Clubs on a first come, first serve basis. Those clubs will receive an email in mid-April to apply to receive one of the 88 kits that will be made available this spring. Those kits will have a Free Flight focus, and include 2 AMA Alphas, 2 Cloud Busters, 3 Cadets, 15 balsa gliders, and various paper materials and helpful club resources. If your club misses out on one of those initial 88 kits, be on the lookout later this year for an additional 77 kits, which will be building-focused.
Upcoming Events – (30:01)
- SEFF Week, April 23-26
- Joe Nall Week, May 8-15
- Annual AMA Membership Meeting held during Joe Nall Week on May 14th
For more information on the above topics and more, be sure to watch the full episode of AMA Air!