Larry Erbach reported the following:
My new role as the club president of the Chain-O-Lakes Eagles RC Flying Club in Crystal Lake, Illinois, began in January 2025. One of our members encouraged me to visit the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana. The goal: Learn what I could and strengthen our connection with AMA.
The Member and Club Services departments welcomed me and arranged meetings with the Education and AMA Foundation departments. I admitted that I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I asked for an overview of their work and guidance on what our club should be thinking about in the future. I was amazed by the resources available.
That visit was more than a year ago. This week, I returned to the IAC with District VI’s vice president and the AMA Education Committee chairman. We shared our successes and challenges with the staff, who were eager to listen, learn, and offer new ideas. We left with fresh ideas for Know Before You Fly and UAS4STEM programs, new inspiration for expanding our sanctioned events, competitions, and fun-fly activities, and how to improve our communication. We also enjoyed a museum tour and gained appreciation for the work that is being done to preserve the history of model aviation.
These visits were absolutely worth the drive and have energized our club and sparked new initiatives. I strongly encourage you to visit the AMA staff in person.
Bill Spencer Jr. shared that the Champaign County Radio Control Club hosted its second major youth aircraft build, bringing families and club mentors together to construct 19 Flite Test Tiny Trainers. The multiday event showcased the power of hands-on STEM education and introduced participants to more-advanced construction techniques following the club’s previous Nutball build.
Led by Mark Shelmadine, the workshop challenged participants with detailed foam board assembly and precise alignment. Young builders and family members looked on intently as techniques were demonstrated, and then they worked together to turn those lessons into completed aircraft. For many of the young participants, this was their first experience transforming flat foam board into a flyable aircraft.
While some builders test-flew their completed aircraft during the event, others left with a clear path to finish them at home with ongoing club mentorship. This impactful community effort was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Horizon Hobby and Flite Test. Special thanks goes to our dedicated volunteers!
Robert Morton reported on the Henderson RC Model Airplane Club’s Memorial Day Fly-In.
It was a great day at Sandy Lee Watkins Park and field in Henderson, Kentucky. There were 27 club members and families who came out. Jim Wolf prepared some great smoked hot dogs, and there were potluck side dishes and desserts. Airplanes were up and down all day; everything from a giant-scale ultralite to several mini aerobatic aircraft. Most interesting was a new multiengine EDF jet. The Henderson RC parachute team made four drops of two parachuters each. Four landed on the runway within feet of the pilots.
There were eight visitors in attendance, and two are coming back to try to learn to fly. They will hook up with Mike Morton and the club’s Apprentice trainer airplane to learn on a wireless buddy-box system.
To see your club in print, send me pictures and a short article. Email it to amadistrictVI@modelaircraft.org. Keep in mind the pictures must be at least 500 KB stand-alone JPG files.
Gary Himes
Vice President District VI