Academy Of Model Aeronautics: Inspiring Aviators Since 1936
Since 1936, the Academy Of Model Aeronautics (AMA), a non-profit organization whose community of enthusiasts has grown to become a nationwide network of clubs with passionate supporters whose shared love of mutual learning in a safe and fun environment brings them together.
We spoke with Mr. Mark Benson, a 14-year remote control (RC) veteran, Senior Director of the AMA, and author of AMAblog about the AMA presence at EAA AirVenture 2022, his observations, and hopes for the organization. The AMA has 2,500+ clubs across the USA and some 175,000+ pilots upon whose expertise and support you can rely upon when you’re ready to get started, or even beyond that as you make friends!
According to Mr. Benson, who has been working for the AMA for the past two years stated that “the normal aircraft weight limit is 55lbs, but waivers can be requested for up to 100 lbs”. When asked about the typical membership, he said “many are EAA members, and across the board, they’re mostly male adults, but that they’ve recently observed families and kids…and in the evening, we have another location during the night behind Pioneer Airport. We’re doing introductory flights and getting introductory pilots…getting kids lined up wanting to take their first flight”.
About their presence here at AirVenture, stated “we’re out there (south-east of the ultralight runway across from Vintage), and most visitors to Oshkosh don’t even know we’re here, but they come over and inquire”. In terms of raising awareness, he alluded to the desire to create a documentary that will increase accessibility, and that they have STEM programs, and that the “STEM 4 UAS” with Skydio is gaining traction. In terms of competing for eyeballs, Mr. Benson added “our simulator is kind of like a computer game, and that gets them interested”.
Mr. Benson stated that the strategy, going forward is “to continue to attract and bring attention to model aviation, and use our curriculum for high schoolers to use model aviation, which we’ve been doing for almost 30 years now.” In that capacity, the teachers don’t need to be aviators, we have the resources they can use in the classroom, and they’re not very expensive. We also leverage our clubs to provide that presence close to the user, some are very active with just two members, and they’re all volunteers”. He added that they’ve been using drones as well, that the mission capabilities are almost endless, and a lot of growth is expected there.
The AMA’s mission is to “promote, develop, educate, advance and safeguard modeling activities by providing leadership, organization, competition, communication, protection, representation, recognition, education, and scientific/technical development to modelers”.
Bolen Gives Congress a Rare Thumbs-Up
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