Special Summer Museum Hours

       During the 2008 Nats—July 4-August 10—the National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, Indiana, will be open extended hours. They are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  MA

—Michael Smith
Museum Director

Closeout Sale at the AMA Store!

          What a deal! Many AMA patches are only $1, and all of them will be on sale until they are gone. For a full list of closeout items, go to www.modelaircraft.org/shopama/ or call (765) 287-1256, extension 212 or 504. AMA will not be printing a 2009 Product Guide. Look for upcoming ads in MA or visit the Web site for the most up-to-date products and great deals on closeout items.  MA

—Supply and Service Department

Flying Site Development/Improvement Grant Program

     Does your club need a new shelter, runway fixes, fencing, or a frequency board? If so, the AMA might be able to help. This year alone, the Academy gave away more than $33,000 to make such improvements to various club fields.

     How did the recipients get this money? Through the Flying Site Development/Improvement Grant Program, which began in 2003 to assist clubs in need.

     If approved, a grant will provide up to 10% of the total cost of a project. The maximum amount is $5,000. The money that is to be awarded will be announced on or near May 1 each calendar year.

     Applications for the next set of grants are due to your District vice president on or before March 1, 2009. He or she will review and approve the application and forward it to AMA Headquarters so it arrives on or before March 15, 2009. Applications received after March 15 will not be processed.

     Applying is easy! Go to www.modelaircraft.org/PDF-files/712.pdf or call the Programs Department at AMA HQ—(765) 287-1256, extension 272—for the information. The original grant application must be signed by the club president and approved by the District vice president and submitted to Flying Site Grant Application, Academy of Model Aeronautics, Attention: Erin Dobbs, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302.

     Status reports on the projects must be submitted to AMA Headquarters every six months, with the final report describing their completion. Any AMA funds exceeding 10% of the final total cost of the project must be returned to the Academy.

     An application will be returned if it contains more than five pages, the amount of the requested grant is more than 10% of the total cost of the project, or if the amount of the requested grant is more than $5000.

     The 2008 grant recipients are:

• Plattsburgh Radio Aeromodelers: $527.25
• Wright State Renegades: $1,000
• Bay City Flyers, Inc.: $1,155
• Brandon Radio Control Aero Modelers: $500
• Orchard Farm RC Flying Club: $450
• Marshalltown Radio Control Flyers: $2,825
• River District RC Eagles: $100
• West Michigan Smoke Rings: $2,600
• Golden Triangle Radio Control Club: $313.80
• Jetero RC Club, Inc.: $1,108.35
• Angelo RC Inc.: $5,000
• Tejas Radio Control Association: $5,000
• Chisholm Trail RC Club: $1,130
• Airpark Elite: $1,300
• MARKS: $5,000
• Yankee Air Pirates Aeronautical Institute: $5,000

     Congratulations to all clubs that received grant money. To those that did not, we extend our best wishes for a successful 2008 flying season, and we hope you apply again next year.  MA

—Erin Dobbs
Programs Coordinator

Welcome, AMA Life Members!

     The Academy recently welcomed new Life Members A Jason Stevens (Maricopa AZ), John French (San Jose CA), and Joe Alban (Kealakekua HI).
     For information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at (800) 435-9262.  MA

—AMA Membership Department

Also in this month's In the Air section in Model Aviation:

• And the Award Goes To ...

• Zaic Award Presented During Toledo Show

• AMA Holds Membership Meeting at Joe Nall Fly-In

• Russian Thunder Gets New Owner

• Abuse Shelter Benefits From Club Fun-Fly

• Frequently Asked Questions About AMA's History Program

• Fly-In Fun Funds Good Cause

• 25 Years Ago in MA: August 1983