Educational Facility to Be Built at IAC

A conceptualized drawing of the McCullough Educational Facility.

     The AMA is excited to announce that, on April 3, 2009, at the Toledo Weak Signals' 55th annual R/C Expo in Ohio, the Claude McCullough Estate made a donation for the construction of an educational facility. It is to be built at the National Model Aviation Museum, located at the AMA's International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana.
     The addition will be located on the northeast side of the museum building. It will increase the structure's space, providing Academy staff with the opportunity to improve educational programming in a first-rate classroom atmosphere and meet a bigger demand for school visits. This facility will also serve the various needs of AMA members.
     McCullough began aeromodeling as a young boy in 1935, and he entered his first AMA Nats in 1941. Throughout the years, he won many plaques and trophies based on his keen flying ability.
     He wrote articles, had published model airplane plans, and edited for some of the most famous aeromodeling magazines of his time. He also designed and built model airplane parts such as transmitters, receivers, and escapements.
     McCullough served as AMA president from 1957 to 1958, held many other positions with the AMA, and served on several AMA committees. He was inducted into the Model Aviation Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Society of Antique Modelers Hall of Fame in 1991.
     Final designs for the educational facility will be completed by the time you receive this issue of MA, and it is hoped that groundbreaking will take place soon thereafter. The goal is to have the facility completed by the first part of the 2009 school year. Updates will be highlighted on the museum's Web page at www.modelaircraft.org/museum.aspx. 
     The McCullough Estate donated $150,000 to this venture. It is expected that an additional $50,000 will be required to complete the project. If you would like to help fund the remaining costs, please call the AMA at (765) 287-1256, to speak with Michael Smith at extension 500 or Craig Schroeder at extension 263. MA

—Michael Smith
National Model Aviation Museum Director

2009 Flying Site Grant Winners Announced

     This year alone, the Academy has given more than $32,000 to clubs that have participated in the Flying Site Development Improvement Grant Program.
     Even though the money has already been awarded for 2009, you can apply for next year. The 2010 applications have not been completed; please keep checking back for the updated application that will be posted on the Academy's Web site. Applying is easy!
     Congratulations to all clubs that received grant money. To those that did not, we extend our best wishes for a successful 2009 flying season and we hope you apply again next year.
     The winners are as follows. MA

District I
East Coast Swamp Flyers: $520.00

District III
Blennerhassett Area RC Club: $460.00

District V
Scenic RC Flyers: $500.00
Manatee County Radio Controllers: $600.00

District VI
Southeast Missouri Modelers Association: $316.89
Radio Signal Modelers: $200.00
Peoria RC Modelers: $1,570.00

District VII
Kent Radio Aero Modelers Inc.: $450.00
River District RC Eagles: $100.00

District VIII
Central Arkansas Model Aviators Association: $426.47
RC Field and New Orleans Model Aviation Club: $900.00
Spring Area Radio Kontrol Society: $1,640.00
Wings Miniature Aircraft Society: $1,730.00
El Paso Radio Controllers: $3,000.00
Horizon City RC Flyers: $5,000.00

District IX
Laramie Barnstormers: $1,000.00

District X
Woodland Davis Aeromodelers: $5,000.00
Peninsula Channel Commanders: $1,040.00
Harbor Soaring Society: $3,250.00
Chino Valley Model Aviators: $350.00
Corona RC Club, Inc.: $500.00

District XI
Seattle Area Soaring Society: $5,000.00 MA

—Erin Dobbs
Programs Coordinator

Attend the VR/CS Celebration of R/C

    The Vintage R/C Society (VR/CS) is planning a major event for 2009! It will host the Celebration of R/C September 22-26 at the AMAÕs International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana.
     This gathering will draw hundreds of modelers from across the US and Canada. Many activities are planned that will focus on our RC history, to include open flying all five days; flying categories for vintage models; and static displays featuring those vintage models, vintage RC systems, vintage engines, and vintage kit manufacturers.
     Following is the event schedule.

Tuesday September 22:
• Concours judging featuring Pioneer (pre-1955) and Classic models (pre-1965)
Wednesday September 23:
•  Concours judging featuring Nostalgia models (1965-1974)
Thursday September 24:
•  Bus trip to the Air Force museum (Dayton OH)
•  Practice-flying
Friday September 25:
•  Morning—Rudder Only (Class I) International Championships
•  Afternoon—Class II Pattern
Saturday September 26:
•  Morning: Class III Pattern
•  Afternoon: Scale
•  Evening banquet with speaker and special awards
•  Pioneer, Classic, Vintage (pre-1974) Concours awards
•  Pattern awards
•  Scale awards MA

—Bob Noll, VR/CS President
BOBRC@aol.com

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

• Doc Mathews Retires from MA

• 25 Years Ago in MA: July 1984

• Dear Friends Bob and Rae Underwood are Honored

• Wings Across America 2008: A Year Old and Going Strong!