President's Perspective

AMA President Bob Brown	Model Aviation can now be viewed on your tablet device! That’s right, you can now download the magazine on your Android tablet or Apple iPad. The Publications staff has worked hard to make this available and the first download is free for a limited time. You’ll find your favorite features, reviews, columns, and more. More? The Model Aviation app contains bonus videos, interactive features, and slideshows. For example, embedded in the Globe/TEMCO Swift review on your tablet is a build and flight video. It’s only a touch away! Learn more about how to download the app at www.Modelaviation.com/digital. While you’re there, read about all the other exciting things going on, including the up-to-date collection of Model Aviation magazine, known as “The Library,” going back to 1975. Let us know what you think!
I want to recognize the annual River City Radio Controllers (RCRC) Wings for Kids Air Show in the Louisville, Kentucky, area. This annual air show—the 14th one was held this year on June 2 and 3—raises funds for the nearby Kosair Children’s Hospital. Tim Evans, co-air boss for the event, sent me the following letter, thanking me for attending this year’s event and sharing more about the club and the wonderful people who help put it together. “I want to take the opportunity to again thank you for coming to our Wings for Kids Air Show. I know it meant a great deal to the River City Radio Controllers to have someone from the leadership at AMA attend our event. Your attendance helped us understand and believe that the AMA supports model aviation visions beyond competitions. “I believe that RCRC will continue to explore ways to grow our service to Kosair Children’s Hospital and the community as a whole. We have a core of club leaders and committed members and guest pilots who believe the hobby transcends flying model aircraft. It allows us to reach out to our community through aviation to teach and to serve. “Wings for Kids has also helped us to build a vibrant Monday night flight training program and reach out to other groups including schools, churches, and Scouting. My hope is that we will be able to continue to grow major corporate relationships with companies outside of the hobby. In the last year we have added Kohl’s Department Stores and Best Buy. Both provide volunteers to our event as well as generous donations to the hospital. “We also need to recognize Futaba for its unwavering commitment to our cause. The Futaba team of pilots continues to show their unselfish care to provide the best in model aviation through their flying as well as gifts to the hospital. The pilots this year included Will Berninger, John Boyko, Mike Barbee, Jerry Smith, and Mark Trent. Jeremy Arvin and Robert Belloumini also helped us this year. I believe it was their first time at Wings for Kids and we are grateful for their kind participation. “These men and their families give up one long weekend a year to help raise money and hope for families they will never know. An anonymous author once wrote that ‘a man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.’ The Futaba team of pilots has never wavered in their support of our dream and vision and we would have no show without them. Their guidance also provides a platform that helps us to continue to improve the mission. “Heading the Futaba effort for Wings for Kids is Greg Poppel. Greg has captured our vision and is one of the great promoters and supporters of our event. Greg has supported Wings for Kids as master of ceremonies for many years. His service however, goes well beyond his gifted knowledge and wit. Greg helps our club by providing direction, encouragement, pilots, and an understanding that that our hobby can be used to promote more than our own building and flying skills. Greg truly understands all that model aviation is and can be. RCRC is grateful for much more than a show announcer. “RCRC is a club with a vision and mission to serve our community. Our hope is that the AMA will make this a more important part of its mission and vision and bring it to the same level of stature as competition. I have served as a flight judge for the US Scale Nationals and the Scale Masters and enjoyed serving in competition in our hobby. I have always enjoyed the hobby more when participating in Wings for Kids!” I want to add my own thanks to all who helped support this great event—the River City Radio Controllers, Futaba and its team of pilots, Greg Poppel, Tim, and all who participated. Suggested donations are $3 per person or $10 per carload. All of the profits go to the Kosair Children’s Hospital. MA Bob Brown AMA Executive Vice President [email protected] Back To This Month's Issue of Model Aviation