The AMA District I Outreach Team (ADOT) soared at Sanford Wings and Wheels, which was held at the Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport in Sanford, Maine, on Saturday, August 22, 2026, after another invitation from event sponsor Rich Little of Flight4CF (flight4cf.com) for AMA to participate in the annual event. Associate Vice President (AVP) Doug Thompson directed AMA’s participation in it and submitted much of the content and images in this column.
Airport Manager Allison Navia and her staff provided an outstanding venue, seamlessly integrating our model flight operations with full-scale airport traffic, helicopter rides, and EAA Young Eagles flights.
During ADOT’s dedicated flight window, team members energized the crowd with dynamic RC flight demonstrations. Doug kicked off the show with his giant-scale 3D aircraft, followed by Mark Bolduc’s impressive monster smoking, turbine jet. Bob Radford, Johnny Yassemedis, and Mark also flew high-performance EDF jets and an electric Pitts, along with other affordable RC airplanes. To cap off the RC flight demonstrations, the team buddy-boxed on AeroScout trainer airplanes with more than 15 spectators during a 35-minute window.
On the ground, Fremont RC Flyers volunteers Doug Golina, Charlie Hayes, and Tom Leahy anchored the AMA interactive booth. For more than five hours, the team engaged visitors on RealFlight simulator stations, handed out AMA District I resource flyers, answered spectator questions about aeromodeling, and promoted the value of AMA membership.
With more than 100 classic show cars, trucks, motorcycles, 30 full-scale aircraft, including a 1949 North American T-28 military trainer, helicopter and airplane rides, and awesome food trucks, the event was able to draw a large enthusiastic crowd, which allowed the ADOT members to deliver on their mission to entertain, educate, and engage the public!
Big thanksgo to all of the volunteers from the Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport, Flight4CF, AMA’s ADOT members, and all of the participants from New England, for making the Sanford Wings and Wheels event a smashing success!
