With our membership campaign going on, now is a great time to bring you a report from Associate Vice President and District Free Flight (FF) Coordinator Bob Sowder about working toward attracting youth to our educational, safe, and fun hobby.
The Virginia-based Brainbusters FF club, the DC Maxecuters, and the Carolina FF Association hold periodic indoor flying sessions and competitions at Highland Springs High School near Richmond, Virginia. The school’s gym has a 30-foot ceiling, which makes it a great place to fly rubber-powered Indoor FF models.
Retired teacher Billy Batkins has a number of students whom he mentors in the school’s Technology Student Association (TSA) program and the Science Olympiad program. It is an approach that helps students succeed in college and in future careers, such as aerospace. These programs offer a hands-on approach to problem-based learning and are a link to the future of model aviation.
Contestants from Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and students from area high schools come together for these indoor flying sessions and the opportunity to compete, share ideas and concepts, and have some fun. Members from the different clubs pitch in and run the events. The students at Highland Springs have won five National TSA Championships for Indoor FF.
Billy noted that an increasing number of students want to be involved every year to learn how to build, fly, and compete in TSA competitions. Competition is an "elixir" that draws kids in. Every year, they have more students who want to be involved, and mentoring these future aviators is so rewarding.
These clubs assist teachers and students alike in building and flying Indoor FF model airplanes. Highland Springs holds periodic sessions for students and interested AMA club members who want to learn how to fly these graceful indoor model airplanes. The clubs are extremely active not only for TSA and STEM development, but also for other forms of Outdoor FF that include AMA events, National Free Flight Society, Society of Antique Modelers, and the Flying Aces Club.
If you have never seen the art, skill, and beauty of an indoor model airplane, I urge you to have a look at the many resources available to get started. The Brainbusters (www.facebook.com/brainbusterffc), the DC Maxecuters (www.dcmaxecuter.org), and the Carolina Area Free Flight Association ([email protected]) are available to help and welcome individuals from all areas of interest.
Go fly and have fun safely.