In 2025, AMA successfully distributed more than 7,000 federally funded drone kits to Scouting America, the Civil Air Patrol, schools, AMA clubs, and others to introduce thousands of students to model aviation and STEM concepts. The District I Outreach Team (ADOT) not only provided hundreds of kits to clubs and teachers but also helped with drone building and flying lessons.
The following report comes from Associate Vice President (AVP) Kevin Ryan.
Breanne Aflague, a chemistry and engineering teacher and STEAM club advisor at Bourne High School in Bourne, Massachusetts, applied for and received Pitsco Education Drone Maker Kits from AMA.
On December 8, 2025, Otis Model Airplane Club (OMAC) President Ken Luckraft; Frank Aflague, an RC flight instructor and the proud father of Breanne; and I assisted the teacher and students in this kit build-and-fly STEM program.
A total of 30 students were first educated on FAA Know Before You Fly Drone/UAS regulations, including The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) certification and UAS/drone registration. The students received drone aerodynamic design and function considerations for building their kits and were aided in the kit-building process, battery charging, and flight control systems. The students built an obstacle course in the gym and had a great time while learning to control the flight path of their drones.
Breanne told us that the students flew and modified their drones for the rest of the week, and many asked for drones for Christmas. Two students said that they’re now serious about careers in aviation.
The next steps include an invitation for the students to observe the club’s indoor flying on Saturday evenings in January and a visit to OMAC’s flying site in the spring for an introduction to fixed-wing RC flying.
Thanks to Kevin, Ken, Frank, OMAC, and, especially, Breanne, for partnering with AMA to achieve such a successful STEM experience for the students and future aviators.
