Hello District VII members. It is amazing how quickly the flying season is coming to an end. I hope you have made many flights and have shared the happiness of our hobby with others. Visiting so many District VII members brings me such happiness. It is you who makes me enjoy being your representative. I enjoy having conversations with you, learning from you, and listening to your concerns.
This month, rather than discussing events that I have attended since my last writing, I want to recognize a couple of members for their efforts, contributions, and as members supporting members.
The AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame Award has been honoring AMA members since 1969. This award recognizes aeromodelers whose contributions to model aviation throughout the years have been outstanding, improving the sport/hobby and increasing its prestige and stature. Members are nominated by family and friends, and the nominations are evaluated by AMA.
The 2025 class recipients included District VII member David Andersen. David is an active competitor at the U.S. Scale Masters and AMA Nats and has even had models on display and won awards at the Toledo R/C Swap Meet & Expo. Not only did David compete himself, but his award-winning designs have been used by other modelers. David’s Scale airplane designs have appeared in numerous publications, including R/C Modeler, Model Aviation, and Model Fly(a Norwegian publication).
David has other notable accomplishments outside of modeling; among them is the design of the air traffic control suite computer workstations for the nuclear aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush(CVN 77).
My immense joy was presenting David with the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame award during the Northern Alliance Military Fly In, held in Owatonna, Minnesota. It was an incredible event. (More to come about the fly-in in a future column.)
Another award had the honor of presenting this summer was the AMA Superior Service Award. It recognizes individuals who have provided long-term service and have demonstrated high levels of contributions to the model aviation community.
Leon Corey, through his life’s commitment to the modeling hobby, is well deserving of this award. He was a founding member of the Calumet Flyers RC club back in the early 1970s. Leon has held every office within the club and has donated much of his time toward club activities and promotion. Although he does not often fly his models, you can find him maintaining the beautiful flying site and mowing the facility twice a week, every week.
Again, one of the joys I have with being your District VII vice president is helping recognize members in the district. Thank you to Tom Porod and the Calumet Flyers for bringing Leon’s passion and contributions to light. To see Leon’s surprise and appreciation was heartwarming. Thank you, Leon, for all you have done throughout the years.
To those in District VII, although I might be unable to reach out individually to all of you, I thank you and appreciate very much all that you do in sharing the joys of this hobby. I also want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.