Written and submitted by ES (2015); Reformatted and edited by JS (02/2015)
This Brunswick Area Modelers History was written by Edward Schmidt and submitted to the History Project in February of 2015.
AMA
2235
Brunswick Area Modelers
Brunswick Area Modelers (BAM, bamrc.org) has been an Academy of Model Aeronautics (modelaircraft.org) chartered-club since the late 1960s (#2235), a club of approximately 50 members from the Mid Coast Maine area. Although our primary interest is radio controlled sport flying including helicopters and multi-rotor, we also fly control-line, free flight, and indoor rubber powered aircraft. We welcome the public with aviation interests in participating. Monthly meetings are held on 7 pm the first Tuesday of month at Pejepscot Terrace meeting hall.
We maintain liability insurance protection for members and landowners through Academy of Model Aeronautics membership. Over the years, we participated in static booth displays at the State of Maine Airshows; in the very early years, we also made flight demonstrations at BNAS. Several Boy Scout Jamborees, camp and Wings Over Wiscasset aviation instruction events have been supported. We have sponsored indoor “contests” at the Brunswick Recreation Center for youngsters. We can provide simple Delta Dart airplanes for anyone to use. Several members “acted” for the national AMA promotional video, “All Because of Model Airplanes.” We also customarily provide flight demonstrations before crowds of more than 5000 annually at Owls Head Transportation Museum, Wings Over Wiscasset, Maine Jet Rally, and Skystreakers Open House events. A few of our contests regularly attract participants from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New York. Paul Johnson provides - and habitually supervises – youngsters’ and adults’ “construction” of more than 500 FPG-9s (foam plate gliders) yearly at these events. Brunswick Area Modelers Instructors endorse pilot flight competency categories in Power Pilot, Glider Pilot, Park Flyer, Control-Line, Helicopter, Multi-Rotor, and Instructor designations. Members regularly review safety protocols. Show and Tell sessions are a traditional portion of our meetings. With honor and dignity, BAM assists survivors in disposing of both former member and public model estates. The club is incorporated by the State of Maine. We pay taxes to the Town of Topsham. We make charity endowment contributions to the AMA in honor of special members. We have held fundraisers for Special Olympics and Independence Association.
The Brunswick Area Modelers proudly acknowledge the model aircraft accomplishments of our past, present and future members. These notables are not limited to: J. Armstrong, R. Benjamin, R. Bortosch, N. Burhans, W. Coffman, D. Conners, A. Dedekian, J. Frothingham, A, Gardiner, W. Goehegan, J. Hampton, B. Johns, G. Light, K. MacDonald, W. Owen, K. and K. Priddle, R. Rowland, J. Seredynski, T. Stinson, E. Strout, T. Toutant, P. Veatch… In 1991, seven members founded Downeast Soaring Club as a separate AMA club in all types of non-powered flying. They continue to share our flying site and have designated priority weekly. They have hosted international symposia focused on education about technical aspects of soaring and innovative composite construction. Together, we have managed glider tow-launch events.
Most recently, Brunswick Area Modelers adopted a rating in multi-rotor flight. They believe their multi-rotor instructor is uniquely qualified to assist anyone seriously interested in safe and responsible First Person View operations. The club welcomes visiting AMA members to share our site, is open to anyone to join on a trial basis, and maintains a modest dues structure.
Edward (Sandy) Schmidt, Sec-Treasurer, BAM February 3, 2015
This page is a text transcription of the original document, made automatically and may contain errors. .