Written by AMA Staff (02/2010); Transcribed by JS (04/2010)
Powell Brown
Powell Brown of Silver City, New Mexico, was awarded $6,300 from the Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship funds. Powell, who graduated from Silver High School with a 3.96 grade point average out of a possible 4.0, was elected the vice president of the Silver Wings Radio Control Aero Modelers in 2006. He serves as a club training instructor, introducing peers to Radio Control. “I believe the most important part of model aviation is sharing with others the knowledge and enjoyment this hobby brings,” Powell wrote. “I have been given so much by other modelers that the only way I can give back is through giving my knowledge to others.”
Powell first discovered modeling as a small child, but it wasn’t until he was older that he began visiting a nearby club where Art Fuerstenberg, Powell’s mentor, took him under his wing and began teaching him to fly Art’s Senior Telemaster.
Powell’s family moved before he had a chance to solo, so he began experimenting with small balsa gliders, stick-and-tissue models, and back yard gliders on his own. He purchased a two-channel park flyer and tried to teach himself to fly. Powell finally soloed a glow-powered airplane during a visit to Art in 2004. The following year, Art gave Powell the Modeltech Magic on which he soloed and a Great Planes SlowPoke.
Powell’s family moved to Silver City and he joined the Silver Wings Radio Control Club. In addition to the Magic and SlowPoke, Powell flies a Goldberg Tiger and is learning to fly helicopters. Among his other interests, Powell has developed an interest in collecting and researching glass insulators and bottles, researching how the telegraphic and power lines helped shape the western movement and industrialization of our country. He has worked part-time as a draftsman, creating accurate CAD drawings of glass piano insulators and writing articles for Crown Jewels of the Wire magazine. In school, Powell participated in Science Olympiad, Supercomputing, and science fairs. He attended the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair in Reno, Nevada, and took several classes at the local college, including pilot ground school.
Powell plans to attend the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and major in mechanical engineering. Best wishes for a successful career and congratulations!
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