DEMAJAGUA R/C FLYING CLUB

December 12, 1998

Dear AMA:

I received the check you sent, the boys in the program were very happy. We
I am sending you a copy of one of the newspapers the high school puts out.
Anyway the program is going along very well. Since school started in August
Two weeks ago we flew the Sig LT 40 and it flew great. The Friday after
Yesterday we flew the Swizzle Stick with the new wing. It flew great. Both
I am going to try and get your some photos both in the class room and flying
Once again I would like to thank the AMA for the support they have given us
Wishing the entire AMA staff a Merry Christmas I remain.

Joseph Micalizzi

January 8, 1999

Dear AMA:

Well Christmas break is just about over and we will be back to school on
This past Monday I took a group of the students out to fly, along with the
I also found out that quite a few students got model airplanes for
The only big problem I have is with the school busing the students to the
Incidentally we have ordered some new kits to build. We keep getting new
In any case I would like to thank the AMA for all the help it has given us
Sincerely,

Joseph Micalizzi

February 24, 1999

Dear AMA:

You haven't heard from me lately because I have been quite busy with the
I am sending you a few photos so you can see for yourself what we
As you know it takes money to keep any program going and since money is not
I have been flying model airplanes since I was seven years old. But I have
Some of the first year program (1997) students are now instructors both in
I am sure that there are many modelers out that have the ability to get
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the AMA for the assistance
Once again thank you for your help, I remain.

Sincerely,

Joseph Micalizzi

May 25, 1999

Dear AMA:

Well the school year is winding down, in a way I am glad because I sure can
However when I look back to the beginning I can appreciate how much these
The school year at Roosevelt Roads High School will be over on June 3.
I don't know if I will continue with the program next year. For me it is
Although there is no financial gain to me with this program it does have its
One of my goals with this program has been trying to get other clubs here in
Well I hope this brings you up to date with our modeling aviation program
Sincerely,

Joseph Micalizzi will put it to good use.
When the interviewees came to the class room most of the students had left, but the remaining students provided the information they needed for the article. When it finally came out the kids who had left early were disappointed that they didn't appear in the picture.
the boys have built a Sig LT 40, a glider, a new wing for the Swizzle Stick we build last year (with ailerons). Now we are finishing a model of the Cheetah (scratch built) from Model Airplane News plans and this Tuesday (12/8/98) we started building a Great Planes Kaos 40.
Thanksgiving we flew the glider. We only flew it once, the time of the flight was one hour and thirty eight minutes. We landed it because the student flying it was getting tired. After the model landed the students started jumping up and down he was so happy.
the boys and the base commander are very pleased with the program. I have to admit it is a lot of work for me. On Tuesday and Thursday we build in our class room and on Fridays we fly our planes. Some of the students from last years class are helping me with the teaching, both building and flying.
at the field.
with this program. If you need anything in regard to the program let me know.
Monday January 11. However even though we didn't have school we did get to bring the students out to fly. I am amazed at how quickly the boys have learned to build and fly model airplanes.
school students one of our club members came out with a biplane. As it turned out I spent more time with our club member than I did with the students. However I turned the instructions over to one of our older students and he did a great job teaching the other students. This give you an idea how much these kids have learned.
Christmas. That means we will be building a lot of models before the school year is out in June.
flying site after school on Fridays. According to the Department of the Navy they cannot spend the money for the gas to get these kids to the flying site. I told the person that turned me down that I was doing this program by myself three times a week and wasn't asking for any kind of funding for myself. I also told him that I thought it was unfair to the kids and to me to have me drive them to the flying site. I felt that if an accident occurred neither the kids or myself would be protected since we are on a military base. Perhaps you can write something in regard to the advantages of modeling for kids and send me a copy so I can give it tot the base commander?
members in the program. Perhaps you could send me some more material regarding to the program and another box of Delta Darts? All new students must build two Delta Darts. The first one never comes out right but the second ones are usually winners.
with this program and for the help you are giving other school programs. As for myself I find the program very rewarding and would like to see more modelers get involved with school programs. We have too many delinquent kids out there and we should do what ever we can to get them into modeling.
student program. We keep getting new students each week. Working alone makes it very hard for me. However the class is doing very well and the students are really happy with their progress.
are doing.
readily available we have to do with what we have. One day while shopping at the supermarket with my wife I saw some fruit boxes that were empty. The wood in the boxes was similar to the lite ply that comes in most of the kits. Since we were going to build a twin model of an old Balsa USA Swizzle Stick I decided to take a couple of the crates home with me. (The enclosed photos show what we did with one of the crates). Remember that most of the models we make in the class room are scratch built. The reason we do so much scratch built is (1) it is cheaper and (2) it gives the students an opportunity to cut and fit the pieces correctly. If they stay in modeling it will be much easier for them to build kits and ARFs when they leave the program.
got more gratification from teaching school kids than I ever got from adults (nothing against adults). But it seems that the kids really absorb what they are taught. The nice thing about my kids is that once they learn something they are eager to show someone else how to do it.
building and flying. For me it is very gratifying to see the kids I have taught teach someone else. When I first started the school program a friend of mine asked me if I was getting paid for the program. When I told him it was a free program he told me he wouldn't do it for free. If he only knew how many times I have been paid by watching these students progress and teach the skills they have learned to someone else.
young kids (both boys and girls) involved in model aviation. We must do all we can to get these modelers start youth programs. The purpose is not only to save model aviation but UNDERLINE to save the kids UNDERLINE.
they have given me to get this program going but also thank them for dropping the junior membership to $1.00 and a special thanks to Bob Underwood for getting the YES program off the ground. I would also like to add that the school where this program is considering making model aviation a regular part of their school program. Now you tell me if this program is working or not?
use the rest. But on the other hand it will be sad because some of my best students will be moving to the states (because their parents are in the military and their tour is up here in Puerto Rico) and some of them will be graduating.
students have advanced. When we started the program (with the help of the AMA) they were building Delta Darts and making gliders out of styrofoam cartons. Now they are building a Great Planes F-14. All of them can take off and land. Three are building and flying instructors. Unfortunately the three of them will be leaving. One to attend college and two will be going to the states. On the bright side I know that they will be taking what they have learned with them and eventually will pass it on to others.
However my wife and I are planning to take all the kids out flying and have a barbeque on Memorial Day which is on a Monday and there is no school. We will also be inviting the two mothers of the students who were so helpful with bringing the boys back and forth to the flying sites on Fridays. I thought of it too late or else I would have ordered some wings for them. In any case we will be giving them a certificate for their achievements.
quite a job. Three days a week goes to school plus flying on Sunday. In any case I would like to know if funding will be available for next year if I decide to continue?
rewards. When I came back from Top Gun 1999 the art teacher whose class room we use for our model aviation class congratulated me with the work I was doing with the kids. He told me that one of my students who has been in his art class did a complete turn around since he got involved with our program. He told me that the students (1) grades went up (2) he decided to go to college and (3) he decided to join the Navy after he graduates college because he wants to be a pilot. Now tell me has the program been successful?
Puerto Rico involved in school programs. So far that hasn't worked out too well. I must say it is not easy. It takes a lot of time and dedication. But if someone doesn't make an effort to keep our hobby going it will be sad. Too often I see new modelers come down to the field with equipment that they are not ready for. It's only a matter of time before we lose the potential modelers forever.
here in Puerto Rico.

Models built with fruit crate.

Martin and Rodriguez working on PT 40. Note fuselage of Twin Swizzle Stick.

Chris, Rygel and David Hodges working on scratch built model from Model Airplane News plans.

Andrew Esrtalla and Anthony Martin.

Fruit crate.

Andrew Estralla sanding wing of Twin Swizzle Stick.

Jesse, Dwain and Jim Stark building wing for PT 40.

Fruit crate.

The group and planes.