AMA at NAS Oceana Air Show

Debbie's RC World's AMA area received a huge amount of attention from
thousands of potential AMA members. Eric Modlin photo.

      AMA's exposure and presence at the 50th Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show would not have been possible had it not been for the time and effort put forth by the Debbie's RC World hobby store in Chesapeake, Virginia.

     Chuck Doud, director of marketing and development for Debbie's RC World, came up with the idea of having AMA representation at the air show. After reading an article by an AMA official who was voicing his concerns about membership and new ways of increasing it within the association, Chuck thought of the NAS Oceana show. He saw it as a prime location, where traffic would be attentive, to boost AMA awareness. The show took place September 19-21, 2008.

     Chuck contacted a good friend of his, the director of the NAS Oceana Air Show, retired Cmdr. "Corky" Erie, and asked him about the chances of having an AMA static display area at the show. Corky informed Chuck that a spot at this event would cost approximately $8,000 for the 50-foot-square area he wanted. But Corky knew that Chuck had the best intentions and worked out a deal with him.

     "Do me a favor," said Corky. "Get me a wish list of what you want to do there, throw together a proposal, and get it to me ASAP. I'll shoot it to the powers that be and we'll see what we can do."

     After six months of phone calls, E-mails, and letters, Chuck made his appeal to the US Navy. With an endorsement from AMA President Dave Mathewson to push the idea along, the Academy of Model Aeronautics was granted a spot at Oceana, free of charge!

     "This shows how, with our support, our clubs and members can be our best resource to promote model aviation and our organization," said Mathewson.

     To read more about the success of this aeromodeling promotion, go to www.debbiesrcworld.com/oceana.pdf.  Debbie's RC World and Dave Mathewson thank the following for all their help in making AMA a part of this event, which brought in more than 260,000 visitors.

AMA
Horizon Hobby
Hobbico
Members of the Tidewater RC club, including the Modlin family, Karl Blumenberg, Steve Peckham, Andy Hellman, Roger Spoor, Scott Vickery, Pert Asiatico, Mark Ward, Mike Purcell, Joe Scarlet, and Jim Stanton
Justin Wray
US Navy
Cmdr. Corky Erie
RC Universe
Hangar 9
RealFlight G4
FS One Simulators
Honda Generators MA

Tidewater Radio Control club (Chesapeake VA) member Mike Purcell gives
the kids some stick time and explains how RC works. Modlin photo.

—Ashley Rauen
AMA Communications Specialist

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