With the help of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) University Model Aviation Student Club, 27 middle school students from China made a stop in the Wildcat Field House on the Utica campus of SUNY Poly July 23 to learn flying basics.

The CNY Drones developed program, known as Experience FPV, gives participants the opportunity to fly Tiny Whoop class drones using First Person View (FPV) goggles and flight controllers. Ten SUNY AMA and CNY Drones volunteers were on hand to guide the students using flight simulators and micro-drones inside the Field House.

The visiting students are part of the Bright Visions Education Groups’ traveling Summer Camp. In addition to their stop at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, the group visited other area locations including the Herkimer Diamond Mines, Wonderworks and the MOST Museum and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse. Bright Vision Education Group provides English as a Second Language (ESL) education in Shandong Province, China.

Organizers from CNY Drones say the hope is to continue working with Bright Vision Education Group to supply regularly scheduled summer and winter STEM events as the students travel through the Northeast.

As New York’s first AMA Model Aviation Student Clubs, both SUNY AMA and CNY Drones reach out to students and adults in Central New York with interactive exhibits, introductory drone programs, race events and an annual STEM-based Team Drone Competition hosted at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Programs costs are kept low through donations and pooled efforts of volunteers and mentors. The pairing of both groups brings the public on to the SUNY Poly Utica campus and gives college students an opportunity to volunteer in the local community helping potential future students.

SUNY AMA is one of three new student clubs based in the Center for Global Advanced Manufacturing that partners with community groups. The 3D Printing Club and the Fabrication Club share members with SUNY AMA and work together on projects of similar interest. CNY Drones is a not-for-profit community group that provides a bridge to the regional drone technology education and employment pipeline through fun, interactive activities.

To learn more about CNY Drones and SUNY AMA, visit the CNY Drones information hub at: www.CNYDrones.org.