Curiosity and creativity were in the air at Tinkerfest! On Friday, September 18, 2026 the Academy of Model Aeronautics team headed to Tinkerfest for School Groups to spend the day talking with students, teachers and homeschool groups about model aviation.
Tinkerfest is a celebration of curiosity and creativity, bringing together interactive, hands-on activities from community exhibitors. Students and families can build, code, experiment, create and, most importantly, get the chance to try things for themselves. Activities at this year’s event included building robots, exploring solar cars, creating sound kits, hands-on coding and even watching pumpkins launch from a giant slingshot!
Our team, made up of Ashton, Gwen and Kyle, brought a few different ways for students to explore the world of model aviation. We had FPV multirotor demonstrations throughout the day, giving students the opportunity to see what these aircraft can do and learn more about how they fly.
We also introduced students to the four forces of flight using the AMA Alpha. This simple model airplane is a great way to take something students may have learned in a classroom and turn it into something they can actually see and experience. Students could learn about lift, weight, thrust and drag while getting a closer look at how those forces work together to keep an aircraft in the air.
We also introduced students to the four forces of flight using the AMA Alpha. This simple model airplane is a great way to take something students may have learned in a classroom and turn it into something they can actually see and experience. Students could learn about lift, weight, thrust and drag while getting a closer look at how those forces work together to keep an aircraft in the air.
Of course, no hands-on event would be complete without something to build! Students had the opportunity to build FPG-9 foam gliders and put their creations to the test. Building and flying a model aircraft gives students a chance to experiment, make adjustments and see the results of their decisions firsthand. Sometimes a small change to a model can make a surprisingly big difference in how it flies.
Along with the activities for students, we also spent the day connecting with educators. We shared educational resources with classroom teachers and homeschool group leaders and talked about ways model aviation can be used to bring STEM concepts into learning environments. Model aircraft and drones can be a great starting point for lessons in science, engineering, mathematics and technology, while also giving students an opportunity to be creative and solve problems.
One of the best parts of events like Tinkerfest is getting to see students become curious about something they may not have encountered before. A drone demonstration can lead to questions about how the aircraft stays in the air. Building a glider can turn into an experiment with wing design. A conversation about model aviation can turn into a new hobby.
We loved spending the day at Tinkerfest and sharing our enthusiasm for model aviation with students and educators. Events like this are a great reminder that learning doesn't always have to happen at a desk. Sometimes, the best way to learn is to build something, try something, ask questions and see what happens next.
