Help Our Cause
F3J Junior Team donations can be mailed:
AMA F3J Junior Team USA
Attn: Colleen Pierce FAI Coordinator
5161 E Memorial Dr.
Muncie, IN 47302
VISA, MC or Discover via telephone:
765-287-1256 x 252 Colleen Pierce
PayPal payment can be made to craigs@modelaircraft.org.
Please be sure to identify “F3J Junior Team”.
About Team USA Juniors
Sharing Education through Firsthand Experiences
The 2024 TEAM USA Juniors is composed of (L-R) Anna, Charleston, Ben, John, and Luke. They have been working in the field, training on all aspects of RC Soaring flight. The sport encompasses many disciplines including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Radio Programming, Meteorology, Micro-Meteorology, Team Building, and Time Management.
About the Senior Team
The 2024 TEAM USA Seniors is composed of Neal, Jody, Dillon, Dave, and Senior Team Manager Gordan Buckland. They boast decades of experience in all aspects of RC Soaring flight.
Visit teamusaf3j.com and modelaircraft.org
for more information and for merchandise.
Pictured are (L-R) Juniors Anna, Charleston, Ben, John, and Luke, and Seniors Dillon, Neal, and Jody (missing are Dave and Gordan).
Shared Expertise
The United States of America, in cooperation with the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), has assembled a team of youth pilots, their helpers, and a bevy of volunteer supporters. TEAM USA is preparing to compete in the 2024 F3J World Championships, organized by the Norwegian Air Sports Federation, in a
FÉDÉRATION AÉRONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALE-sanctioned event.
Meet the Team
Anna
Charleston
Anna
Anna is a 17-year-old Private Glider Pilot who added RC Soaring to her repertoire in 2023. Anna competes in the Eastern Soaring League contests, flying an old Aspire that the ESL Quartermaster Steve Lucke (pictured to her left) donated to her. "One with the machine" is the best way to describe Anna’s skills, as she cores
lift and precisely
Anna is a 17-year-old Private Glider Pilot who added RC Soaring to her repertoire in 2023. Anna competes in the Eastern Soaring League contests, flying an old Aspire that the ESL Quartermaster Steve Lucke (pictured to her left) donated to her. "One with the machine" is the best way to describe Anna’s skills, as she cores
lift and precisely executes her planned approaches. A part-time employee and full-time high schooler, Anna is dedicated to her responsibilities, as she aspires to be a professional pilot.
Luke
Charleston
Anna
Luke (pictured on the left) is a 16-year-old sophomore in high school and majors in HVAC at the Carbon Career and Technical Institute. He's possessed a fascination with aviation since he was very young and has always had a passion for the aeronautical sciences. Luke has been an EAA Young Eagle for the past
six years and a member of the Ac
Luke (pictured on the left) is a 16-year-old sophomore in high school and majors in HVAC at the Carbon Career and Technical Institute. He's possessed a fascination with aviation since he was very young and has always had a passion for the aeronautical sciences. Luke has been an EAA Young Eagle for the past
six years and a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). Luke has logged many hours building a Mini Max Aircraft under the direction of John Cronin with the Pegasus EAA 839 Kids Building Plans group. Along with RC glider competitions, Luke also spends his time flying full-scale gliders as a member of the Beltzville Soaring Club, Beltzville Airport, Carbon County, PA. At age fourteen, Luke soloed in a full-scale glider earning him an FAA Student Airman status, and is now working at becoming licensed, with plans to continue his training
to achieve private pilot status and beyond. Luke was recently awarded a place on Team USA at the F3J RC Team Selection Competition in Virginia. As a member of the United States of America F3J
Soaring Team, Luke will be representing the USA in Norway in July 2024.
Charleston
Charleston
Charleston
Charleston is 17 years old and has been flying Radio Controlled Sailplanes for seven years. Charleston has competed in the LSF National Contests in Muncie, Indiana, twice in the F3K and TD classes, winning the National Championship for Junior F3K twice. Charleston was introduced to F3J soaring in 2018 and competed as a member of Team USA
Charleston is 17 years old and has been flying Radio Controlled Sailplanes for seven years. Charleston has competed in the LSF National Contests in Muncie, Indiana, twice in the F3K and TD classes, winning the National Championship for Junior F3K twice. Charleston was introduced to F3J soaring in 2018 and competed as a member of Team USA at the World Championship in Romania. He is an excellent pilot. In 2022 he also scored well for TEAM USA in Slovakia, helping the USA Junior Team achieve gold while attaining 2nd place for the Individual Silver medal. Charleston will be competing for the third time for his country in Norway and will be a great asset for the USA Junior Team. He is very proud to represent the USA at the 2024 World Championships.
John
John
Charleston
John is a 15-year-old Junior F3J pilot. This man and his machine are in sync with Mother Nature. After school, John can be found coring late-day lift in the Northeastern US with his brothers, David and Joey. They are artists in motion.
In 2021 and 2023 John won the junior nationals in Muncie, Indiana, offering some decent competition to
John is a 15-year-old Junior F3J pilot. This man and his machine are in sync with Mother Nature. After school, John can be found coring late-day lift in the Northeastern US with his brothers, David and Joey. They are artists in motion.
In 2021 and 2023 John won the junior nationals in Muncie, Indiana, offering some decent competition to the seniors. The junior field was sparse to non-existent, a reality John has worked hard to correct. John has fun flying, and his enthusiasm is contagious. John, his brother David, and his neighbor Chris have taught several of John’s friends to fly RC and build a junior program.
The F3J World Championship Competition is a big opportunity for John to help Team USA defend the title and bring home another team championship. John is honored to represent the USA in Norway and hopes his enthusiastic participation encourages more young pilots to pick up the sport and join an F3J team. John is honored to represent the USA.
Ben
John
Sean
Ben is a 17-year-old from Eastern Pennsylvania who started flying Radio-Controlled Sailplanes in 2023.
Ben is a drone pilot and was recruited to fly for the F3J Junior team. He competes in the Eastern Soaring League contests (www.FlyESL.org). Ben hopes to get into Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
When Ben isn’t flying RC, he's involv
Ben is a 17-year-old from Eastern Pennsylvania who started flying Radio-Controlled Sailplanes in 2023.
Ben is a drone pilot and was recruited to fly for the F3J Junior team. He competes in the Eastern Soaring League contests (www.FlyESL.org). Ben hopes to get into Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
When Ben isn’t flying RC, he's involved in various electronic repair projects, and can be found hanging out with his friends on his high school’s fitness team. Ben is employed part-time and is interested in obtaining a career in the field of aeronautical engineering.
The F3J World Championship Team experience has already helped him learn more about aircraft design, control programming, and time management. Flying radio-controlled sailplanes has provided Ben the opportunity to meet several ESL pilots who work in the aerospace industry, including some who work at NASA. Ben is excited to be representing Team USA at the 2024 F3J World Championships in Norway.
Sean
John
Sean
Sean is now 19 years old, and is returning as the Junior World Champion after taking the Gold medal at the 2022 World Championships in Slovakia.
The FAI personally invites the returning world champion with the opportunity to retain their title, and Sean is eager to accept the opportunity.
The F3J Junior Team is proud to have a seasoned com
Sean is now 19 years old, and is returning as the Junior World Champion after taking the Gold medal at the 2022 World Championships in Slovakia.
The FAI personally invites the returning world champion with the opportunity to retain their title, and Sean is eager to accept the opportunity.
The F3J Junior Team is proud to have a seasoned competitor like Sean to help these juniors retain the title.
The AMA graciously supports the returning world champion as part of the F3J Junior Team and will provide Sean with funds to help ease the cost of representing Team USA.