Academy of Model Aeronautics · National Model Aviation Museum
The people, clubs and companies that built model aviation, in their own words.
Search 1,062 biographies of modelers, designers and contest fliers, plus the histories of 62 clubs and 26 companies, preserved by the AMA History Project.
- Histories
- 1,150
- Pages
- 4,653
- Earliest birth
- 1850
The complete index
1–24 of 1,150 entries
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3 pages Company
3D Hobby Shop
Company history
Jay Smith wrote the following, published in the About Us section of Model Aviation magazine, September 2009 issue. About Us: 3D Hobby Shop “Our goal is simple: to be the premier supplier of airframes,” said Ben Fisher—who owns 3D Hobby Shop (3DHS)—during a telephone interview I conducted with him. Some might consider that to be a bold statement.…
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3 pages Company
A2Z Corp.
Company history
Don DeLoach wrote the following, published in the About Us section of Model Aviation magazine, July 2011 issue. About Us: A2Z Corp. “You’re crazy,” responded A2Z Corp. owner Tim Goldstein’s wife, Karen, when he approached her with the news in 2006. “We’ve just bought a major model airplane kit manufacturer – Peck-Polymers,” he said. No doubt that…
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1 page
Julie Abel
Biography
Julie Abel, of Florissant, MO, is at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Bunnel, Florida, where her major is Aviation Maintenance Management. She built her first model airplane in 1973 and in time became an avid competitor. In high school, for a science fair project, she constructed a wind tunnel and developed a full range of experiments that…
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8 pages
Robert F Aberle
1938–2023 · AMA 215
Career: 1950s: Attended all his local and regional Free Flight contests as a teenager 1973: Began writing for Flying Models magazine and became a regular contributor to the magazine. Served first as contributing editor of Flying Models magazine for a while then served as technical editor of Flying Models for 20 years 1975: Began serving on the AMA…
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2 pages Autobiography
Alan Abriss
1952– · AMA 53207
Career: 1959: First built and flew a Guillow’s Neuport 28. 1975: Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography, School of Visual Arts, New York City 1985: Joined Brooklyn Skyscrapers, NYC 1990-2004: Produced videos of National Championships 1998-2001: Editor of Flyoff, Brooklyn Skyscraper’s club newsletter Contest Director for local contests…
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3 pages
Arthur A. (Art) Adamisin
1927–2019 · AMA 427
Career: 1960s-1970s: Stunt competitor Helped coach his sons to success in model competition; his wife and daughter were also involved 1967: Contest director in the Detroit, Michigan area 1968: Co-event director with his wife, Better, at the Nationals (Nats) 1983, 1985, 1987: U.S. FAI Team Trials Event Director 1984: Event director for the FAI F2B…
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4 pages
James E Adams
1921–2003 · AMA 463
Career: Worked for North American until his retirement in 1984; spent some time in the military and some time working for Curtiss Wright Technical Institute as well Attended the first Society of Antique Modelers (SAM) Champs Editor of SAM Speaks for eight years, two of which he was also SAM president 1963/1964: Was one of the original members of…
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3 pages Company
Aeroworks
Since 1994
Jay Smith wrote the following, published in the About Us section of Model Aviation magazine, January 2010 issue. About Us: Aeroworks Aeroworks is known for producing quality models for both sport flying and competition. If you attend the Nats, International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) competitions, 3-D events, or even fun-flys, chances are…
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4 pages Club
Air Youth of America (AYA)
Club history
Air Youth of America By Ernest Gamache, New York City Executive Director of Air Youth of America Those of you who took advantage of the opportunity to go through the NACA labs this morning - and I trust most of you did - must have been deeply impressed with the activity we were privileged to see. I, for one, have no further qualms on the threat of…
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3 pages Company
Airborne Models
Company history
Jay Smith wrote the following, published in the About Us section of Model Aviation magazine, July 2012 issue. About Us: Airborne Models World Models Manufacturing Company has been in existence for more than 15 years and has produced a wide range of aircraft for gas, glow, and electric power. Although the company is headquartered in Hong Kong, its…
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3 pages Club
Airplane Model League of America (AMLA)
Club history
The Airplane Model League of America (AMLA) What do we know about the AMLA? Well, I’ll tell you this - it’s not much. Here, from a variety of sources - from online references to magazine articles to collections in the Museum’s Archives – is what has been gleaned about this very large group that seemed to disappear as quickly as it emerged.…
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13 pages Autobiography
James Alaback
1925–2009 · AMA 4483
Career: 1992-2002: Monthly column in Flying Models Wrote articles for Model Aviation, Engine Collectors Journal, Flying Aces, Air Wars, Model Builder, & Flying Models Aerospace Museum Consultant for San Diego Aerospace Museum One of the Founders of Model Engine Collectors Association (MECA) Assisted in forming Society of Antique Modelers (SAM)…
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2 pages
Peter Albin
Biography
Peter Albin Professional musician with Big Brother and the Holding Company by Jay Smith Jay Smith: How did you become involved with model aviation? Peter Albin: My older brother was a major influence by letting me see how he built and flew a U-Control [Control Line] model, powered by a Fox .35 in the early 1950s. He also designed and built model…
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6 pages Autobiography
Jack Albrecht
1926–2024 · AMA L2063
Career: 26 years in the Military Service 20 years worked in Hobby Industry, for Kraft & Airtronics Member of the AMA Frequency Committee Honors: 1975: Hall of Fame, D.C.R.C Club Award 1992: AMA Distinguished Service Award 1997: Vintage Radio Controlled Society Hall of Fame 1997: Howard McEntee Award 1998: Model Aviation Hall of Fame The chair of…
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4 pages Autobiography
John Stewart Alcorn
1932–
Career: Won Best Aircraft Award for model of DeHavilland DH9A model at the EMPSIUSA Nationals Built model of Wedell-Williams#44 for Smithsonian’s Exhibit, On Miniature Wings 1993: Wrote book entitled Scratch Built!: A Celebration of the Static Scale Airplane Modeler's Craft, published by Schiffer 1999: Collaborated and edited book called The…
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4 pages
Lt. Harold W. Alden
1897–1951
Career/Honors: Served as an assistant to Mr. Enyart in the operation of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA)/American Academy of Model Aeronautics (AAMA) 1975: Model Aviation Hall of Fame 1979: National Free Flight Society Hall of Fame 1996: Society of Antique Modelers Hall of Fame The following biography was taken from an article written…
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6 pages
George Aldrich
1932–2001 · AMA L47
Video link: One of the National Model Aviation Museum’s special Fly By report, Nobler, is on YouTube here. “In this episode of Fly By, Claire discusses the one of the most popular Control Line Precision Aerobatics models of its time and how its owner used it to become one of the more successful CL Stunt Pilots.” – Published on YouTube by the…
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2 pages Autobiography
Stan Alexander
Autobiography
Stan Alexander Nashville, Tennessee, has been my home for almost my entire life. I started flying model airplanes at about the age of 8. Most of my early efforts were Sterling kits; some were Scale and others were Stunt models. I got involved in Boy Scouts, and really learned to fly CL with a Cox PT-19 at the church where the troop met in the Una…
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6 pages
Richard C. Allen
1928–2020 · AMA 9174
Career: 1951: Started flying Radio Control 1953: Tied with Walt Good for third place in Radio Control at his first Nationals meet First president and founding father of the Aeroguidance Society (AGS) Designed model airplanes including the Lancer (with Ralph Jackson), the Stark Shark, Junkers J-10 Tin Donkey, the Mini MAX 1200Z and the Miles…
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2 pages
Richard P. Allison
1945–2012
After retiring from Pattern in 2003, Rick took up Big Birds and Scale, flying last at the 2011 Huckfest, in Wenatchee, WA. Rick became involved with the local RC club as a leader and newsletter editor, beginning his modeling writing career. Rick’s first nationally published articles were in the NSRCA newsletter, the K-Factor, as District 8 VP in…
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3 pages Autobiography
James H. Alvis Sr.
1929– · AMA 472960
Information submitted by JHA (3/2003); partially written & Edited by SS (3/2003), updated by JS (11/2007) Career: November 13, 1953: Received his private pilot’s license Pieced together a good Free Flight model using parts from various other planes Served as the Mid-Mississippi Radio Control club’s safety officer from 1994 to 1996 and president…
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2 pages Autobiography
David P. Andersen
1940– · AMA 16331
Career: 1962-: Active member of the Twin City Radio Controllers; has served as president and vice president First Minnesota pilot to qualify for the League of Silent Flight (182nd worldwide) Co-founder and original performer in the Blue Eagles air show team Co-founder of the Scale Flyers of Minnesota Current secretary and newsletter editor of the…
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6 pages
Donald W. Anderson
Biography
Don Anderson began modeling in 1969 while attending the University of Illinois, where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. He began working toward his MBA and decided to go into the wholesale Radio Control business. Don founded Great Planes Model Distributors, which bought products from Radio Control manufacturers and resold them…
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8 pages
Mel Anderson
1902–1986 · AMA 176458
Career: 1919: Designed his first motor at age 17; it was the first front rotor valve induction motor 1931: Made his first gas engine 1935: Worked with Bill Atwood for Major C. C. Moseley to help design and manufacture the popular Baby Cyclone engine 1936: Built and flew the first model airplane powered by two gasoline engines 1938: Set a world…