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AMA History Project

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.

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Histories
1,150
Pages
4,653
Earliest birth
1850

People under J

1–24 of 31 entries ·

  1. First page of Jay N Jackson
    2 pages

    Jay N Jackson

    1924– · AMA 827

    Career: Late 1920s: Started competing in the late 1930s Placed well in every contest he has entered – many time being the overall high point competitor at local and regional meets Competed in many regional events including the Southwest Regionals, Taft Memorial Day, Lost Hill and Max Men Designer of many Free Flight models including the Top Banana…
  2. First page of Ralph N. Jackson
    2 pages

    Ralph N. Jackson

    1923–2011 · AMA 7262

    Career: 1950-1984: Mechanical engineer for IBM Corporation A founding member of Aeroguidance Society, Inc. Served as judge of Aeroguidance Society’s Pattern Contest for 40 years Editor of Aeroguidance Society club newsletter, The Connector, from February 1972 to September 1978 and November 1994 to August 1995 President and Secretary of…
  3. First page of Richard E. Jackson
    1 page Autobiography

    Richard E. Jackson

    1944–

    Richard E. Jackson, Associate VP for South Carolina I started modeling in the early 1950s. I first flew a radio-controlled deBolt Trainer with a Babcock radio in 1958. Between 1963 and 1967, I served in the U.S. Air Force. While in the Air Force, I flew Free Flight, Control Line, and Radio Control models. At Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, I flew my…
  4. First page of Alfred Jacobson
    2 pages

    Alfred Jacobson

    1919–1992 · AMA 83802

    Career: c. late 1930s: Joined the AMA when in high school An organizer of the Washington Crossing Free Flight Club Owned and operated a small hobby store in Trenton NJ Competed in many AMA meets He also served as a contest director at local meets while his wife, Ginny, assisted in score keeping and other behind-the-scenes duties Alfred R Jacobson…
  5. First page of Gail Jacobson
    2 pages Autobiography

    Gail Jacobson

    1924–

    Making a resume of my modeling experiences sounds easy enough, but remembering back 65 or 70 years is not! At about age 10, I learned to make a model airplane, power it with a rubber band, wing up the propeller, and throw it. My dad took me to a Jimmy Allen contest; I took my airplane. Although I had never flown it, I made a stab at it, and of…
  6. First page of Dennis M. (Mr. Penny Plane) Jaecks
    2 pages

    Dennis M. (Mr. Penny Plane) Jaecks

    Biography

    Dennis M. Jaecks was born June 8, 1939 in Wausau, WI, and grew up in Wisconsin Rapids with his older brother, Duane, and their parents. From a young age, Dennis was an avid model builder, both static and flying. After graduating high school in 1957, Dennis joined the US Air Force, where he served four years including 18 months in Japan. He was an…
  7. First page of Daniel Jang
    2 pages

    Daniel Jang

    Biography

    Daniel Jang of Glendale, Wisconsin, received a $6,400 Charles Hampson Grant scholarship in addition to $1,750 from the Weak Signals RC Club. A graduate of Nicolet High School, Daniel was a National Merit Commended student and a National Advance Placement (AP) scholar by the end of his junior year in high school. Daniel was born in the United…
  8. First page of Luke Steven Janik
    2 pages

    Luke Steven Janik

    Biography

    Luke Steven Janik of Brecksville, Ohio is the recipient of a $1,500 AMA/Charles Hampson Grant award. He is attending the University of Michigan and plans to major in biochemistry and pre-med. A graduate of Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, Luke finished high school with a grade point average of 4.119 out of a possible 4.553 and ranked…
  9. First page of Richard M. Jansson
    1 page

    Richard M. Jansson

    1930–

    Richard M. Jansson 34, mechanical engineer at Honeywell, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts. Modeler for 24 years and active in Class I Radio Control since 1957. Joined AMA in 1957 and active in Southeast Virginia Radio Control group 1955-1957. Since then, member of New England R/C Modelers. Past President NER/CM 1959 and 1960; since then, member of…
  10. First page of Larry E. Jenno
    2 pages Autobiography

    Larry E. Jenno

    1922– · AMA 416

    Career: Been in the Society of Antique Modelers (SAM) for the last 20 years Been in the AMA since 1938; been a leader member for 25 years Started J&Z Products, producer of “Zinger” props Produced Old Time ignition engines; made over 1200 engines The only three-time elected (nine years) president of the B.I.R.D. Radio Control club Honors: 1993: SAM…
  11. First page of Andrew Jesky
    4 pages

    Andrew Jesky

    Biography

    Interview with Andrew Jesky If you read the January "RC Aerobatics" column, you know what inspired my passion for RC Aerobatics (Pattern). However, if you are like most of the people I've met at the clubs I belong to, as well as clubs I've visited throughout the past few years, you probably haven't had much exposure to Pattern pilots or RC…
  12. First page of Dub Jett
    3 pages

    Dub Jett

    Biography

    Dub built and flew his first model airplane in 1954 at the age of 8. He was immersed in Control Line Speed flying and engine design at L&H Hobby Shop in Dallas, Texas, home of many of the best Control Line Speed competitors. Dub set his first Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) national Speed record and recorded his first AMA Nationals win in 1959…
  13. First page of Shinohara, Jim
    3 pages

    Shinohara, Jim

    1929–1997

    Application of Jim Shinohara to the Hall of Fame My first encounter with Jim Shinohara came at the NMPRA Formula 1 Championship race in 1976. It was my first year competing in F1 racing, and although I had heard about Jim assisting young racers with limited funds, we had not previously met. Since I was new to the pylon racing game, I didn’t have a…
  14. First page of Robert P. (Bob) Johannes
    4 pages

    Robert P. (Bob) Johannes

    1934–2004

    Robert Johannes Davenport, Iowa, March 12, 1934 to St. Charles, Missouri, June 30, 2004 At age six, Bob Johannes was building model airplanes from kits purchased at the local five and dime. His dad provided some assistance in helping read instructions. Bob continued building and flying into his teen years. In 1953, he met Marilyn Ganschow, another…
  15. First page of Col. Arthur H. (Art) Johnson
    12 pages

    Col. Arthur H. (Art) Johnson

    1920–2005 · AMA 2374

    Career: First model, at age eight, was a Fokker Triplane 30-year career in the U.S. Air Force (after training with the Royal Canadian Air Force) included combat piloting during World War II, specializing in atomic defense and war planning One of his airborne shots of the F-100 is on the cover of a book called “Colors and Markings of the F-100…
  16. First page of David Johnson
    6 pages

    David Johnson

    Biography · AMA 6398

    Career: Won a first place trophy in rubber-powered scale as a youngster flying Megow’s Gulf Hawk airplane Learned to fly full-sized airplanes then spent four years serving in the Coast Guard during World War II 1969: Started flying Radio Control 1972-: Has trained more than 100 Radio Control pilots Has frequently won at scale meets and in…
  17. First page of E. Paul Johnson
    2 pages Autobiography

    E. Paul Johnson

    1915– · AMA 8568

    Career: Built numerous airplane kits as well as his own designs Organized and started the Des Moines Modelaires Club in 1935; the club is still going strong with 200 active members (in 2002) and named its flying field the E. Paul Johnson Field Member of the Army Signal Corps during World War II; maintained secret cryptography equipment Built his…
  18. First page of Howard (Hi) Johnson
    4 pages

    Howard (Hi) Johnson

    1908–1981

    Career: Manufactured model airplane kits, engines and components starting in the 1940s Built a real glider as a teenager Served as vice president of Henry Engineering Company Became a partner of Kenhi Model Products around 1952 Acquired the tooling and license for Orwick engines in 1956 Started his own company, Hi Johnson Model Products, in the…
  19. First page of Howard E. Johnson
    1 page

    Howard E. Johnson

    Biography

    Career: 1961-1964: District X Vice President 1965-1966: 15th AMA President District X Contest Coordinator The following biography was in the October 1964 issue of Model Aviation magazine, in the section about those running for AMA’s presidential and vice presidential seats, titled “About the Nominees.” Howard was a candidate for the President…
  20. First page of Jane A. Johnson
    1 page

    Jane A. Johnson

    Biography

    Jane A. Johnson, of Rockville, Illinois, plans to major in chemistry at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Illinois. Her award of $4,100 has been sent directly to the University at her request. Jane attended Rockford East High School of Rockford, Illinois, a city known for its public support of model aviation. Her GPA was 3.976, and her…
  21. First page of Jody Johnson
    3 pages

    Jody Johnson

    Biography

    I Am the AMA Jody Johnson, Winner of Best in Film for Architecture at the NYCDFF Jay Smith: How did you become involved with model aviation? Jody Johnson: I got involved with model aviation unexpectedly. I saw a video of my friend, Mark, and his daughter, Olivia, taken from the sky. This flying camera took video from about 200 feet up in the sky…
  22. First page of L. A. Johnston
    5 pages

    L. A. Johnston

    Biography

    A life that took flight: The story of LA Johnston ONE OF MY earliest memories in this hobby is of walking into Hobby Lobby to get help with my first electric-powered airplane. Behind the counter was an older gentleman who took one look at my soldering job and could hardly contain his disgust for my shoddy craftsmanship. He picked the model up…
  23. First page of Ian Andrew Johnstone
    2 pages

    Ian Andrew Johnstone

    Biography

    Ian Andrew Johnstone, Edgewood, Kentucky, was awarded a $5,000 Charles Hampson Grant scholarship. Ian plans to major in premed and biology at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. His career goal is to enter medical school and specialize in orthopedic surgery. Ian wrote, “I have always played sports and I have been hurt several times…
  24. First page of Kyle Jones
    2 pages

    Kyle Jones

    Biography

    Transcribed by JS (05/10) The following was published in the February 2010 issue of Model Aviation magazine. Kyle was a 2009 Charles Hampson Grant fund, Weak Signals Award, and Telford Scholarship winner. Kyle Jones from Avon Lake, Ohio, was awarded $7,400 from Charles Hampson Grant funds, received $1,500 from the Weak Signals Award, and was the…