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
People under V
1–17 of 17 entries ·
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2 pages
Stephen J. Vaclav
Biography
Stephen J. Vaclav, from St. Cloud, Florida, was awarded a $3,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship. A graduate of St. Cloud High School, Steve plans to study Aerospace Engineering at the University of Central Florida. Steve took every math course offered by the high school and was enrolled in numerous Advance Placement Honors and Duel Enrollment…
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1 page
William Vaglienti
Biography
William Vaglienti of Spokane, Washington, graduated from Ferris High School with a 3.83 GPA, placing 29th among 334 students. He received a $1,000 scholarship award to assist him at the University of Washington-Seattle, where he plans a major in Aeronautical Engineering. His academic efforts listed him as a National Merit Commended Scholar, and he…
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5 pages
Abram Van Dover
1931–2020 · AMA 894
Information Submitted by AV (11/2002); Written by ES (2002); Written & Edited by SS (11/2002); Updated by JS (10/2008, 03/2023) Career: Built rubber models and gliders during World War II Joined his first model club in 1961 at Fort Rucker, Alabama Placed third in cargo and third or fourth in ½-A gas at his first model airplane contest in 1961…
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2 pages
Vincent (Jim) Van Loo
1933–2022
Jim Van Loo has devoted most of his life to the advancement of the sport and hobby of both fullscale and model aviation. His interest in aviation began with a ride in a Ford Tri-Motor when he was roughly 7 years old. A bout with the measles and subsequent quarantine allowed him to experiment with building a Comet kit. With his interest in models…
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2 pages
Steven Vande Lune
Biography
“While in college, I plan to stay active in modeling,” Steven wrote. “I have already found that there are two Radio Control clubs nearby.” AMA wishes you well, Steven, and congratulations!
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4 pages Autobiography
James R. Vanderwalker
1931– · AMA 7708
Information submitted by JRV (6/2003); Written & Edited by SS (06/2003), Reformatted by JS (02/2010) Career: Placed fifth in class C novice at his first Nationals in 1970 flying his own design that used the Taurus wing; the design was later published in the November 1979 issue of Radio Control Modeler magazine Competed at Nationals throughout the…
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4 pages
Robert B. (Bob) VanDevender
Biography
Looking Back Again An Old Modeler Looks Back at a Beloved Hobby Chapter One The Rubber Power Days By Bob Van Devender AMA 31315 I have been fascinated with model airplanes ever since visiting a home as a small child, where two boys had built them and had them hanging in their room. Later, it was about 1944, when moving to this state, and I was…
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29 pages Autobiography
Walter P. VanGorder
1938– · AMA 19912
Information supplied by WPV (07/2003) and JM (02/2003); Written & Edited by SS (08/2003), Reformatted by JS (02/2010) Career: Attended his first Nationals in 1953 and competed in ½-A Free Flight and tow line glider Served as president of the Southwest Ohio Free Flighters club from 1982 to 1986 Established 66 national indoor records in all four…
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2 pages Autobiography
Edward A. Vargo
1926–2006 · AMA 518870
Edward A. Vargo AMA# 518870 The highlights of my competitive career were the three (3) world records I set from 1939 to 1941. These records were Outdoor Junior Stick Rubber, Indoor Autogyro, and Indoor Ornithropter. I also won the 1941 National Junior Outdoor Gas and the Illinois State Junior Championships and placed in the top three (3) in all…
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3 pages Autobiography
Prof. Louis G. Vargo
1925–2010 · AMA 7098
Modeling Career Highlights: 1940: AMA record holder and Nationals winner 1998: Recipient of AMA Pioneer Award Worked at Midwest Model Supply for one year Member of the Chicago Aeronuts Evolved the Twin Gollywock design “My professional career was built around the five university degrees I earned. Positions include both university professorships…
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2 pages Autobiography
Leo Vartanian
1915– · AMA 41793
Career: As a boy joined the Airplane Model League of America 1953: Placed second behind Maxwell Bassett at Lakehurst, New Jersey; won first at Elmira, New York Charter member of the Chicago Aeronuts 1935: Set indoor glider records in several classes 1941: Wrote a construction article on the record-setting H.L. Glider for the September issue of…
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1 page
Andrew D. Vassallo
Biography
Andrew D. Vassallo, from Lancaster, New York, received $3,150 from the Scholarship Committee. He is presently at the University of Buffalo in New York State, working on a major in mechanical engineering. As a high school student in Clarence, New York, he attended the Central Senior High School. At graduation, he placed sixth out of an enrollment…
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1 page
G. Robert (Bob) Sr. Veazey
Biography
Bill Winter wrote the following in his “Just for the Fun of It” column in the May 1981 issue of Model Aviation magazine. “Bob Veazey” A member of the Delaware RC Club, Bob has flown RC for 19 years. During the 1940s, he was active in CL Speed, held one national record, and flew in the Plymouth International Meets. He believes he may have been the…
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2 pages
Dave Villwock
Biography
I Am the AMA Dave Villwock Unlimited Hydroplane boat racer JS: How did you get involved with model aviation? DV: Model aviation taught me patience, discipline, and that I needed to earn money to pay for my toys. It also taught me how having very intelligent people around you is always a good thing. One of my mentors once told me “you don’t have to…
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2 pages
Robert (Bob) Violett
1941–2020 · AMA 8135
Bob Violett Care and perfection are hallmarks of Bob Violett Models (BVM), a company owned and operated by Hall of Fame recipient Robert Violett. Recognized as a leader and innovator in the development and production of ducted-fan models, BVM now embraces the field of turbofan-engine-powered models as well. The care and perfection required by…
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3 pages
James G. Vogel
1943– · AMA 75271
Information Submitted by JGV (01/2003); Written & Edited by SS (01/2003), Reformatted by JS (02/2010) Career: Built rubber-powered models from age eight throughout his college days 1968-: Has taught various types of chemistry at the college level 1979: Joined the Winona (Minnesota) Aeromodelers 1985: Helped revitalize the Winona Aeromodelers…
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3 pages
Robert (Bob) E. Vojslavek
1937–2000 · AMA 760
Career: Worked for the AMA for 12 years serving in positions such as administrative coordinator and director of operations; volunteered at the AMA for years Coordinated the Control Line portion of the AMA Nationals for several years Wrote the first computer program used to compile Nationals scoring Very involved with helping the AMA move from…