AMA History
History of the 麻豆视频 and the National Model Aviation Museum
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Before the 麻豆视频 (AMA) came into existence, aeromodelers belonged to a variety of organizations, including the Junior Air League, the Junior Aviation League, and the Junior NAA (the aeromodeling branch of the National Aeronautic Association.) The Junior NAA, although sponsoring the first "National Aeromodeling Championships" (what we refer to today as the "Nats") in 1923, struggled to be a true aeromodeling organization. We consider the official year of the start of the organization as 1936, but the idea for the AMA began in 1935 (perhaps even before that) at the National Championships in Detroit, Michigan. Leaders and contestants were interested in a self-governing body of aeromodeling experts, the thought being that there should be expert guidance of, for, and by model builders. Modelers wanted a single voice to develop national rules for aeromodeling contests, as well as one voice to speak to the government. Read more about AMA's first 30 years in our online version of the book The History of the 麻豆视频, including Part One and Part Two from the Beginning to the Year 1966, by Willis C. Brown and Dick Black. The book was published by the AMA in 1966 to coincide with its fiftieth anniversary. |
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In 1979, a little over an acre of land was purchased in Reston, Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C., for a new AMA Headquarters and National Model Aviation Museum. Design architect and AMA member John Hunton drew the plans for the two-story, 3,000 square foot building. In 1980, a building fund was started, asking AMA members to help with the project, and by April 1982, aeromodeling clubs, along with industry donors, reached the goal of $160,000. In five days, three very important events happened: on June 24, a building permit was issued, on June 27, the official groundbreaking ceremony was held, and on June 28, the loan arrangements between the AMA and the Maryland National Bank were signed. The loan was officially closed. September 24-25, 1983 officially opened the new Reston location with over 200 people attending the ribbon cutting. |
| Now that the AMA had a location for a museum, artifacts were needed. Frank Ehling, AMA Technical Director, spent over a year acquiring donations for the museum. Today, the collection includes 10,000+ objects. These include airplanes, badges, pins, kits, parts, and apparel, among many other model-related artifacts. |  |
| In 1988, the AMA Executive Council formed a search committee with the goal of finding properties for a new headquarters and national flying site. The committee felt that the move would benefit all AMA clubs and the community in which it would reside. The Midwest became the choice region due to location and land availability after over 50 proposals were reviewed. By the end of 1990, Muncie, Indiana was the chosen location. On June 13-14, 1992, a Grand Opening was held for the new national flying site. | |
| Two years later, on June 11, 1994, after moving the collection from Reston, Virginia, the museum reopened to the public. The 25,000 square-foot Frank V. Ehling Complex not only housed the Museum but also the Lee Renaud Memorial Library and the AMA headquarters. |  |
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The move to Muncie cramped the entire AMA into one small building; space was needed. Ten years in the making, the new headquarters building groundbreaking occurred on March 31, 2000. June 7-10, 2001 marked the opening of the new headquarters building for the AMA. Designed by Gooden and Ellis Architects, LLP of Muncie, this 25,000 square-foot building now housed the administrative side of the AMA. Thanks to the generous donation from the estate of Claude McCullough, the was built onto the National Model Aviation Museum building. You can watch on YouTube. Read about the on our website. Read the AMA Headquarters Locations Timeline on our website. (Scroll to the middle of the page.) |
A very brief history of Model Aviation magazine |
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In 2000, Model Aviation (MA) magazine celebrated 25 years of publication in its current format. The magazine existed in many different physical formats since it first appeared in 1936 as a newsletter-type publication. Distribution was originally limited to AMA leaders and subscribers until 1954, when circulation was expanded to all members. In 1966, the AMA approached the publishers of American Aircraft Modeler (AAM) magazine about the possibility of incorporating a section called AMA News into their magazine rather than printing the small but costly MA. AMA members received AAM featuring AMA News as part of their membership beginning with the July/August 1966 issue and ending with the March 1975 issue. AAM went bankrupt in February of 1975, leaving the AMA with no means to communicate with its members. AMA officers realized that a magazine rather than a newsletter was more beneficial to AMA members, and thus resurrected MA as a magazine. To this day, AMA members continue to receive MA as a member benefit. |
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AMA Presidents, 1936-current (as of 2017)1936 - 1937: Capt. Willis C. Brown, 1st President, elected to serve in 1936 by Council, elected to serve in 1937 by membership ballot |
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Return to virtual museum tour map. |
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