National Aeromodeling Historic Site - Hangar 1, Lakehurst Naval Air Station
On February 1, 2021, the AMA Executive Council recognized the 鈥淗angar 1鈥 at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, New Jersey, as a historic site under the AMA鈥檚 National Aeromodeling Heritage Program. Lakehurst Hangar1 is also recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as National Landmark.
Constructed in 1921 Hangar 1 was built by the US Navy as a lighter-than-air base to house reconnaissance blimps. The Hangar was built exclusively of steel and has internal dimensions of 800 feet long 250 feet wide with a ceiling of 180 feet. It is unique in that it is as wide at the top as at the bottom and is one of the largest buildings in the world.
The very large airspace has been used by the East Coast Indoor Modelers club to run some of the indoor National Aeromodeling Championships. During the 2000s some of the F1D Indoor US Team selection events were held in the hangar.
World Champion FAI F1D indoor fliers Steve Brown, Yuan Kang Lee, John Kagan and Brett Sanborn are still regulars to the site鈥攃onsidered 鈥渉allowed ground鈥 with some of the best category IV flying conditions of any indoor site in the world.
With the combination of excellent flying conditions and great modelers, it was only a matter of time before AMA national and FAI world indoor endurance records for many indoor free flight categories were established.
The members of the East Coast Indoor Modelers club wish to thank the AMA Executive Council, for commemorating Lakehurst Hangar 1鈥檚 historic significance.
