The Museum's Permanent Collection

model airplanes and other artifacts on metal shelving in the collections space of the National Model Aviation Museum.jpg

Access

Collections storage and work areas are not open for general viewing, but research appointments are usually available. Our fees are listed on our research and service fees page. Please note: In-person research is unavailable until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience.

A portion of our collections database is viewable online. Click on the orange button below to explore! (Stay tuned, more is being added.)

In addition, the museum has shares the collection through social media. Past series included (s), , and .

Size and Scope

A pie chart showing the distribution of types of artifacts in the collections of the National Model Aviation Musuem. From most to least the museum has: Kits, followed by memorabilia, then engines, radio equipment, model aircraft, trophies and building and flying equipment.jpg

Composed of model airplanes, kits, engines and all the necessary equipment for flying, the Permanent Collection is full of all the “stuff” that makes model aviation so special.

Consisting of about 11,000 objects, the Permanent Collection tells the stories of model aviation, its technological achievements, the social culture developed around the hobby, and model aviation’s involvement in wider history and culture. About 15% of these are on exhibit at any given point. Exhibits are updated often, with artifacts rotating in and out. This allows visitors to see new things when they visit, and for the artifacts to “rest” in storage.

Two pairs of hands, both wearing white gloves, are measuring the diameter of a piece of metal making up the metal framework of a model airplane's wing.

Care

It’s the museum’s responsibility to preserve and care for these artifacts. We take this responsibility seriously, doing our best to keep the artifacts at a stable temperature, away from light and pests and with stable support and handling. You’re welcome to read the full Policy for the Management of the Permanent Collection if you’re interested in how the collection is structured and cared for.

Want to know more about caring for your aeromodeling artifacts at home - well there's more information at this link.

Donate

The museum is committed to having the best, most complete collection of model aviation related items in the world. We are actively collecting, although we are careful in what we collect so that the item fills gaps and strengthens the collections as a whole, and to make sure we have the resources to take care of it in perpetuity. As such, there is an approval process for all donations to the museum.

Contact

Contact museumcollections@modelaircraft.org, or (765) 287-1256, ext. 500 for questions and information regarding the Permanent Collection.

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The Museum's Permanent Collection

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