AMA MODEL
AVIATION HALL
OF FAME
By Rich Hanson, AMA President | richh@modelaircraft.org
WHAT IS AMA’S highest award? The correct answer is the AMA Fellowship Award, which is bestowed upon those individuals who, in the opinion of the Executive Council (EC), have performed exceptionally meritorious service for model aeronautics.
AMA’s newest recognition, the Lifetime Achievement Award, was established by the EC in 2017. In 2018, the Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Wayne Yeager, for his years of service as AMA’s Nats manager and to former AMA president, Dave Mathewson, for his lifelong contributions to model aviation and service to AMA.
When asked about the most honored and coveted recognition in the hobby, the answer has to be the induction into the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame (HOF). Although the award has always been administered by the AMA, it was initially conceived and implemented in 1969 through the grassroots effort of a group of staunch and impassioned modelers.
This was reported by Jerry Neuberger in the September 2002 edition of Model Aviation:
“By 1968 model aviation was quickly becoming a mainstay in the world of aeronautics and it was becoming apparent that technological innovations in model building and flying were occurring on almost a daily basis. Richard Carson and members of the Barons Model Club noticed that with all the new advances in model aeronautics there was little or no recognition of these achievements or the individuals accomplishing them.
“The Barons got together and devised a plan to select modelers who had made great contributions to the art and science of model aviation and to honor them at the annual National Championship (the Nats). To do this equitably, they assembled a prestigious committee to select the first recipients.”
The AMA Model Aviation HOF was officially created in 1969. The first awards were presented at the end of the Washington State Nats on May 31, 1969. The ceremony was sponsored by the Washington State Academy of Aerospace Science in affiliation with AMA. Members of the selection committee included Washington’s governor, Daniel J. Evans, and Rep. Robert F. Goldworthy. Representing the military were Maj. Gen. Howard S. McGee, Brig. Gen. Lyle E. Buchanan, Brig. Gen. Robert F. King, and Col. Lyle W. Scott. (This was during the time that the military sponsored the Nats.)
Representing AMA were Ralph Brooke, Richard Carson, Roy Duncan, Phil Kraft, AMA President John Patton, Walt Schroder, and Bill Winter.
The selection committee did an exceptional job of determining who should be the first to be inducted into the HOF. The first inductees were:
Walter “Walt” Billett
Walt was virtually responsible for the financial health of AMA after World War II. He spearheaded the Flying 8-Ball Club, which garnered support for continued growth of the hobby following the lean years during the war. The Flying 8-Ball Club soon became an icon for support of model aviation and boosted membership from industry leaders, astronauts, and military leaders (www.modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/BillettWalt.pdf).
Capt. Willis C. Brown (first AMA president)
Willis was a noted designer of full-scale airplanes (including the Southern Aircraft Corp. Aerocar and the Brown-Young BY-1) and a winner of the Frank G. Brewer trophy for service to aviation education. Willis was untiring in providing opportunities for involving young children in model aviation (www.modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/BrownCaptWillisC.pdf).
Carl Goldberg
Carl was the national champion in Free Flight with his Zipper and the founder of the model airplane company that still bears his name (www.modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/GoldbergCarl.pdf).
Dr. Walter “Walt” A. Good (11th AMA president)
Walt was an early RC pioneer who, along with his brother, Bill, developed much of the theory that was used to design early RC for models (www.modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/GoodDrWalterAWalt.pdf).
Charles Hampson Grant
Charles was an early pioneer in full-scale and model aerodynamics and design. He was the first man to fly in the state of Vermont (in 1908). Much of what we know about model aerodynamics is because of Charles’ efforts and experimentation while he was the editor of Model Airplane News from 1932 to 1943 (www.modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/GrantCharlesHampson.pdf).
Nevilles E. (Jim/Jimmy) Walker
Jim was thought by many to be the inventor of Control Line (CL) flying and the designer of the first ARF model, the Walker Fireball (www.modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/WalkerNevillesEJimmyJim.pdf).
Frank Zaic
Frank was a prolific model designer, national champion, and writer. His first “yearbook” is a compilation of articles from 1927 to 1934 (www.modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/ZaicFrank.pdf).
Richard Carson served as chairman of the selection committee and was instrumental in the development of the HOF. Along with the Barons Model Club, he continued to conduct the HOF and run the selection committee until the military withdrew support of the Nats in 1970.
Without the military’s support, the Barons club was unable to sustain the endeavor and turned over responsibility to AMA.
The first chairman of the Council of Past Presidents was Walt Good, followed by John Patton, Keith Storey, and Cliff Weirick. Cliff was pressed into service at Keith Storey’s passing and was the last Council of Past Presidents HOF chairman until his death in 2001.
With Cliff Weirick’s passing, the AMA Model Aviation HOF was reorganized and ultimately became an official component of AMA’s history and recognition program. The first chairman under the new structure was respected modeler and AMA historian, Norm Rosenstock.
Concerned about the diminishing number of past presidents that were available to serve, a plan was developed to add one person from each AMA district to the selection committee to ensure that a sufficient pool of “selectors” was available to sustain the process.
An ad hoc committee was formed to develop procedures for the conduct of the AMA Model Aviation HOF under the new structure. The goals of the ad hoc committee were to: 1) Define a procedure for running the selection process that would be fair, quick to work through, and would require a minimum amount of paperwork. 2) Formalize the structure of the committee to ensure that the AMA Model Aviation HOF is perpetually supported by the AMA while maintaining autonomy to ensure that politics could never influence the selection process. 3) Reduce and standardize the paperwork necessary to conduct business. 4) Formalize a structure that maintains the prestige of the AMA Model Aviation HOF and the honor implicit in becoming an inductee.
Induction into the AMA Model Aviation HOF remains an honored and storied event. Each award is presented by the AMA president, a district vice president, or an individual of the inductee’s choosing.
AMA Leader Member Jerry Neuberger currently serves as chairman of the selection committee and, with the induction of the 2021 class, 357 honorees have now been named into the AMA Model Aviation HOF. It has been through the dedication and hard work of Jerry Neuberger and individuals such as Jack Albrecht, Bob Aberle, Charles Mackey, Bill Netzeband, and Norm Rosenstock that the HOF has endured.
Do you know of someone who has made significant contributions to the sport of aeromodeling? Contributions can be in volunteer or administrative activities, product development, competition performance, or a variety or combination of activities.
Information about the HOF and nomination forms are available on the AMA website under Museum/History and Recognition (www.modelaircraft.org). Nominations for the AMA Model Aviation HOF are due each year by March 31.
Behind the Scenes
We often think of Neil Armstrong, Burt Rutan, and Hoot Gibson as aerospace leaders who were inspired by model aviation. On January 13, 2022, we lost a notable member who changed the world of physics and space exploration.
Donald Gurnett was first introduced to aviation at a model aviation club near the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, airport. This led to an incredible career that included being a part of 41 space missions, establishing the field of space plasma physics, authoring hundreds of papers and books, and teaching college physics for 50 years.
AMA must keep the pipeline full to inspire the next generation of scientists and aerospace leaders. Visit his memorial at https://now.uiowa.edu/2022/01/legendary-iowa-space-physicist-donald-gurn....
Keep ’em safe, keep ’em flying, and continue to enjoy this great hobby!
