ALL AMA FOUNDATION GRANTS ARE OPEN—APPLY TODAY!
By Clarissa Poston, AMA Foundation Chief Communications Officer | clarissap@modelaircraft.org
ALL AMA FOUNDATION grants are now open for application. We encourage all eligible clubs to apply. In support of the AMA Foundation’s mission to assist its members and chartered clubs, five different grant opportunities are available, allowing clubs to receive financial assistance in a variety of ways:
AI Kanser AMA AED Save a Life Grant
This grant is designed to reimburse clubs for 25% (up to $200) of the cost of a recently purchased automated external defibrillator (AED), a critical, easy-to-use tool when helping someone who is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.
Club Recognition and Reward Grant
Designed to encourage clubs to promote model aviation to their local communities, this grant offers cash incentives to clubs for positive local media coverage relating to a public model aviation event, public service, or club announcement.
Disaster Relief Grant
This grant is designed to give immediate financial assistance to AMA chartered clubs that have had their flying sites damaged by a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, earthquake, flood, or firestorm.
Take off And Grow Grant
Designed to assist clubs with introducing the hobby to their local communities as a positive recreational activity, the Take off And Grow Grant provides funding for a one-day extensive introduction to model aviation with the intent of drawing new people into our community of hobbyists.
Flying Site Improvement Grant
This grant provides funding to clubs that have made improvements or are currently making improvements to their flying site(s). The AMA Foundation will contribute 25% of the total project costs, with a minimum contribution of $100 and a maximum contribution of $3,000.
To apply for AMA Foundation grants, please visit our new grant platform: https://modelaircraft.grantplatform.com.
For any questions about AMA Foundation grants, please contact AMA Foundation Deputy Director Rachelle Haughn by emailing rachelleh@modelaircraft.org or calling (765) 287-1256, ext. 221.
SOURCES:
AMA Foundation Grant Platform
https://modelaircraft.grantplatform.com
AMA Foundation
https://amafoundation.modelaircraft.org
OPT IN TO THE DIGITAL EDITION OF MODEL AVIATION
AS THE COST of printing and postage continues to rise, AMA seeks to protect the value of your membership dues while continuing to support the programs and services you care about the most. One of the simplest and most impactful ways you can help is by choosing to receive Model Aviation in its digital format.
By opting in to the digital edition, you’re helping AMA reduce costs—freeing up more resources for grants, flying site improvements, educational outreach, and the advancement of our hobby. It’s also a more environmentally friendly option, reducing paper use and shipping emissions.
The digital edition is more than just a replica of the print magazine. It’s delivered two weeks earlier than the printed version and includes exclusive digital-only features, such as embedded videos, photo galleries, and bonus content that you won’t find anywhere else.
Rest assured, the print magazine is not going away. We understand that many members still enjoy flipping through the pages, and we remain committed to providing that experience. If you’re ready to make the switch, however, it’s a great way to show your support for AMA’s long-term sustainability.
Members can opt in to Model Aviation Digital when they renew their membership online at www.modelaircraft.org/membership/enroll, by emailing membership@modelaircraft.org, or by calling (765) 287-1256, ext. 129 and speaking to a Membership department representative. Subscriptions can be switched from print to digital by visiting www.modelaviation.com/change-my-subscription and choosing “Digital Only—I want Model Aviation Digital instead of print” in the dropdown down menu, by calling (765) 287-1256, ext. 223, or by emailing jennifer@modelaircraft.org.
AMA Thanks Its Lifetime Supporters!
The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently welcomed Life Members Charles Legg, La Vista NE; Julie Parker, Weatherford TX; Erling Aune Jr., Vancouver WA; David P Andersen, Minneapolis MN; Larry Jolly, Oceanside CA; Brian Schoenly, Cathedral City CA; Kenneth Chamel, Picayune MS; Marcus Plank, Nappanee IN; and James Kay, Jacksonville NC.
For more information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at (765) 287-1256, ext. 129.
—AMA Membership department
NEW IN THE ARCHIVES–IDENTIFICATION ASSISTANCE CALLOUT
By Jackie Shalberg, National Model Aviation Museum Archivist and Historian | jackies@modelaircraft.org
A NEW COLLECTION received in June 2025 contains photographs of model aircraft and aeromodeling events, newspaper clippings from the Massachusetts and New Hampshire areas, and an event program. Because we do not know the name of the person who originally collected all of the items (the donor was not the original collector), the name of the collection reflects its contents: 1950s-1970s Aeromodeling Photographs and Papers Collection, #0533.
Included with the photographic material are a handful of U.S. Air Force photo prints. Stamped on the backs of these are the words “U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO, Released by BASE PHOTO LAB, L.G. HANSCOM FIELD, BEDFORD, MASS.” Although these are U.S. Air Force photos, we believe the images are likely of a Nats contest held at a U.S. naval air station in the 1950s or 1960s. I have not yet identified the specific year or location. Looking at Nats photos of the same era in other museum collections and in Nats articles, I have yet to make a match, so I am a bit stumped.
We’ve shared these Air Force photographs here, and you can also find them in the Museum’s Digital Collections at www.modelaircraft.pastperfectonline.com. Based on the images and descriptions presented in this article, can you help us verify whether they were taken at a Nats, identify the year or location, or identify people in the photos?
Photos A and B: Shown in both of these photos is a man in a suit holding a model airplane, a woman in a dress, and men in military uniforms. On the left side in Photo B is another man in plain clothing holding the wing of a model airplane. The man and woman at the center of the photos appear to be of importance—perhaps local hosts making their way to a public presentation—but we have yet to identify them. Do you know who they are?
In Photo B, many spectators, airplane hangars, and full-scale U.S. Navy aircraft can be seen in the background. Maybe the hangars in the background will jog a reader’s memory of the location.
Photo C: This photo is of the modeling contest in progress. Eleven unidentified adults stand, some in military uniform, and two youths sit on the grass. Most are looking up at the sky, likely watching a model airplane in flight. One of the men is holding a transmitter and is assumed to be flying a model. Oddly, though, it looks like the people spectating are focused on a different spot in the sky than the man holding the transmitter. Could there be more than one aircraft flying in the air? We can only guess at this point.
Photo D: Another shot of the contest in progress, this photo is of eight standing adults, three kneeling adults, and two youths sitting on the grass, some looking up at the sky. Likely, again, they are looking at an aircraft in flight. In the far background are full-scale U.S. Navy aircraft, spectators, trees, and a large plume of smoke. The person kneeling in the foreground and wearing a pith helmet (popular headgear at the 1950s and 1960s Nats) is working on an RC model airplane; you can also see the Sampey and Co. 404 transmitter and Sig toolbox.
Photos C and D are related images, with many of the same people in them.
Photo E: This photo is a true action shot—a model airplane in flight, flying just over the runway. Although “RCAA 14” and “AMA 2312” appear on the wing, I could not match this model to a current AMA member. Full-scale U.S. Navy aircraft, a large spectator crowd, buildings, and rolling hills with trees are in the background. White lines that appear in the image are likely just lens flares or physical damage to the original negative from which the print was made, but they add to the action-feel of this photo.
Photo F: This final photo shows two vendors standing behind booth tables in a building, possibly one of the airplane hangars appearing in Photo B. One of the men is wearing a heavily decorated pith helmet. Spectators stand at rope barriers at the entrance of the building, facing the full-scale aircraft outdoors. Products on the tables include an Ares model (“ARES” and “AMA 703” appear on its wing) and other flying models, Ambroid products, model kits, and static models. Boxes at the foot of the tables, which are used to hold up printed publications and presumably to transport modeling items to this event, advertise other products, including Hershey’s, Rinso Blue detergent, and Ajax.
To potentially help put a date on this series of photographs, I looked up information about Hershey’s, which was advertised on one of the boxes in Photo F. That box states the candy bars had cost 5¢. According to the Hershey Community Archives website (2018), Hershey Chocolate Company’s standard-size chocolate bars were priced at 5¢ from 1900 to 1969. I also searched for the dates of Rinso Blue; Wikipedia’s page on Rinso declares Rinso Blue as an early 1950s to mid-1960s product. The Sig logo spotted in Photo D means these photos could not have been taken earlier than 1951; per Hazel Sig’s biography, she and her husband, Glen Sig afoose, started Sig Manufacturing Company that year. This evidence helps affirm the 1950s/1960s date but still doesn’t narrow it down to a specific year.
To help narrow the potential location of these images, I went to our Nats locations spreadsheet, which is linked on the AMA History Project webpage at www.modelaircraft.org/museum/history-recognition/ama-history-project. Based on this spreadsheet, Nats Outdoor events from 1951 through the 1960s were held at only five naval air station locations:
- Dallas, Texas: 1951, 1956, 1960, 1964
- Glenview, Illinois: 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966
- Los Alamitos, California: 1952, 1955, 1959, 1963, 1967
- Olathe, Kansas: 1968
- Willow Grove, Pennsylvania: 1953, 1957, 1961, 1965, 1969
So far, I have been unsuccessful in identifying the location based on the evidence in the photos. However, I’ll keep this on my radar as I process other collections related to Nats of this era. Maybe our Nats location and year list will aid our sleuthing readers in helping us to solve this mystery, or some of the people in the photos will be recognized. Let us know if you figure it out (our contact information is in the next section), and stay tuned for updates in future “History Preserved” columns.
Donating This Fall
As I write this, we’re moving into the fall season. With the weather cooling significantly for many of us across the country, we tend to spend more time working on indoor projects. Perhaps that will include cleaning out closets, spare rooms, workspaces, attics, and basements. Maybe you’ll come across some old photo albums of your early modeling days, ponder downsizing your amassed club newsletters, or consider finding a new home for some of your rare engines and radios. If so, this is the time to contact the museum about donating.
- Check out our donation guide at www.modelaircraft.org/museum/donate/museum-donation-guide.
- Find our donation FAQs at www.modelaircraft.org/museum/donation-faq.
- Our wish list page can be found at www.modelaircraft.org/museum/donate/museum-wish-list.
Contact us at (765) 287-1256, ext. 511, or by email at museum@modelaircraft.org. If you still have your November 2024 issue of Model Aviation, check out our “History Preserved” column about donating, starting on page 15.
Thanksgiving–The Season of Thanks
A special note of gratitude goes out from all of us at the National Model Aviation Museum to our wonderful donors. Without you, we wouldn’t have such an expansive, historically significant collection. Thank you so much and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
SOURCES:
A2025.04.02, A2025.04.03, A2025.04.04, A2025.04.05, A2025.04.06, & A2025.04.07
1950s-1970s Aeromodeling Photographs and Papers Collection, #0533
National Model Aviation Museum, Muncie IN
AMA History Project Presents:
Biography of Hazel Sig-Hester
www.modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/files/SigHesterHazel.pdf
Hershey Community Archives
www.hersheyarchives.org/encyclopedia/hersheys-milk-chocolate-bar-wrapper...
Nats Dates and Locations
National Model Aviation Museum
www.modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/NatsDatesAndLocations.pdf
Rinso
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinso
