REMEMBERING BOB BENJAMIN
By Matt Haugh | matt.haugh@gmail.com
ROBERT (BOB) BENJAMIN, a true visionary and a pivotal figure in the world of aeromodeling, has passed away, leaving a profound and lasting legacy. As a founder of the Puget Sound Silent Flyers in Olympia, Washington, and an inductee into the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame (HOF), Bob was celebrated for his ingenuity, mentorship, and passion for the craft.
A lifelong modeler, Bob began his journey in the postwar boom of Control Line flying, building his skills with balsa wood and secondhand equipment. He was a champion of the “old way” of building, believing that hands-on skills were essential to the soul of aeromodeling. This tenacity was the foundation for his greatest accomplishments.
In 1988, Bob became an early and vocal promoter of electric power, recognizing its potential to solve issues, such as engine noise, and to enable new possibilities for model aircraft. He proved his vision on the competitive stage, achieving a series of historic firsts that challenged the established order.
- In 1999, Bob was the first to compete at a Top Gun Invitational with an electric model.
- In 2002, Bob was the first to compete in the FAI F4 World Championships for Scale Model Aircraft with an electric model as a member of Team USA for F4C.
His competitive success was a strategic demonstration that electric power was not a compromise but rather a superior alternative, and his work directly influenced kit manufacturers and paved the way for the modern era of electric flight.
Beyond his personal achievements, Bob was a dedicated mentor and community builder. He began teaching model building in the 1960s, instilling in his students the value of a strong work ethic. This commitment was most visible in his founding of the Puget Sound Silent Flyers, a club that championed electric flight and a culture of consideration for others.
Bob’s legacy is also preserved in print. He was a prolific communicator, publishing more than 60 articles and a dozen original designs in magazines such as Model Aviation. He also authored books and produced instructional videos for AMA, ensuring that his knowledge and passion would be shared with future generations.
In 2006, the culmination of his career came with his induction into AMA’s HOF. This honor cemented his place as a leader who not only excelled within the sport but also fundamentally reshaped its future.
Bob Benjamin’s life was a testament to the power of a single, lifelong passion, and his legacy will continue to inspire modelers for generations to come.
AMA Thanks Its Lifetime Supporters!
The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently welcomed Life Members Alberto Martinez, Callahan FL; Joe M. Petro, Dunnellon FL; Josh Carlson, Laurel MT; Matthew H. Berlet M.D., Odessa FL; and Maarten Broess, Lincoln RI.
For information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at (765) 287-1256, ext. 129.
—AMA Membership department
Model Builder’s Messerschmitt 33
AMA PLANS SERVICE now houses all plans formerly sold through Model Builder magazine, Bill Northrup’s Plan Service, and the Scratch Builder’s Almanac. There are more than 18,000 plans in the collection.
The Messerschmitt 33 model, of which the full-scale aircraft was first seen in early-1930s Germany, is powered by a CO2 motor and was originally thought up to be a cheap, single-seat kit project for homebuilders. The model, designed by Jack Headley for Model Builder magazine, falls into the “bathtub” Free Flight category of light airplanes because of its wide, open-cockpit fuselage.
Plans for the Messerschmitt 33, plans number 2822, can be ordered for $5 by visiting plans.modelaircraft.org or by calling the AMA Plans Service at (765) 287-1256, ext. 507.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GREAT HOLIDAY DISCOUNTS FROM YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY COMPANIES!
By Clarissa Poston, AMA Foundation Chief Communications Officer | clarissap@modelaircraft.org
TO SHOW our appreciation and to add to holiday celebrations, the AMA Foundation sends all AMA members an email each year full of great discount codes from prominent hobby companies. This year is no exception!
On December 3, 2025, the AMA Foundation will send out an email that contains a wide variety of holiday discount codes to use throughout the holiday season. We encourage you to take advantage of them!
Whether you’re looking to purchase a gift for a fellow club member or a beginner aircraft for an interested youth, or you simply want to gift yourself a new hangar addition, there’s no better time than now. The AMA Foundation hopes that you have a wonderful holiday season, and we’re looking forward to taking off alongside you in 2026 and the near future!
CHANGES FOR THE 2026 MEMBERSHIP YEAR
DURING ITS OCTOBER 25, 2025, meeting, the Executive Council approved a modest dues adjustment and a small service charge, which will be effective January 1, 2026:
- $4 increase for Adult, Senior, Park Pilot, Three-Month Trial, and Affiliate memberships
- $5 increase for Youth memberships
- $3 service charge for credit card or PayPal transactions
- $5 increase for club charters
We understand that any increase in cost is unwelcome. This decision was made only after extensive discussion and careful consideration. Throughout the past few years, inflation and rising operational expenses have affected nearly every aspect of AMA’s work, from insurance and advocacy to events and member support.
Before making this decision, we looked for every alternative, including expanding non-dues revenue, cutting expenses where possible, and reviewing our member programs to make sure that they continue to provide meaningful value.
These adjustments will help AMA maintain the high level of service, advocacy, and support that our members expect and deserve, continuing a tradition that has strengthened the model aviation community since 1936.
We sincerely appreciate your understanding and continued support of the AMA and the hobby we all share.
Questions or comments concerning these adjustments should be addressed to your district vice president.
AMA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING MOTIONS
The motions and acclamations are part of the unofficial minutes of the meeting. Minutes from a given meeting are not official until they are approved at the following quarterly Executive Council meeting. Questions or comments concerning the motions should be addressed to your district vice president.
October 25, 2025
Muncie, IN
Motion I: Motion by Randy Cameron (EVP) seconded by Greg Stone (X) to approve the 2026 AMA Foundation Budget as presented.
Motion passed: 11 yes, 0 no, 2 absent
Motion II: Motion by Greg Stone (X) seconded by Phil Tallman (XI) to approve the 2026 AMA Operating Budget as amended with $596,115.00 to be pulled from reserves. *Contributions from reserves to be reduced upon confirmation of corporate donation. To include a dues increase and service fee charge.
Motion passed: 11 yes, 0 no, 2 absent
Motion III: Motion by Gary Himes (VI) seconded by Brandon Koch (IX) to make a determination at the Spring Executive Council Meeting regarding cost containment measures for the print version of Model Aviation magazine.
Motion passed: 10 yes, 0 no, 2 absent, 1 abstained
Motion IV: Motion by Gary Himes (VI) seconded by Phil Tallman (XI) to approve the LMA Program changes as presented by the Safety Committee.
Motion passed: 11 yes, 0 no, 2 absent
Motion V: Motion by Phil Tallman (XI) seconded by Andrew Griffith (V) to accept the 2027 NATS Schedule as presented by NATS Committee.
Motion passed: 11 yes, 0 no, 2 absent
Motion VI: Motion by Randy Gibson (VII) seconded by Greg Stone (X) to accept the changes to the NATS Manual as presented by the NATS Committee.
Motion passed: 11 yes, 0 no, 2 absent
Motion VII: Motion by Gary Himes (VI) seconded by Phil Tallman (XI) to accept the updates to the General IAC Site Rules as presented by the Site Usage Committee.
Motion passed: 11 yes, 0 no, 2 absent
Motion VIII: Motion by Greg Stone (X) seconded by Randy Cameron (EVP) to approve the 2026 AMA Capital Budget as presented.
Motion passed: 11 yes, 0 no, 2 absent
Motion IX: Motion by Randy Cameron (EVP) seconded by Phil Tallman (XI) to
History Preserved
FROM ONE HAND TO ANOTHER
By Michael Smith, National Model Aviation Museum Director | michaels@modelaircraft.org
IN THE DECEMBER 2023 issue of Model Aviation, my “History Preserved” article focused on a unique Control Line (CL) model that was built and flown by members of the Eugene Prop Spinners out of Eugene, Oregon. The Spirit of Exchange, sponsored by the Eugene Exchange Club, took off on September 1, 1957, flying nonstop for 64 hours and 33 minutes and ending its flight on September 3, 1957.
Thirteen pilots exchanged the handles during the flight, covering an estimated 2,705 miles.
This past August, John Thompson, the treasurer for the Eugene Prop Spinners, reached out regarding an important part of that story—the handle itself. Designed by Eugene Prop Spinners club members, including CL pioneer and 2001 AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame Inductee Oba St. Clair, the two E-Z Just handles allow for multiple pilots to pass the airplane to and from one another. A knob controls the servo that adjusts the needle-valve in flight, while a switch on the handle operates the fuel pump, sending fuel from a tank worn by the pilot to the aircraft’s onboard fuel tank. The club acquired the handles from the Agerter family, who have run the Eugene Toy & Hobby store in Eugene since 1933.
The flight was accomplished with the aid of the fuel tank, which was worn on the pilot’s chest with a fuel line running down the control lines. Two electrical lines, one fuel line, and 60-foot control lines were used. One of the ground crew members occasionally made trips to the circle’s center to refill the fuel tank. The pilot exchange then required not only the passing of the handle but the fuel tank as well.
I don’t often go back and highlight an artifact that has already been presented, but this year, a unique part of that airplane’s story was donated to the museum.
SOURCES:
AMA History Project Presents:
Biography of O ba St. Clair
modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/files/StClairOba.pdf
Eugene Prop Spinners
flyinglines.org
