The AMA Foundation is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the Flying Site Improvement Grant (FSIG) and the Take off And Grow (TAG) Grant.
Fifty-one AMA Chartered Clubs were awarded grants totaling $63,450. The AMA Executive Council voted on and approved the list of recipients at its April 25, 2026, meeting at AMA Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana.
This year, the FSIG program received a record number of applications, with 101 of them meeting all grant qualifications. A panel of judges reviewed each application based on several criteria, including application quality, project need, how the work would impact the club and its community, and more. With the FSIG program, clubs can request up to 25% of the total cost of a project, with a maximum of $3,000. Extra points are awarded for AMA Leader Clubs.
A total of $41,092.86 in FSIGs was awarded to 23 clubs. The estimated cost for these projects totals $208,131.28. Groups plan to use the funds for multiple improvements, including building a club fieldhouse, creating a digital flying site-access system, runway leveling and resurfacing, and improving flying field access for those who have mobility challenges. An overarching goal of this grant program is to attract the public to the flying sites, directly contributing to increased interest in our hobby and AMA membership growth.
- Bartow County Model Aviation
- Central Carolina Radio Control Modelers
- Champaign County Radio Control Club
- Chesapeake Bay RC Inc.
- Chester County Radio Control Club
- Greater Pittsburgh ARCS
- Heart of Texas Miniature Aircraft Club
- Jackson Radio Control Club
- Lake Aircraft Radio Kontrol Squadron
- Michiana Skyraiders
- Milan Flyers
- Orlando Buzzards RC Soaring Society, Inc.
- Remote Control Association of Central Florida, Inc.
- Rippin AZNT
- Rock Valley RC Flyers
- Sky Pirates RC Club, Inc.
- Sundowners
- Tri-County Barnstormers
- Valley RC Flyers
- Wachusett RC Flyers
- West End Wings
- Western Michigan Radio Aircraft Flyers
- Wright Flyers Club
Similarly, the TAG Grant program was established in 2008 for clubs to hold a one-day event to introduce the hobby to the public, in hopes of growing interest and involvement in aeromodeling. For the 2026 grant cycle, 28 clubs were awarded a total of $22,357.14. Clubs can request up to $1,000 for their event(s).
- Aberdeen Area Modelaires
- Ancient City Flyers, Inc.
- Bergen County Silent Fliers
- Bismarck Aircraft Modelers
- Calumet Flyers, Inc.
- Carlisle AeroModelers
- Casper Airmodelers Association Inc.
- Central Valley Radio Control
- Champaign County Radio Control Club
- Clark County Radio Control Society
- Fairfield League of Yankee Radio Controllers
- Foothill Flyers
- Harbor Soaring Society
- Jackson Radio Control Club
- Lake Area Radio Kontrol Society
- North Dallas Radio Control Club
- Pikes Peak Radio Control Club
- RC Propbusters Rapid City
- Rock River Aeromodelers Society
- Seminole Radio Control Club
- Shawano RC Flying Club
- Springfield RC Club
- Stillwater R/C Flyers
- Susquehanna Valley Radio Control
- Tri-City Radio Control Modelers
- Valley Forge Signal Seekers
- Valley RC Flyers
- Woodland Aero Modelers
Congratulations to all of the clubs that received 2026 FSIG or TAG Grants! Thank you to our judges who found time to carefully review and score the applications.
The AMA Foundation will begin accepting applications for the 2027 FSIG and TAG Grant cycles on October 1, 2026. At that time, clubs can apply for these grants until February 1, 2027, by using our online grant platform.
Questions about AMA Foundation grants and the application process can be directed to AMA Foundation Deputy Director Rachelle Haughn by emailing rachelleh@modelaircraft.org or calling (765) 287-1256, ext. 221.
