National Model Aviation Museum

The AMA Foundation has received a bequest of more than $171,000 to support the National Model Aviation Museum.  The AMA and AMA Foundation would like to thank the family of Herbert Bone for his generous estate gift. Herbert is a Heritage and Legacy Society member of the AMA Foundation. Herbert had a lifelong passion for model aviation, trains, and Disney, specifically Mickey Mouse. He was a United States Army Veteran and a loving husband, father, and family member. Herbert was loved by his family, friends, and community, was an active member of the Boeing Hawks RC Club, and was a long time member of the Marymoor MARCs (1970's-2020). He was also a docent at the Seattle Museum of Flight, with over 3,000 volunteer hours. Before passing, Herbert wrote a reflections project that looked back on his life: My Story, P&T&MM. Herbert's contribution will have a lasting impact on the National Model Aviation Museum, allowing it to continue as a world-class experience. We are honored to carry Herbert's legacy forward.

The National Model Aviation Museum is proud to announce that it was awarded a Rapid Grant in February 2020 from the Ball Brothers Foundation in the amount of $5,000. The Ball Brothers Foundation is a family foundation located in Muncie, Indiana that focuses on improving the quality of life through arts, culture, and humanities; education; the environment; health; human services; and public society benefit. NMAM will use the grant funds to begin a strategic planning process with Whitinger Strategic Services, also located in Muncie, Indiana. Embarking on a new decade, the museum staff is eager to develop an actionable and achievable three- to five-year strategic plan, building its capacity for sustainable growth, greater performance, and high-impact practices. We are sincerely grateful to the Ball Brothers Foundation for their generous gift, and we look forward to sharing the strategic plan upon its completion. Stay tuned!  

Thank you to the family of Warren Kurth for donating to the AMA Foundation in honor of Warren. Warren Kurth was born on April 5, 1933 in Bloomington, Illinois. His modeling career began with a sheet-balsa model kit when he was six years old. He was an assistant instructor at a YMCA model building class during junior high school. Warren lectured on model building, flew Control Line demonstrations, and taught a model building class at the community center for disadvantaged boys when he was in high school. Warren designed several models in his career, including the Miniball, Jetstream, Hedgehopper, Peetriot, and the infamous Peanut. The Miniball, first published in the October 1970 issue of Model AIrplane News, had seven National AMA records in 1/2 A Proto Speed in Open, Junior, and Senior classes between 1968 and 1972. Warren's Jetstream also won many trophies in 1956, 1960, and 1961. The Jetstream set three national AMA records in 1959 and the early 1960's. Several of Warren's kits and complete airplanes were donated to the National Model Aviation Museum.

The National Model Aviation Museum will be hosting Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight, a Smithsonian traveling exhibition. The exhibit will be on display February 1, in celebration of Black History Month, and will run through March 31. The exhibition is based on the book Black Wings: Courageous Stories of African Americans in Aviation and Space History. The exhibit was created by exhibition curator Von Hardesty of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. In 1903, America's fascination with flight was sparked by the Wright brothers.  Many African Americans were enthusiastic about flight but faced racial discrimination. They were denied access to formal training to become pilots and mechanics. The Smithsonian traveling exhibition, Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight, chronicles a powerful group of aviation proponents who challenged these obstacles and created their own legacy in the world of flight.  Developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the exhibition was made possible by the generous support of the MetLife Foundation. To learn more about upcoming events at the International Aeromodeling Center, home of the AMA in Muncie, Ind., visit www.modelaircraft.org/IAC.