Academy of Model Aeronautics · National Model Aviation Museum
The people, clubs and companies that built model aviation, in their own words.
Search 1,062 biographies of modelers, designers and contest fliers, plus the histories of 62 clubs and 26 companies, preserved by the AMA History Project.
- Histories
- 1,150
- Pages
- 4,653
- Earliest birth
- 1850
People under B
1–24 of 100 entries ·
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1 page
Aimee Bagley (Olson)
Biography
Aimee Olson, from Fargo, North Dakota, is attending State University in her hometown. Her major will be directed toward Wellness and Physical Fitness. A keen student of ballet, jazz, and tap dancing, Aimee has performed with the Red River Dance Company for several years. An accomplished and trained model, she has worked professionally for various…
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8 pages Autobiography
Timothy (Tim) D, Bailiff
Autobiography
I flew into this world 64 years ago on May 13, 1954 at Queen of Angels Hospital, located in Los Angeles, CA. I consider myself blessed to not only have been born into a very loving family, but also one that was passionate about flying. My father, Daniel O. Bailiff, served in the United States Air Force, and as a civilian was a private pilot. He…
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7 pages
Frank B. Baker
1927–2018
Frank B. Baker His first successful building of a model airplane was a Fairchild 22 stick-and-tissue Comet kit. He was seven years old at the time. Building rubber-powered models was all the rage in the 1930s, as nearly every kid in his neighborhood was engaged in the activity. In the late 1930s, he earned enough money as a golf club caddy to…
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1 page
Vale David Baker
Biography
David Baker passed away on January 1, 2009. He was well known as a primary spark plug in the OT movement in England. I’ll let former SAM President Mike Myers briefly summarize David’s modeling life. “David Baker was one of the prime organizers in setting up SAM 35- the first English SAM Chapter. He started the club newsletter. He and a couple of…
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1 page
Eric Balay
Biography
Eric Balay of Denver, Colorado, was awarded $1,000 by the committee. He is a freshman at the University of Colorado at Boulder, studying aerospace engineering. Eric has been an active modeler for five years, having built twelve Radio Control models, five Control Line models, and several Free Flight models. He serves as a flight instructor in his…
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1 page
Dannie Ball
1928–2010
A true modeler and modeler’s friend for most of District VIII, Dannie Ball passed away on February 16. He served for three years as a District VII Associate Vice President (AVP) back in the 1990s when John Clemens was the District’s Vice President. Dannie was a Contest Director, lifetime member of the Dallas RC Club, and friend/helper to anyone…
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2 pages
Ronald A. (Ron) Ballard
1955– · AMA 67283
Information submitted by RAB (3/2003); Written & Edited by SS (3/2003) Career: 1963: Formed his first club, a Cox U-Control club, and served as all club officers 1986 - [c. 2003]: Served as an AMA District VI Associate Vice President for at least 17 years Directed various local contests and mall shows 1980s: Taught 4-H modeling and rocketry…
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5 pages Autobiography
Bob Banka
1939– · AMA 71175
Career: Took a model building class at the age of seven or eight from Stan Day Competed in a combat contest at age 16 and almost beat the 35-year-old champion As a high school senior began teaching a model airplane class to seventh and eighth graders; continued this for a couple of years until leaving for college 1969: Moved to California and took…
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3 pages Autobiography
Edward J. Banke
Autobiography · AMA 540671
It must have been back when a Comet dime-kit cost a dime, about 1936. My first model was a solid Comet P-26 “Peashooter.” It was destroyed when I tried to carve it with Mom’s paring knife. She wiped my frustrated tears away and bought another one (these were depression years) and, being a nurse, “liberated” a scalpel to use. After many a drill on…
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2 pages
Joshua Bardwell
Biography
I Am the AMA Joshua Bardwell, FPV Know-It-All creator Jay Smith: How did you get involved with model aviation? Joshua Bardwell: My first RC plane was given to me by my uncle when I was 15. Eventually, I failsafed it into the woods and lost it. Fast forward to about three years ago, when a friend brought his DJI Phantom over to my house. It really…
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2 pages
Jon Barnes
Biography
I Am the AMA Jon Barnes - Author, photographer, and videographer Jay Smith: How did you become involved with model aviation? Jon Barnes: While working at my first job out of high school, several of my workmates and I decided to get into RC cars and trucks. After receiving a Tower Hobbies catalog in the mail, we decided to try flying RC airplanes.…
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1 page
Keith R. Barnett
Biography
Keith R. Barnett, a graduate of Batesville High School in Batesville, Indiana, was awarded a Tom Hutchinson Scholarship in the amount of $500. Keith is enrolled at Vincennes University in Indiana, studying aviation. Keith is most proud of his participation in the Batesville Eureka Band, reputed to be the oldest volunteer community band in the…
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2 pages Autobiography
William R. (Bill) Barr
1934– · AMA 31415
Career: As a youth entered Free Flight contests in Oklahoma City and Enid, Oklahoma; his first trophy was display along with his model in the local grocery store window Received a doctorate in theology from Yale University and then began teaching at Lexington (Kentucky) Theological Seminary Has served in all offices of the Lexington Model Airplane…
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4 pages
Russell E. Barrera
1918–1979
Career: Operated a hobby shop in San Marcus, California 1977: Opened a private gallery of model aeronautics in San Marcos; moved the gallery to San Martin, California, at the beginning of 1979 Made and flew gliders in his 20s Served as a judge in national competitions Member of the Aero National Historical Society Founding member of the…
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2 pages
Charlie Barron
Biography
Charlie Barron Charlie was born in California, so he cannot be a Texan. To offset this great loss, he moved to San Antonio, Texas at an early age to live with his aunt and uncle on Rigby Street. I called them, as did Charlie, Unk and Auntie. They were very good people… Charlie and I met while attending Brackenridge High in the late thirties.…
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1 page
Warren E. Bartlett
Biography
Warren E. Bartlett, District VII Vice President. Address: 14515 Asbury Park, Detroit, Mich. Certainly “Bart” does not have to be introduced to the modelers in his District as he has most ably served as AMA vice president since 1951 and as director of the Plymouth International Contests for over five years. Starting in 1930 with a Paul Waner R.O.G.…
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3 pages
Jon Bartoshek
Biography · AMA 13573
As told by JB (06/2004); Written and Transcribed by JF (06/2004) Career: c. 1947: Joined first model club in Solon, OH Has flown Free Flight, Control Line and Radio Control 1950s: Raced various cars in competition Scratch-built model of AVN-8 from blueprints at Smithsonian 1994: Started JBK Products, a home-based business Currently Vice President…
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31 pages
Maxwell B. Bassett
1914–2005 · AMA 176460
Career: September 10, 1932: First to make an official flight with gas power at a U.S. Nationals in Atlantic City, N.J. June 27, 1933: First to win a Nationals event with gas power – Roosevelt Field, Long Island, N.Y. First to exceed a national record in Other-than-Rubber-Power First to win a contest with a gasoline powered model Responsible for…
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2 pages
Charles (Charlie) Bauer
1930–2018 · AMA 21824
Career: Designed the J-3Cub, the Elder 20 and 40 and the Hot Kanary for Top Flite Models Designed the P-82 for Wing Manufacturing Designed Fun Fighter series for Four Pi, Inc. First to successfully fly a ducted fan Control Line model at the AMA Nationals (Nats) and win with it Produced the Monokote videotapes for Top Flite Models that have taught…
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2 pages
George Bauer
Biography
George Bauer, Vice President of the Aero Science Club of America, Dies in the Service of Uncle Sam While serving with the colors, George Bauer, VicePresident of the Aero Science Club of America, succumbed to pneumonia. With his death, this country loses one of its most ardent workers in the cause of model aeronautics. Perhaps no one other model…
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2 pages
Jack Baugh
1932–2022
Profile of a Life Member Jack Baugh The sign in front reads “Almahurst Farm. Part of an original land grant to James Knight, 17501831, for his Revolutionary War services. Famous horses bred, foaled, and raised on this farm. GREYHOUND – World Champion of all time, PETER VOLO – Founder of the great trotting family, EXTERMINATION – known wherever…
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2 pages
Patrick Bayer
Biography
Patrick Bayer of Cincinnati, Ohio, is the recipient of a $4,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship. He attended Summit Country Day School where he graduated with honors and a GPA of 3.875 out of a possible 4.2. Patrick was active in high school and took advantage of the number of activities open to students. He ran cross-country and track, earning…
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2 pages
Paul Beard
Biography
Paul Beard, who is today referred to as “the Father of Spread Spectrum,” began his RC career sailing miniature yachts in 1978. From there, he moved on to many different genres of aeromodeling. “[Paul] has brought the model aviation community the single greatest advancement in 30 years. It is for this accomplishment that I submit him for…
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16 pages Autobiography
Frank W. Beatty
1926– · AMA 08479
Career: 1930s: Took course on building models by Miss Larcomb at Model Airplane Club meetings at Settlement House in East St. Louis. 1944-1946: Motor Machinist for the U.S. Navy 1947-1948: Began designing Control Line, beginning with a Control Line Pfalz D-12 model. 1951-1967: Employed by Mobil Oil Refinery 1955: First design published in Model…