Skip to content
AMA History Project

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.

Try
Histories
1,150
Pages
4,653
Earliest birth
1850

People under K

1–24 of 54 entries ·

  1. First page of Ludwig J. (Lud) Kading
    16 pages

    Ludwig J. (Lud) Kading

    1916–2011

    JS (09/2009) The following was written by Royce Childress for Lud Kading’s Model Aviation Hall of Fame nomination form. Lud was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004. Lud started flying models in the mid-1930s and soon was building and flying his own designs. He was flying in competition as early as 1938 with his own original airplanes. He later…
  2. First page of John Kagan
    2 pages Autobiography

    John Kagan

    Autobiography

    John Kagan I grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, and now live near Cleveland, Ohio, with my sons Michael and Brandon, and my wife Terria. My career is Information Technology, and I have a Master’s degree in Computer Science. I am fascinated with things that fly—rockets, kites, Frisbees, and, of course, model airplanes. I have been involved in…
  3. First page of Frank Kagele
    2 pages

    Frank Kagele

    1936–

    Frank Kagele and Gordon Larson met at Babcock Models in Newport Beach California where they both worked in 1960. Together they conspired to build a proportional multi-channel radio. Their design worked, but the servos were too crude to sustain a motor powered flight. They contacted Howard Bonner to have him make them some special versions of his…
  4. First page of Bert Kammerer
    3 pages

    Bert Kammerer

    Biography

    The name Bert Kammerer is synonymous with Goblin helicopters. His hard-flying style has garnered him the reputation as one of the greatest demonstration pilots. Bert and fellow heli pilot Bobby Watts cofounded Smack Talk RC, which is a great resource for pilots. He is a multiple-time Extreme Flight Championship competitor, and the mastermind…
  5. First page of Owen Kampen
    4 pages

    Owen Kampen

    1922–1982 · AMA 230437

    Career: During WWII: B-24 pilot with the 15th Air Force 1961: Charter Member, Madison Area Radio Control Society Nov 1964: first construction article, Radio Control Modeler (RCM) Dec 1966: two articles, Cessna 150 and Whiz Kid, RCM April 1967: Hosier Hot Shot, RCM August 1967: Bonzo, RCM October 1968: Ply Guy, RCM March 1969: Windsong, RCM May…
  6. First page of Dan Kane Jr.
    4 pages

    Dan Kane Jr.

    Biography · AMA 9192

    Dan Kane Jr. by Aaron “AJ" Seaholm aseaholm@gmail.com Dan "DK" Kane Jr. will step down this year as National Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA) president after six years in office. There is likely no one who loves RC Pylon Racing more than Dan. He has devoted countless hours to the advancement of this sport. This month's column is…
  7. First page of Dan Kane Sr.
    2 pages

    Dan Kane Sr.

    1947–2014 · AMA 9192

    Dan Kane submitted the following autobiography to the History Project in October of 2008. I was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1947. I started modeling at about the age of eight. I used to watch the older kids and men flying in a prairie across from my house. Then I started with Free Flight and flew in my first Nats in 1957 or 1958 at Glenview Naval…
  8. First page of Mathew J. (Mat) Kania
    6 pages Autobiography

    Mathew J. (Mat) Kania

    1917–1997 · AMA 1473

    Career: Employed by Megow Model Corporation as designer and draftsman Became Chief Engineer at Megow Designed the Miss Richmond, second successful flying gas model after Maxwell Basset Became chief engineer and production manager for P.D.Q. Products Company Instructor of model plane building and flying class, at the Nicetown Boy's Club in…
  9. First page of Stephen E. (Steve) Kanyusik
    2 pages

    Stephen E. (Steve) Kanyusik

    Biography

    Cloudbusters Honors Member for Aviation Accomplishments The Cloudbusters of Sterling Heights, Michigan, has been giving a Life Achievement Award since 1990. It honors living Americans who have distinguished themselves in aviation – both model and full scale. The club is proud to announce the 44th recipient of this award: Steven E. Kanyusik.…
  10. First page of David Katagiri
    2 pages Autobiography

    David Katagiri

    1925– · AMA 8391

    As a native-born U.S. citizen of Japanese ancestry, I was sent to an internment camp located near Tule Lake, California when I was 17 years of age after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Growing up during those days was an exciting time when our heroes were Charles Lindbergh, Wiley Post, Jimmy Dolittle, Roscoe Turner, and Pangborn. Then came Pearl…
  11. First page of Theodore (Ted) Katsanis
    5 pages Autobiography

    Theodore (Ted) Katsanis

    1925–

    Ted was raised in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania (near Philadelphia) during the depression. In Junior High School, Ted had a very good math teacher, Mr. Joachen, who was very encouraging in math. With this encouragement, and by reading a few good books, Ted became interested in algebra and geometry. It was always fun to solve interesting math problems.…
  12. First page of Lawrence S. (Larry) Katz
    8 pages Autobiography

    Lawrence S. (Larry) Katz

    1930– · AMA 8429

    Career: Built scale models airplanes for the military during World War II At age 13, got a job at a hardware store working on its hobby display case As a youth helped form a model club in his area Served as president of the Richmond Model Flying Club in Staten Island, New York Had designs of Radio Controlled Lite Flyer models published Reflections…
  13. First page of Edward J. (Ed) Kazmirski
    10 pages

    Edward J. (Ed) Kazmirski

    1921–2007 · AMA 690746

    Information supplied by EJK (02/2003), Also writing by DW (08/2010); Written & Edited by SS (03/2003), Reformatted by JS (10/2009), Updated by JS (12/2010, 05/2011, 04/2020) Career: Won the 1960 Internationals with his Orion plane, a Radio Control model Won the 1961 Nationals with a variation on his Orion plane His Tauri, Orion and Taurus were…
  14. First page of Edward (Ed) Keck
    2 pages

    Edward (Ed) Keck

    1929–2004 · AMA 3817

    Edward Keck A member of AMA since he was nine years old, Ed Keck flew in his first meet that same year, taking third place with his Class C Rubber stick model. Ed set the first of many AMA records when he was 13, flying Class A Junior Gas. New York State held a contest for high school students, which he won three times. Sponsored to attend the…
  15. First page of Mike Keedy
    4 pages

    Mike Keedy

    Biography

    Mike Keedy submitted the following autobiographical recollections of Jimmy Allen in October of 2008. JIMMIE ALLEN, REVISITED By Mike Keedy What a surprise! The year was 2004 and I had just entered the National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, Indiana, when, in one of the prominent exhibits I saw a copy of the first model aircraft I had ever built.…
  16. First page of Kenneth Keegan
    1 page

    Kenneth Keegan

    Biography

    He also found time for other pursuits while in high school. Spanish Club, Athletic Statistics, physical science experiments, and being a member of the California Scholastic Federation for there years kept him well occupied.
  17. First page of Howard Kelem
    12 pages Autobiography

    Howard Kelem

    1925–2014 · AMA 912

    Career: Attended Haaren High School of Aviation Trades in New York After high school, worked for American Airlines eventually becoming an aircraft and engine mechanic Enlisted in the Army in 1943; served as a pilot in the Army Air Force flying a B-29 then was discharged in November 1945 Invented the automobile cruise control Invented a four-wire…
  18. First page of Andrew Kenedy
    1 page

    Andrew Kenedy

    Biography

    Andrew Kenedy, a junior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, received $3,000. The Florence, Kentucky, native has a double major in Aeronautical Engineering and Biology. He is ranked as the top student at the University. Andrew enjoys building and repairing models, recently completing construction on his first Pattern ship. He…
  19. First page of Robert Kern
    1 page

    Robert Kern

    Biography

    Robert Kern, District XI, member of the Contest Board, resides at 1906 N. Portland Blvd., Portland 11, Oregon. Bob has served as a member of the Contest Board since 1953. Interest in model airplane building and flying dates back to 1935 when he built his first simple hand-launched stick model. At the first contest he attended (1938), Jim Walker…
  20. First page of William (Kenny) Kern
    2 pages Autobiography

    William (Kenny) Kern

    1925– · AMA 2956

    Career: Started flying full-scale aircraft in 1949; received his private single engine land license EAA member Has been a member of the Antique Airplane Association and the National Waco Club Has owned numerous airplanes and served as manager of his local airport from 1952 through 1957 Worked for 25 years for the U.S. Navy as an electronic…
  21. First page of August Kerzie
    2 pages

    August Kerzie

    1905–1969

    August Kerzie AMA Biography August Kerzie was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1905. At the age of six, August moved to the state of Washington and spent most of his life in Seattle. Early on in his youth came a keen interest in radio technology. I recalled the many times he told the story of his monitoring a ship’s distress call on his homebuilt…
  22. First page of David A. Kerzie
    4 pages Autobiography

    David A. Kerzie

    Autobiography · AMA 5264

    David Kerzie wrote the following in November of 2010. The Beginning David Kerzie’s very first models were fabricated from dry cereal boxes (possibly Wheaties brand) in the later days of WWII. These were fighter planes where one was required to put a penny in the nose to obtain a flying center of gravity. What does an eight year old know about…
  23. First page of Robert Henry (Bobby) Keys
    5 pages

    Robert Henry (Bobby) Keys

    1943–2014

    RC meets rock ‘n’ roll: Bobby Keys of the Rolling Stones Bobby Keys is the saxophone player for a little band called the Rolling Stones and has played on every album the band has recorded since 1969. His sax can also be heard on records by Eric Clapton, John Lennon, B.B. King, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sheryl Crow, Joe Cocker, Yoko Ono, and more. I was…
  24. First page of George Kilbey (Bud) Kilbey Jr.
    5 pages

    George Kilbey (Bud) Kilbey Jr.

    1926–1992

    Career: Built and repaired numerous planes such as a BT-13, a J-3 Cub, a Knight Twister, a Waco Taperwing, a TravelAir 2000 and a 1929 Fleet Model 2 Won the Nationals in 1957 with a Radio Controlled bi-plane Won the grand champion award in 1962 at a National Antique Meet in Ottumwa, Iowa for craftsmanship on his 1929 Fleet Model 2 Built a scale…