AMA History Project Biographies, club and company histories

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 · Use quotes for exact phrases

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

People under L

1–24 of 51 entries ·

1 page

Richard Lacy

Biography

Richard Lacy, of Collinsville, Illinois, is determined to become a pilot. To that end, he is studying Aeronautical Engineering at Parks College of St. Louis University in Cahokia, IL. A member of the National Honor Society while in high school, he represented his school at district competitions in engineering, mathematics, and science. His…
2 pages

Emil ('Matty') Laird

Biography

“Laird Fix” Boyhood hero to many an old-timer, Emil “Matty” Laird – the Laird Solution and Super Solution – was recently honored by the FAA with an appropriate “fix” for him at his hometown, Chicago. This first new fix (there will be others to honor aviation’s pioneers) is an enroute intersection where Victor 7 and Victor 172 airways cross over…
2 pages

Art LaLonde

1922–1980

Jim McNeill, at the time AMA Historian, wrote the following for Model Aviation (June 1981 issue) about Art after his passing in 1980. Everyone at AMA Headquarters, and all of us who knew him, were deeply saddened last fall when Mr. Art LaLonde of New Carrollton, Maryland passed away. Only 58, he was struck down by lung cancer in the very prime of…
8 pages Autobiography

Edwin (Ed) Lamb

1930–2024 · AMA 1286

Edwin Lamb wrote the following autobiography and submitted it to the AMA History Project (at the time called the AMA History Program) in 2007. Ed Lamb and a History of Model Airplanes I was born August 30, 1930 in the Midwest - Indiana to be more specific. My full name is Edwin Dean Lamb. I am the oldest of five children, each arriving at two-year…
1 page

Richard (Dick) Lambert

Biography

My father introduced me to Free Flight and Control Line flying in 1956. In 1959, I was an AMA Air Youth State Champion (AYSC) and attended my first Nationals in Los Alamitos, California. Again, in 1960, I was an AYSC and AMA sent me to the Nationals in Dallas, Texas, where I won my first National Championship trophy. I have attended over 25…
3 pages

Dan Landis

Biography

Park Pilot Interviews Dan Landis, skilled competitor and park pilot who now flies RC under contract with the British military. A long evaluation revealed that the people most qualified to pilot today’s most advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are AMA member RC hobbyists with extensive experience in advanced competition. Dan Landis has flown…
1 page

Harvey Landis

Biography

Remembering a Modeler It is with sadness that I report the passing of Harvey Landis. I first met Harvey while running for District II VP six years ago. He was cordial and went out of this way to schedule a club event that allowed me to meet with a number of members of his club. Harvey was a gentle man whose family was everything to him. He was a…
1 page Autobiography

Andre Landrum

1949–

I have always been interested in the technical (scientific) aspects of modeling and making sure that others understand safety and proper technical methods in building and flying model aircraft. Many of my technical hints, tips, and techniques were published in Radio Control Modeler magazine, R/C Report, Model Airplane News, and other hobby…
1 page

Roger W. Lane

Biography

We Remember After a long illness, museum volunteer Roger W. Lane passed away Wednesday, February 20, 2002. Roger was a master tool and die maker retired from Aircom. He had been a member of the Central Indiana Aeromodelers (CIA) since its inception in the 1960s and served as president of the organization in the early 1980s. He won the CIA Non Gas…
4 pages

Arthur (Art) E. Laneau

1925–2014

Career: Joined the Ambroid Company in 1947 Took over operations of Ambroid in 1952 Appointed chairman of Model Aeronautics Division of the Hobby Industry Association of America (H.I.A.A.) Worked for 12 years on public relations between the Academy, the Navy and the H.I.A.A. Honors: 1966: AMA Fellow 1996: Model Aviation Hall of Fame Arthur E.…
6 pages

Brad Lang

Biography

Watch Brad Lang give an AMA Expo volunteer, Stone, a flight in his AT-6 Texan here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Qx6cR-JSs&feature=youtu.be AMA video, published by AMA on November 5, 2018. Description: “Model Aviation is a Lifelong Passion at AMA Expo West 2018, So many model aviation enthusiasts had a lifelong passion for aviation sparked by…
1 page

John S. Langford

Biography

John S. Langford, AMA Foundation Board Member The AMA Foundation is honored to welcome John S. Langford to its board of directors. John is the Chairman and CEO of Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, which he founded in 1989. Langford is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics (1979), Masters in Aeronautics &…
2 pages

Mark Lanterman

Biography

I Am the AMA Mark Lanterman – MA advertising representative Replica editor, and NASA webmaster JS: How did you get involved with model aviation? ML: I am probably one of the few people in aeromodeling who can truly say that I was “born” into this industry. My father was vice president of World Engines, one of the largest radio control…
9 pages

Chester (Chet) Lanzo

1914–1989 · AMA 2670

Career: A charter member of the Cleveland Balsa Butchers An early pioneer in Radio Control models June 1941: Set a national record in Class E Cabin Rubber 1937: Lanzo’s won the first Radio Control championship event at the Detroit Nationals A researcher, an inventor, a leader in design, and an outstanding contestant Held records in Outdoor Stick…
1 page

Sherwood E. (Gene) LaRoche

1934–

In the year 1938, at the age of four, I watched a boy two years my senior build a model airplane. That evening, after crying and begging, I received my first five-cent Comet model. I have not been without one since. I was 12 before I got one to fly. I won my first contest at 16. At 17, I joined the U.S. Air Force and stayed for 22 years. During…
2 pages

Gordon Larson

1934–

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…
3 pages

Lashek, Frank Lawrence

1916–2003

FRANK LAWRENCE LASHEK 1916 - 2003 Career: Lifetime model airplane flier – Free Flight in the 1930s and 1940s, Control Line in the 1950s and 1960s, Radio Control in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. AMA member since the 1940s. In the 1950s, Frank held several AMA-certified National Control Line Jet Speed records. He won trophies at several AMA…
2 pages Autobiography

Robert A (Bob) Laybourne

1929– · AMA 3798

Career: Won seventh place with a Comet sailplane at the 1948 AMA Nationals Is an AMA leader member and contest director Served as a Society of Antique Modelers (SAM) district vice president Was the contest manager for the 2002 SAM Champs Ran a hobby shop in Donnelsville, Ohio, for 23 years I began modeling around 1935 when I was 6-years-old. I…
1 page

Judith Lebakken

Biography

Judith Lebakken, Rosemount, Minnesota, received $2,000. Graduating from Rosemount Senior High with a GPA of 3.8, she was a member of the National Honor Society, won letters in swimming, competed on the math team, served as a student tutor, and still found time to join the international club. Her many interests include foreign languages, crafts…
4 pages

Clarence F. Lee

1923–2022 · AMA 2579

Career: 1941: Went to work for Vega Aircraft December 1942: Joined the Army Air Corps; served until 1946 and then was in the Reserves for seven and a half years Obtained a commercial pilots’ license with multi-engine and instrument ratings 1956: Started flying Control Line in the service and continued until he became interested in Radio Control…
1 page

Glenn M. Lee

1932–2021 · AMA 5087

Glenn Lee, 71, first won a trophy at the Nats in 1962. He founded the Tree Town Modelairs, serving as the club’s newsletter editor for several years. Glenn authored the CL Speed column in Model Aviation from 1994 to 2000. He wrote the rules used in the popular .21 Sport Speed event. Elected District VI Vice President from 1972 to 1979, Glenn…
1 page

Austin Leftwich

1923–2008 · AMA 473

Austin Leftwich Austin Leftwich, Richmond, Virginia, brings 65 years of modeling background to the Hall of Fame. He joined AMA in 1938 and became a contest director in 1939. His interest spans rubber free flight, gas free flight, control line, RC pattern, pylon, sailplanes, and helicopters. In 1941, he obtained an amateur radio operator’s license…
5 pages Autobiography

Alfred Lehmberg

1924–1999 · AMA 7000086

Career: AMA Leader Member for over 40 years Competitor Kit Manufacturer Life Patron of the AMA's Museum Patron Program Contest Director (AAA Meet) 1983-1995: Wrote Column in Model Builder Magazine Book author Wrote article for many other and other hobby magazines including: Scale Ship Modeler, Live Steam, U.S. Boat & Ship, RC Boat Modeler, and the…
4 pages

Andy Lennon

1914–2007

“Immortality is in the work that we publish.” Andy Lennon Biography Born: Sept. 1, 1914 Died: Nov. 24, 2007 When I first became acquainted with Andy, he was already an octogenarian; he impressed me with his mental acuity, wit, and enthusiasm for anything that flew. When I spoke with him a few days before his passing, my opinion had not changed…