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 M
1–24 of 84 entries ·
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2 pages Autobiography
Douglas V. Mac Brien
1929– · AMA 68432
Douglas V. Mac Brien submitted the following autobiography in 2006. Model Biography of Douglas C. Mac Brien The Beginning I was raised out in the country, 120 miles north of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, on the shore of a beautiful lake. My brother, Bob (two years older than I), came home from Toronto where he was attending Central Technical High…
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1 page
Jeffrey Macapinlac
Biography
Jeffrey Macapinlac of Santa Clara, California graduated from Cupertino High School, and has been admitted to the University of California at Los Angeles. He is pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, aided by a Sig scholarship in the amount of $500. Jeffrey achieved a grade point average of 3.87, and was in the National Honor Society. He…
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3 pages
Dr. Paul MacCready
1925–2007 · AMA 626304
Career: Set many model airplane records First soloed in a powered plane at age 16 Flew in the U.S. Navy flight-training program during World War II 1947: Graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Yale University Won second place in the National Soaring Contest at Wichita Falls, Texas, at age 21 1948, 1949, 1953: Won the U.S.…
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7 pages Autobiography
Charles Allen Mackey Jr.
1931– · AMA L1931
Career: Worked at Clarence Indoux’s hobby shop Served in the Navy from 1951 to 1953; continued building planes while on the Navy ship Started flying competitively in 1957 with his own designs for Control Line stunt and combat; won numerous first places Donated his first place trophies to the Indianapolis South Side YMCA; they were used to help…
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1 page
Vernon MacNabb
Biography
Vernon MacNabb, deceased, was a pioneer of license-free radios for model airplanes. Vernon built Free Flight and Control Line models before establishing the Citizen-Ship Radio Corporation in 1950. Citizen-Ship was created to develop and manufacture license-free radios at 465 megacycles, considered impossible at the time. Vernon’s work with the…
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2 pages
Frank Macy
1935–2009
Frank Macy: 1935-2009 The past few months have seen the passing of many of our friends in model aviation. Each may be generally known by many in our hobby, some can be specifically known to related groups, and in smaller circles, each can be special and personal friends. One person who left us on May 29, 2009, can undoubtedly be counted in all…
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4 pages
Warren Pete MacZura
1924–2000
Career and Honors: Member, Tri-City Sky Steelers and Greater St. Louis Scale Model Club 1950s: Placed twelve times in various contests, taking home 11 trophies, including a Grand Champion trophy in Springfield, Illinois Also won three “best finish” plaques 1960s: Placed at various contests, including: o First place, Scale, Valley Park, MO…
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2 pages
Don Madison
Biography
I Am the AMA Don Madison, U.S. Air Force navigator Jay Smith: How did you get involved with model aviation? Don Madison: In 1935, at the age of 10, my Uncle Fred gave me a 10¢ stick-and-tissue airplane for my birthday and helped me build it. I shared it with my three best friends, which led to Saturday model building. Evening paper routes provided…
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2 pages
Eric Maglio
Biography
I Am the AMA Eric Maglio, Northrop Grumman Unmanned Systems division mechanical engineer Jay Smith: How did you get involved with model aviation? Eric Maglio: I got into model aviation when I was about seven years old. I started with some very simple one- and two-channel electric models and progressed from there. I began scratchbuilding airplanes…
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2 pages
Joel Thomas Magnuson
Biography
Joel Thomas Magnuson from McKinleyville, California was awarded a Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship in the amount of $3,000. He wants to earn a degree in aeronautical engineering at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Joel attained a 3.97 grade point average and graduated eighth in his class. Joel was active in student government at McKinleyville High…
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2 pages
Lew Mahieu
1927–2012 · AMA 81281
Career: Started a model club while in high school Elected youngest president (at the time) of the Los Angeles Aero Modelers AMA Contest Director Manufacturer of model engine parts Developed the Supersonic Model Engine Fuels 1946: Designed ZEEK Free Flight model 1949: First to hold all four class (A, B, C and D) Speed records at the same time…
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3 pages
Cindy Malinchak
Biography
Rachelle Haughn Interviews Joe and Cindy Malinchak If you’ve ever been to the NEAT (Northeast Electric Aircraft Technology) Fair, held annually in September in New York’s Catskill Mountains, chances are that you know or have heard of Joe and Cindy Malinchak. This husband-and-wife duo is difficult to miss. They are both passionate about building…
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5 pages
Joe Malinchak
Biography
Joe Malinchak Model aviation and full-scale aviation have been a major part of my life ever since I was a boy. I was only around four or five years old when my Mom let me play with my Dad’s U-Control model that he had built and flown. I was very fascinated with the model, and all things that fly. My Dad passed away a few months before I was born…
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8 pages
Ray Malmström
Biography
Career: Published many model designs in magazines Contributed cartoons to most of the Runway publications Founded the model airplane club at Impington College in 1946 while he was teaching art there; as of 2002 the club was still active 2001: The club held a tribute to him that attracted about 40 examples of his designs The following information…
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2 pages
John P. Maloney
1922–1987
Career: Started World Engines in the early 1950s; was a manufacturer and supplier of kits, engines, radio and accessories Was a strong supporter of the AMA The following article ran in October 1987 issue of Model Aviation magazine after the death of John P. Maloney. Just a few days after his 65th birthday, John P. Maloney – “Mr. World Engines”…
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2 pages
Edward (Ed) Manulkin
1920– · AMA L7
Ed Manulkin Profile of a Life Member Once upon a time, a 9-year-old kid walked into a posh Philadelphia department store, went straight to the toy counter, and demanded to see the best model airplane kit they had. The year was 1929. The store was Gimbel’s. The kit was a toy Wanner Baby Rise off Ground (R.O.G.) priced reasonably at 50 cents. And…
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2 pages
Bruno P. Marchi
1915–1962
Some written by WCB (01/1965); Some written and edited by JS (10/2009), transcribed and updated by JS (01/2011) The following was published in the Fall 2009 issue of the National Model Aviation Museum’s Cloud9 newsletter. Bruno Marchi 1915-1962 Born Bruno Pieromarchi in Boston, Massachusetts, Marchi’s interest in aviation started early. He…
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2 pages
Michael (Mike) Orville Markowski
Biography
Ashley Rauen, AMA Communications Specialist, wrote the following for the September 2010 issue of Model Aviation magazine. A Lifetime Spent Promoting Aviation Since receiving his first model airplane at age 4, Mike Markowski has been using his love of aviation to accomplish great things. In addition to designing, building, and flying models, he…
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3 pages Autobiography
Fred M. Marks
1933–2022 · AMA 1733
Career: Founder and CEO of FMA Inc. 1976-1991: Founder and president of DJT Enterprises Developed Radio Control systems and accessories that were produced by ACE RC Has spent most of his professional career as a defense consultant to government and industry 1959-: Member of the District of Columbia Radio Control Club Member of the AMA frequency…
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1 page
Monty Marlherbe
Biography
Monty Marlherbe I don’t doubt that many people were as shocked as I was by the tragic death of Monty Marlherbe, father of South African Radio Control aviation, member of the Aero Club, and honorary life member of SAARF, in a flying accident on October 23, 1980. It was my pleasure and privilege to have known Monty for many years, and to have been…
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3 pages
Dr. John B. (Doc) Martin Jr.
1927–2002 · AMA 712
Career: Earned his DDS at Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and practiced in Miami, Florida from 1953 to 2001 Founded the Miami Indoor Aircraft Model Association (MIAMA) in 1973; found many local flying sites Served as the only scale judge for MIAMA contests Published 216 issues of The Hangar Pilot, the MIAMA club newsletter; a building plan…
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1 page
Gene Martine
1938–
Education: Manhattan High School of Aviation Trades, graduated June 1956 Florida Community College, Associate Science degree, Business education University of North Florida, Bachelor of Arts in Education, Master of Arts in Education, August 1975 My interest in modeling started in high school, around 1952. I joined the AMA in 1953; my AMA number…
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2 pages
Dirk Mason
Biography
Jay Smith: How did you get involved with model aviation? Dirk Mason: For my 11th birthday, my dad took me to the hobby shop where I got my first string Control Line] and it blew me away. I was the happiest kid ever in the whole world. A moment I feel every dad should have with his son! That day I was marveled by him - he made an investment in his…
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2 pages
Heather Massey
Biography
A Conversation with Higher Plane Productions’ Heather Massey JS: Tell us about your first experience with RC. HM: I worked with the Hockadays at East RC and Scootworks [motorcycle accessory company]. They convinced me to attend the Fly-for-Tots [Children’s Charity Fly-In, held by the RaleighDurham RC club] event, and I really enjoyed it. The…