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.

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

People under W

1–24 of 67 entries ·

2 pages

Brent Waganer

Biography

Brent Waganer, Florissant, Missouri, is pursuing a medical education at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. His award, in the amount of $2,500, will help him in the first year of a six-year course of study. Brent graduated from McCluer North High School with a GPA of 3.875, placing 13th in a class of 420. He had many interests in high…
1 page

Hugh W. Wagner

Biography

Hugh W. Wagner joined the AMA in 1938 at age 14. He has been an aeromodeler, off and on, ever since. He interrupted his model aircraft career to serve as a fighter pilot in WWII and then again to fight in Korea in 1952. Douglas Aircraft employed him until he took disability retirement in 1975. He has helped to organize clubs, served as a club…
4 pages Autobiography

Joe (Dakota Joe) Wagner

1928– · AMA 835

Career: Spring/Summer of 1949: Chosen by the Model and Hobby Industry Association to tour America, demonstrating model airplanes, engines and race cars Designed Free Flight model kits for the Veco company Designed the Dakota all sheet Free Flight model; it became an instant classic All of his Free Flight kit designs are noted for being foolproof…
2 pages

Lord Wakefield

Biography

Lord Wakefield “As you know, I have been interested in model aeronautical engineering from its early days, and I rejoice that the movement has spread far and wide. It is a science as well as a sport. Its practical value is everywhere recognized, proof being afforded by the fact that many of the early enthusiasts in model construction have since…
6 pages Autobiography

Kermit Walker

1943– · AMA L123

Kermit Walker submitted the following autobiography to the AMA History Project (at the time called the AMA History Program) in August of 2008. Name: (Lewis) Kermit Walker (I have never used the Lewis, even though it is my legal first name) Current hometown: Lodi, California Born: August 2, 1943 near Akron, Ohio Memberships: AMA Member since 1958…
5 pages Autobiography

Mickey Walker

1931–2024 · AMA 7633

Career: Built identification models for the government during World War II 1947: Won first place in Class C Gas at his first contest in Griffin, Georgia Starting in 1947: Flew in many model contests throughout the Southeast; continues to fly in contests at present (2002) including contests of the Society of Antique Modelers (SAM) 1954: Won third…
5 pages

Nevilles E. (Jim/Jimmy) Walker

1904–1958

Career: After teaching himself to build flying model airplanes, set up an assembly line in his basement to teach others how to build them when he was 12 or 13 1923: As a young teenager began producing and selling ready-to-fly rubber-powered model airplanes in his basement with the help of friends; the enterprise successfully continued until they…
2 pages

Paul Walker

1954– · AMA 30702

Career: 2002: Won the Nationals open division and Walker Cup nine times total by this date; five of these wins were consecutive; also won three second places and one third place 1977: Flew in his first Nationals 1990: First used the tuned pipe set-up starting 1995: Dominated the FAI Team Trails starting 1992: Competed in many World Championships…
2 pages Autobiography

Robert L. Walker

1933–2025 · AMA 5409

Career: Bought and operated Walker’s Hobby shop in Saint Charles, Illinois, starting in 1967 Received his private pilot’s license as an adult and built his own full-scale plane Began Robart Manufacturing Company in 1971 with partner Bart Furey Robart, which sells products globally, grew and was reorganized in 1986 when Bob and his wife, Sylvia…
3 pages

Hale Wallace

1936–2000 · AMA 3681

Information submitted by SW (02/2006); Written & Edited by JS (02/2006), Reformatted by JS (02/2010) Scott Wallace, son of Hale Wallace, wrote the following biography. The Beginning Hale Wallace was born in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania. Early on, he showed interested in all things aviation-related. He started modeling very early in the 1940s…
4 pages Autobiography

Robert Wallace

1934– · AMA 478

Information submitted by RW (05/2003); Written & Edited by SS (05/2003), Reformatted by JS (02/2010) Career: 1950: Compete in his first Nationals at age 15 and did well 1970s-1980s: Directed numerous local contests 1977-: Has drafted construction plan sheets for many manufactures and for RC Modeler magazine 1976- present (2003): Has had numerous…
3 pages

Fred W. Wallman Jr.

1921–1991 · AMA 65143

Career: June 18, 1957: With two others, incorporated the Twin City Radio Controllers Was the owner of the Annco Engineering Company 1970s-1980s: Built three full-scale aircraft The following information was compiled and submitted by Bruce E. Anthony, AMA 17490. Fred W. Wallman, Junior was born on March 17, 1921 and died on March 8, 1991 at the age…
3 pages Autobiography

Eugene (Gene) P. Wallock

1934– · AMA 598

Gene Wallock submitted the following autobiography in 2006. Gene Wallock’s Biography February 4, 2006 The Beginning I started building models in 1939. My first attempt was a Megow Corbin Ace two-bit kit that my uncle bought for me. Mom cut out the parts because razor blades were dangerous. My first mentor was Louis Scutiere when I lived in…
4 pages Autobiography

Alton (Blake) Walston

Autobiography

Alton Walston wrote the following autobiography in 2007. The Biography of Alton (Blake) Walston I was born on Friday, November 13, 1942 aboard a DC-4 airplane about to land in Baltimore, Maryland. Mom was rushed to St Joseph’s Hospital and that is my birthplace of record. My start in modeling began at my elementary school in Cresaptown, Maryland…
3 pages Autobiography

Jim Walters

Autobiography

Jim Walters wrote the following autobiography, date unknown. Autobiography of Jim Walters By Jim Walters This will be an attempt to recount the events in my life that lead up to my present-day position as a “Really Great SAM 8” member, otherwise known as an “Old Time Free Flighter.” (Really old, it seems.) To begin with, I was born October 14…
4 pages

Bill Warner

1933–2020 · AMA 28070

Career: 1949: Won an exhibit contest with a Cleveland Gee Bee Z Worked as a machinist for North American Aviation and the Northrop Corporation in California 1960: Began teaching junior high school; started a model club at his school and organized various other modeling seminars, summer programs and extracurricular activities 1963-: Co-founded the…
1 page

Franklin D. Warner

1926– · AMA 31630

Franklin Warner began modeling around the age of six or seven. It was before World War II, when children dreamed of being pilots. He remembers a Megow Free Flight kit with one rubber band in it that only extended the flight ten or fifteen feet; otherwise, it was a glider. Frank found that he could fly his airplanes further if he went up a hill…
6 pages

Ralph Warner

Biography

AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame Nomination for Ralph Warner Ralph Warner, born and raised in Chicago, developed a passion for aircraft at an early age. At just 14, he competed in his first model aviation competition on July 10, 1949, sponsored by Plymouth Motors at the Glenview Naval Air Station. Though he didn’t win an award at that event, Ralph…
10 pages

Elmer Wasman

1908– · AMA 33563

Career: 1929: built and flew his first successful rubber-powered model airplane 1936: designed, built and flew his first Radio Controlled prototype model called the White Peril 1936: Designed and built a receiver, a three-tube regenerative detector, on the five-meter band. The whole control system weighed three and a half pounds 1937: Designed…
1 page

Cathy Waters

Biography

Cathy Waters of Northville, Michigan is a sophomore at Western Michigan University studying accounting and finance. She received $1,000 from the scholarship program. Cathy is interested in Pylon Racing and has served as starter, scorekeeper, and lap counter at numerous local, regional, and national contests. She acts as caller and mechanic on her…
1 page

Peter Waters

Biography

Peter Waters Pete Waters, 66, has been a modeler for more than 50 years. His achievements include designer, experimenter, and competitor, and he is considered an electronic wizard. As a successful Aerobatics competitor, Pete was a five-time British champion and represented his native country at the World Championships. He moved to the United…
2 pages

Richard Luke Waters

Biography

Richard Luke Waters is the recipient of a $2,000 Sig Manufacturing Scholarship. Luke, of Rockville, Maryland, graduated from Rockville High School and is attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. He is pursuing a degree in aeronautical science. Having “a passion for things that fly” since he was four years old, Luke…
7 pages

Bobby Watts

Biography

The Other Side of the Treeline - Bobby Watts By Rachelle Haughn Bobby was featured in the summer 2016 issue of Park Pilot. When he flies, Bobby Watts puts everything he has on the line. His passion, drive, and determination have helped him become a fierce competitor, an entrepreneur, an engineer, and someone who has turned his love of aeromodeling…
6 pages

Elbert J. (Joe) Weathers

Biography

Career: Won the Pacific Coast Gas Model Championship sometime before it was discontinued in September of 1939 1935: Won the Richfield Oil Company scale model contest; was successful in any contests 1935: Co-founded the San Diego Aeroneers and served as its corresponding secretary until 1940 Developed shock-absorbing single-strut landing gear…