National Model and Sport Aviation Center
OVER A YEAR AGO the AMA Executive Council formed a committee to search for a potential property to serve as a new AMA headquarters and national-caliber flying site. Modeled on the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) facility in Oshkosh, WI, this prospective national center will raise the visibility and prestige of our sport. The future site could host the National Championships as well as many other modeling events of all sizes, accommodate other types of aviation sport activities, and house the AMA museum.
Purpose and vision
- Serve as a national-caliber flying site and AMA headquarters.
- Occasionally host the Nats as a complete package but primarily showcase premier events for all aspects of the sport.
- Provide facilities for all kinds of model airplanes and additional sites for model cars and boats.
- Support community involvement and public recognition of model aviation.
Progress and committee
The Property Acquisition Committee (PACOM) reports that selection of a potential National Model and Sport Aviation Center is progressing and getting closer to becoming a reality. The committee has received more than 50 proposals from across the country and is in the process of culling them for final consideration.
Plan: three regional sites
- A primary Midwestern site would house the museum and serve as the national center.
- A regional site would be located on each coast.
- The Nats and National Fun-Fly meets would rotate among the three sites to provide more accessible national events for modelers nationwide.
The center is not intended to be a permanent National Contest site; rather it will occasionally host the Nats and frequently showcase premier events across the sport.
Benefits to the sport and communities
- A large complex devoted entirely to model aviation that cooperates with and is accepted by a community will help build public esteem for the sport.
- Projecting a favorable public image should help mitigate difficulties clubs face in acquiring and retaining flying fields.
- Mutual cooperation between the national center and its host community would set an example for other communities and local governments, offering a positive alternative to increasingly restrictive rule-making.
- Creating a visible national center (and potentially a Hall of Fame) will improve public recognition and counter negative stereotypes about model aviation.
- The success of Oshkosh for home-built aviation and the National Center for Aeromodelling in Reston, VA, illustrate the potential benefits.
Site plan and design
- PACOM has retained Tom Kindschi of the national architectural firm HNTB.
- In collaboration with Kindschi, the committee developed a site plan that efficiently uses a two-square-mile area for model flying.
- The plan includes facilities for all kinds of model airplanes plus additional areas for model cars and boats.
- Scheduling Free Flight separately from other events is planned so Free Flight can have uncompromised use of the area.
Site selection criteria
- The committee seeks a location readily accessible from many areas of the country, not simply close to any individual’s home.
- The southern part of the Midwest best meets accessibility and moderate-climate criteria; even sites in central Illinois or Indiana are considerably warmer than northern Wisconsin.
- Strong community involvement is important; the prospective site should be close to a city or fair-sized town offering needed resources.
- The committee will consider permissible off-site activities and other ways of maintaining the site; community involvement could be an important revenue source.
How members and clubs will be involved
- Reserve a field on the site for events or club functions, similar to reserving a picnic area in a park.
- Use on-site camping facilities and nearby hotel accommodations for family-friendly visits.
- When not conflicting with scheduled events, facilities will be open for sport flying by AMA members.
- The center is expected to host multiple scheduled events each year beyond the Nats.
Next steps and timeline
- The committee is reviewing proposals and will recommend several sites for final consideration, along with procedures for engineering studies.
- Solicitation of new site proposals was completed in June.
- Recommendations will be made to the Executive Council at the Nats Council meeting in July.
- The committee will continue reporting progress through Model Aviation and invites member input.
Contact and participation
- Send questions or comments to Vince Mankowski or Doug Pratt at AMA Headquarters: 8100 Samuel Morse Dr., Reston, VA 22090.
- Join discussions on ModelNet, AMA’s personal computer network.
— Pete Waters
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
