A short history of the AMA

The Academic of Model Aeronautics abbreviated as (AMA) is an amazing non- profit organization based in Muncie, Indiana, USA. The organization mainly focuses on promoting of model aviation as a sport as well as a recreational activity. The AMA is the largest of its kind in a state with approximately 195,000 members, with 57,000 of them being youth under the age of 19. Founded in 1936 as the official national body for model aviation in the United States. AMA charters more than 2500 model airplane clubs and offers contest sanctioning, to more than one thousand model competition and offering liability insurance and procurement of flying sites.

Before Academy of Model Aeronautics came to be aero modelers belonged to various organizations which included the Junior Air league, the Junior NAA not forgetting the junior aviation league. Junior NAA was the first to sponsor the first National Aero modeling championships presently referred to as ‘Nats’ in 1923. AMA was first known as the American Academy model Aeronautics (AAMA). In 1936 the first mailing address 1732 RCA building Rockefeller Center, New York solidified its legitimacy. Within the same year, AMA moved to Dupont Circle Washington DC as part of the National Aeronautic Association. The first issuing of model aviation (magazine) was in June 1936 which includes a list of the newly elected officials, description of Nets and a list of eighteen events, the contestants and the race results. In 1940- both NAA and AMA moved their offices to the Willard Hotel in Washington DC. However, the moved into separate offices. This was the first time AMA was fully independent of NAA.

Every AMA- chartered club requires each member of the club to purchase AMA membership in order to cover their liability insurance. Flying members are required to follow their safety code guidelines so that he or she is well covered by the insurance cover. AMA organizes an annual National Aero modeling Championships, which is the largest model airplane competition in the world. Not to forget the major press coverage of big events all across the country. It wasn’t no more than 5 years after USA’s involvement in World War II, the organization had no insurance cover. In 1939, the insurance cover was initially proposed ($0.50 extra would provide a $500 liability cover) which came to be in the 1940’s (coverage raised to $1000). The first insurance cover was known as ‘gas insurance’, which was a requirement for all gasoline-powered models that were a key preference with most flying sites and contests. They presently offers in the US over $2.5million in coverage. In addition to ‘gas insurance’, AMA offers optional site insurance which is considered to be primary coverage at a very low cost. Due to the availability of AMA insurance is easy for clubs and individuals to get access to the flying site.

For an example, the US Army Corps of Engineers are required to have AMA insurance or equivalent coverage to acquire a lease of COE-managed land for model aircraft operation. There are regional districts within the United States which are well known AMA locations. They include the AMA district I, AMA district II, AMA district III and all the way up to AMA district Xl. To present-day members of AMA they typically receive MA (Model Aviation Magazine) as an active member benefit. The AMA has truly come a long way to its present state. The big question is what has the future has to offer?

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