The National Model Aviation Museum Celebrates Summer With New Artifacts And Exhibits

The National Model Aviation Museum has completed the installation of several new exhibits, with new artifacts and hands-on platforms for museum visitors to enjoy. Many of the new pieces are on loan and will only be on display throughout the summer months.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has announced that after a year of work the National Model Aviation Museum is now a recognized civilian museum with the National Museum of the United States Air Force.  As such, the NMAMA is now eligible to receive items on loan.  Already the museum has received and placed on display several Unmanned Air Vehicle systems (sUAS), including a Pointer, Raven and Batcam, as well as four wind tunnel models highlighting the use of wind tunnels in aircraft research and design.

The summer display includes the first trophy awarded for a national modeling competition. The Henry S. Villard Trophy is on loan to the AMA from the San Diego Air & Space Museum through September 2015 to commemorate the centennial of national model aviation competition.

New hands-on exhibits make the museum the perfect place bring the kids to learn more about the principles of flight with our new hands-on exhibit, the Four Forces of Flight. The exhibit has been donated by The Challenger Learning Center, in Woodstock, IL.

In recognition of the popularity of multirotor drones, a new feature has been added to the early exhibit in the main gallery.  On display is a hybrid helicopter/multirotor, as well as the first-known multirotor that was commercially sold, the Keyence Gyrosaucer E-170, circa 1989, which was only sold in Japan.

Visiting the museum is not only for looking, it’s also for learning. When visiting the National Model Aviation Museum, make sure to check out AMA’s upcoming summer events which include:

• IRCHA Jamboree, August 5-9. This is the largest Radio Control (RC) helicopter event of its kind. The event includes fireworks on Saturday evening, food, vendors, and much more. www.ircha.org
  
• National Model Aviation Day, August 15. Join us for a day of celebrating model flying right in Muncie, home to the Academy of Model Aeronautics. The event includes an aviation-themed motorcycle rally and family fest, complete with airplane rides, a free movie, make-and-take rockets, demonstrations and displays, vendors, and a special presentation by Wounded Warrior Speak representative and veteran, Deven Schei. All the proceeds from the event will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. www.nmadmuncie.org
  
• Indiana Warbird Campaign, September 3-5. This scale RC and “salute to the classics” air show features World War I barnstorming, World War II dogfighting, jets, and more. There is night flying and a fireworks show on Friday evening. www.indianawarbirdcampaign.com.

The National Model Aviation Museum is located at 5151 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie, IN. The museum will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day through September 6, when fall hours begin. The cost of admission is very reasonable and AMA members are admitted free.

FMI: www.modelaircraft.org/museum/museum.aspx