160
AMA USES a calendar year for its recordkeeping
purposes. Since this is being written
in early January, there is no financial
information to report.
I serve as chairperson of the Museum
Committee. This is a very interesting
committee and I will share with you some of
the upcoming plans. Following is part of a
letter written to me by Michael Smith,
curator of the National Model Aviation
Museum.
“The museum’s Lee Renaud Memorial
Library expansion is nearing completion.
The additional space will allow for an
expanded audio/visual section as well as the
opportunity to make the library’s collection
of newsletters more accessible.
“Added shelving will also allow more
full-scale and model aviation books to be
made available to the visiting public. These
steps will only further enhance the benefits
offered to researchers.
“The museum’s new hands-on gallery
also nears completion. Currently, we are
putting the finishing touches on the
permanent Remotely Controlled Aircraft
Demonstrator (RCAD) display and the
permanent Remotely Controlled Aircraft
Demonstrator-Helicopter (RCAD-H)
display. These, along with the computer
simulators already in place, will greatly
enhance the museum’s ability to educate
visitors about aeromodeling.
“This gallery will also house the
museum’s Wright brothers exhibit. This
exhibit will trace the Wrights’ progress in
aviation—from the small flying top they
received as children through the very first
truly successful aircraft, their 1905 flyer.
“A special feature of this exhibit will
allow visitors to lie down on a reproduction
of the 1905 flyer’s wing and personally see
how the Wrights controlled their aircraft.
“The classroom/theater is the next
project to be tackled. This room,
approximately 486 square feet, will enable
the museum to provide visitors with an
overview of aeromodeling. It will also allow
staff and volunteers to provide hands-on
activities/programs that deal with model
aviation.
“There are many other projects in
progress, but completion is at least six
months in the future.”
Remember, goals are dreams with
deadlines. ABC—Always Be Courteous.
William Likens Brown IV, creator of the first gas-powered
model engine, died January 8, 2003, at the age of 91. Bill Brown,
who hailed from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, first designed his
engine in 1929.
Maxwell Bassett used an early Brown engine in his Miss
Philadelphia III at the 1933 National Aeromodeling
Championships (Nats) and
made a record flight of 28
minutes. The engine also
helped Bassett win every
major category at that
year’s Nats, thus changing
the face of model
aviation.
The engine went into
production by the Junior
Motors Corporation in
1934 with Bill’s father
serving as a co-founder.
Bill Brown stayed with
the company until 1940,
at which time he
developed an interest in
creating a carbon-dioxide engine. By 1942 or 1943 he
successfully built his first carbon-dioxide engine.
In 1950, Bill formed Campus Industries (later to become
Micro-Tol) where he produced his A-100 CO2-powered engine,
the Campus Bee, and his .29 Glo Engine. In 1968, Bill went back
into business for himself establishing Brown Junior Motors Inc. to
produce his CO2 engines.
Bill’s work continued throughout the next few decades; in
1994 he created the smallest single-cylinder reciprocating CO2
engine in the world.
For his innovations in
model aviation and for his
work encouraging young
people to become
involved with the sport,
Bill was inducted in the
National Model Aviation
Hall of Fame in 1974, the
National Free Flight
Society Hall of Fame in
1978, the Society of
Antique Modelers Hall of
Fame in 1990, and was
named an AMA Fellow in
both 1982 and 1990.
Several of Bill’s early
engines are on display in
the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington
D.C., and at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany.
Bill Brown is survived by his wife, Dorothy (above, right),
three sons, one brother, and three grandsons.
Executive VP’s Report
Doug Holland
AMA Executive VP
3517 Fernwood Dr.
Raleigh NC 27612
(Home) (919) 787-5163
(Office) (919) 787-7454
William Likens Brown IV
May 30, 1911-January 8, 2003
EC Meeting
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AMA member on request.
A copy of the most recently
approved minutes will be provided at
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