THE INTERNATIONAL Aeromodeling Center (IAC) at
Muncie, Indiana, is the home to your AMA Headquarters
operation, the National Model Aviation Museum, and the
International Flying Site. More than 14,000 people (members
and nonmembers) visit the site every year.
It has been awhile since we gave you a good perspective of
how the site has developed. If you frequent the Competitions
Department section of the Web site, you might have seen some
of the construction and other site developments that have taken
place in the last few years. In this short article I’ll give you a
pictorial perspective of the site now—a virtual tour, if you will.
The IAC is situated on just less than 1,000 acres near the
middle of the state. The ground is flat, and we do our best to
keep obstructions in the flying areas to a minimum.
Photo 1: Entering the IAC from Memorial Drive, the new
administration building is on the left (behind the pond) and the
museum is on the right.
Photo 2: The museum building was the first structure built on
the site. It originally contained the museum and all of the
Headquarters staff and offices; it was very cramped. The
museum is currently in the process of being extended into the
area vacated by the Headquarters staff.
A new theater is under construction, the Lee Renaud
Memorial Library is being expanded, a restoration shop has
been added, and the magazine stacks now have a permanent
area. The Custom Merchandising Department has moved into
the back half of this building. All silk-screening, engraving, etc.
is done in this first-class facility. The museum is a must-see if
you are ever in the area.
Photo 3: The AMA staff moved into the new administration
building in March 2001. The low, horizontal area reminds one
of an airport concourse. The two-story atrium lobby—which is
decorated with model aircraft and memorabilia—is capped by a
vertical element reminiscent of an airport control tower.
The staff works in an open-concept office area that enjoys a
sweeping view of the pond immediately north of the building. A
second-floor, 1,500-square-foot boardroom can accommodate
gatherings of nearly 100 people and has a nearby kitchen for
meal service.
The building is state of the art in many ways. The installed
geothermal system uses the pond as a heat sink for its climatecontrol
system. Water-source heat pumps use the energy stored
in the pond for heating and air conditioning, thereby
significantly reducing the building’s reliance on fossil-fuelderived
energy; this, in turn, reduces operating costs and the
building’s environmental impact.
Photo 4: Driving out onto the flying site via the main entrance
road, this is the first improved area you reach. It is the Control
Line (CL) Speed and Racing venue. During major events,
protective netting is hung from the permanent poles surrounding
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■ Steve Kaluf
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the area. Both circles are marked for
Speed and Racing events, and both have
pylon bases installed.
Photo 5: Although it’s difficult to see
from this picture, this is the improved
grass area. This section is level and
smooth; it is approximately 600 x 600
feet of manicured grass.
As many as nine Control Line circles
may be placed here. It is also used for
Radio Control (RC) Soaring, RC
Electrics, and any other events in which
participants prefer a smooth grass area
from which to fly. The site has electricity
available and a high-volume water
system for irrigation.
Photo 6: This—the first paved flying
surface constructed at the IAC—is
commonly called the “L-pad.” This
location is primarily used for CL
Aerobatics; however, it is also used for
RC Aerobatics and, at times, RC
Helicopter. It is a good general-purpose
site. Markings exist for CL circles and the
RC Aerobatics boxes. A permanent
pavilion, electricity, and water are
available at this location.
Photo 7: A local club built the off-road
RC car track—Bob Vjoslavek RC
Raceway—with the understanding that
the group would construct and maintain
it. They did a nice job!
AMA has installed a driver’s stand
and computerized lap-counting scoring
system. All AMA members are welcome
to use the track when they’re in town. RC
cars must use 75 MHz (megahertz)
channels at the IAC. (Bob Hunt photo.)
Photo 8: The “Stage Center” runway
complex is used almost exclusively for
RC flying operations. Open RC flying
takes place here on a day-to-day basis
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Photos by the author except as noted Graphic Design by Carla Kunz
(weather permitting). Available at this
venue are two 700-foot-long paved
runways, an RC Pylon Racing takeoff
pad, and a pit area for Pylon Racing.
The building in the background is the
on-site restroom/shower facility.
Electricity and water are available. This
spot is also marked for RC Aerobatics
competitions. Two large gravel parking
areas service Stage Center.
Photo 9: Looking south from the road
immediately south of the L-pad, part of
Stage Center and the rest of the IAC are
visible. The low, blue buildings are the
maintenance garages. They are the work
areas for the maintenance staff, and
mowers and other equipment are kept
there. A recreational-vehicle dump
station is located adjacent to the
maintenance garages.
The area south of those buildings,
almost as far as you can see, is AMA
property. On the very south side of the
site is an improved grass runway and
parking area. Electric hookups for motor
homes are also located there.
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this short
tour. If your club wants to host an event
at the IAC, give me a call for details at
(765) 287-1256, extension 230. We can
make it easy for you to run! The IAC
hosts just fewer than 30 activities each
summer, ranging from small club outings
to World Championships. No event is too
small or too large.
If you will be in the area, make plans
to stop by. MA
Steve Kaluf
AMA Technical Director
May 2003 21
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