2026 AMA National Fun Fly

AMA National Fun Fly 2026

Celebrate model aviation this summer at the IAC!

Photos provided by AMA and Randy Cameron

As seen in the May 2026 issue of Model Aviation.

Outdoor event with model planes, striped tents, and crowd on an airstrip.

Two vintage biplanes with text "U.S. Army Consolidated PT-6A" and "March Field" on the fuselage. — A couple of biplanes wait for their next flight in the pit area of Site 3 at the IAC. The large campground is just south of this site.

You are no doubt aware of AMA Headquarters and the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana. You might have also read about the numerous events and the AMA National Championships (Nats) that take place in Muncie each year. You might not, however, be aware that there is also an event in Muncie for, well, the rest of us.

The AMA National Fun Fly will take place Thursday through Saturday, June 25-27, with Sunday, June 28 set aside for open flying. All raffles will conclude on Saturday afternoon.

Museum with model airplanes hanging from the ceiling and display cases below. — (L-R): AMA’s National Model Aviation Museum is a must see! Note the cash register in the replica hobby shop.

Vintage toy store with glass display cases and shelves full of model kits and toys. — (L-R): AMA’s National Model Aviation Museum is a must see! Note the cash register in the replica hobby shop.

Any AMA member is welcome to fly if you have an AMA-legal airplane. That’s right; if you have a small 1/2A hand-launch model or a Giant Scale Large Model Airplane Program airplane, bring it!

Each morning will begin with a short pilots’ meeting, and then it’s time to fly. There will be flightline bosses, so the flightline will run smoothly. If there is a large number of a certain size of airplane, there might be time slots, but that will be sorted out at the pilots’ meeting. There is also room for Free Flight and Control Line, and if you have an RC boat, AMA has a pond as well.

This is not the first year for the National Fun Fly. Unfortunately, the event was not held in 2025—but it’s back!

The National Fun Fly is the brainchild of Randy Cameron. If that name sounds familiar, he is the AMA executive vice president and, more importantly, a very active modeler who is also a contest director (CD) at several events throughout the year. Randy wanted to hold a fun, noncompetition, relaxing event for all.

The National Fun Fly also includes a swap meet! Bring items to sell, or browse what others have for sale. This swap meet will be run by Hank Rauhaus—yes, the same guy who now runs the Toledo R/C Swap Meet & Expo that takes place in April. This will be a mini trade show; some vendors will be on hand to show you their latest items.

The AMA Foundation, with Foundation Director Steve Haston and some of the AMA Foundation Board members, will also be on-site. Steve tells me that they will be running the raffles and cooking hotdogs. Stop by and check out the AMA Foundation and plan on partaking in a hotdog lunch for a small fee.

I am sure that you have heard about the AMA National Model Aviation Museum; it is free to all AMA members. Every time I go to this very nice museum, I end up spending more time there than I thought I would.

The center of the museum is a replica of a real old-time hobby shop. It reminds me of trips to the hobby shop with my dad many years ago. It also has a cash register, and I wish I could buy some of those items. The National Model Aviation Museum also includes a library. I will bet that almost any model magazine is there. I look for old articles and take pictures so that I have copies.

The IAC also has camping. There is primitive camping on a grass site, trailer and motorhome camping, and even full hookups. One of the camping areas has a bathhouse with showers. Several motels and hotels are northwest of AMA near Ball State University, approximately 6 to 8 miles away. For camping reservations, use the IAC camping portal or contact Yolanda Jones at AMA with inquiries.

Museum floor plan with areas for Engines, Free Flight, Scale, and Control Line. — The museum map shows the layout of the displays within the building.

Man holding a remote next to a large model airplane on grass. — Randy Cameron, AMA’s executive vice president and the CD of the AMA National Fun Fly, is shown with one of his pride and joys.

Hotel information, and a link for hotel discount codes, can be found on the AMA website.

There are plenty of shopping centers, as well as fast food and sit-down restaurants. There is even miniature golf with baseball batting cages.

It sounds like fun, but Muncie is so far away! From Indianapolis, I still have to drive north for an hour. Muncie is a 500-mile drive each way for me, but the drive is worth it! I usually get to Muncie two to three times a year.

The IAC flying site is almost a square mile. The event site is on nice pavement, with a cross runway and golf course grass all around.

Keep in mind that the fun-fly is the week before the Fourth of July, so make it a road trip on the way home and see some of our country’s sites.

Come out and join us at this year’s AMA National Fun Fly! Pilot registration will be $40 for all four days and/or swap meet seller’s tables are $25 each. Preregistration is encouraged, but you can register on-site for an additional $5.