The World of Miniature Warbirds

War, what is it good for? Well, really cool aircraft anyway. Think about it, all those planes, each with its unique advances in technology…if you could only get your hands on one, right? This is where the beauty of model flying soars. Scaled-down military aircraft from all over the world help assuage the desire to harness a full-scale warbird. So, where do you begin? The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) approves of the Special Interest Group, World Miniature Warbird Association (WMWA) http://www.wmwa.org/ as the authority on the world of warbirds. The WMWA provides requirements for warbird status, a community of warbird enthusiasts, special events, and a directory of groups all over the world. The WMWA is dedicated to inclusion of anyone who has a love for building and flying warbirds. To ensure this inclusion, the requirements for warbird status are very basic. The association doesn't exclude aircraft due to model size, engine capacity, or scale fidelity. In addition to AMA safety codes for RC model aircraft, "The WMWA defines a 'Warbird Aircraft' as a model of any aircraft used for military purposes by any Country at any time. It must be a scale or semi-scale rendering, recognizable as such, and marked accordingly. Any prototype offered to the military but not accepted would also fall into the category of a 'Warbird Aircraft.' It cannot be a model of any aircraft made to look like a 'Warbird Aircraft' by applying military markings to it." (WMWA Constitution) The idea, in this special interest association, is for a community of warbird enthusiasts to gather in a spirit of camaraderie, rather than competition. The hobby of world miniature warbirds is centered around the project of construction, whether with a kit or from scratch, and the thrill of heart-leaping flight when these beauties are complete.The main miniature warbird event is the fly-in. Spectacular model aircraft make their mark in the sky and on the ground as fellow RC aviators and spectators look on. Fly-in events also include things like intro pilot training programs, guest speakers, and low-key contests. It is quite astonishing to witness tens of museum-quality aircraft, with wingspans from two to thirty plus feet, decorated to the hilt, en masse. An exceptional benefit of flying a warbird with the WMWA is its world-wide network of groups, known as Wings. This is important to the hobby in that the aircraft, too, is from full-size military aircraft, originating from all over the world. This network of members links each hobbyist to people who specialize in particular models of aircraft from particular countries. If you wanted to build a military model from France, wouldn't you gather more information and guidance through communicating with fellow hobbyists in that country?In conclusion, if you are interested in flying a warbird, starting out with the WMWA specifications for scale military aircraft is a natural step. Then ask yourself: What war era interests me? Do I like fighters, bombers, or maybe even a helicopter? Will I start with a kit, plans, or make the model as I go? Think about it, and then make the next fly-in around your part of the world your goal.