Club History

The Weatherford Aero Modeling Society (WAMS) was founded as an Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) chartered club in 1986 (Charter #2267), when some ten or so modelers got together to find a place of their own to fly. Their goals were to establish a flying oriented club and to enjoy the family aspects offered by model aviation. The monthly club meetings were initially held in various member's homes and offices. Several of these founding modelers are still members of the club.

Our first field was located on City of Weatherford property located near Lake Weatherford. This site served us well until the city needed the property for the construction of a new water plant.

Our second site was leased from Bob & Gale Bradford. With their generosity and support, we had a first class field that included substantial improvements; including a 40 x 200 concrete runway and a paved and sun shaded pit/spectator area.

Next, the club moved west of Weatherford towards Mineral Wells, TX. The field included a run way that was over 200 feet long and plenty wide for even beginers to land on. That field fell victim to Barnett shale gas exploration. Drilling rigs went up and the next thing we new we were looking for another site.

The club moved onto reclaimed landfill property owned by EISI and laid out a 40' x 220' petra-mat runway. Less that a year later, EISI decided to reuse the property and WAMS lost yet another lease.

WAMS is currently in the proccess of searching for another site.

Financing of club operations and improvements is furnished by membership dues and the WAMS Annual Swap Meet. These swap meets were initiated and developed by Dr. Sandy Frank, one of our founding members. Each member is expected to work at these events, as they are the financial life blood of the club. The WAMS swap meets have grown to be one of the largest, most respected and best attended swap meets in the southwest.