The AMA Cub was developed in 1968 by Frank Ehling, technical director of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), as a simple plane to introduce beginners to the hobby and sport of model aviation.  It is suitable for kids age 10 or older, younger with direct help.  It takes about an hour to build.  Wikipedia, Model Airplane, Entry Level, includes it in the list of the five most popular entry level model airplanes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_aircraft

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has published a series of History Moments, including this one for Week 3 in October on the AMA Cub and its cousins:

http://www.modelaircraft.org/museum/hisfacs/factoids_october.aspx

It has been in production for many years and is the most widely built beginner model.  The version kitted by Sig Manufacturing and sold by the AMA is known as the AMA Cub.  Midwest Products makes a very similar, slightly smaller plane called the Delta Dart.  The following links tell more about this airplane, how to build and fly them and its educational value.

Building and Flying

There are several sets of building instructions.  I list them all because each has something a little different.

I might as well lead with our own comprehensive illustrated build and fly tutorial

AMA Cub

Bill Kuhl’s sites give much background in addition to building and flying instructions

http://www.hbci.com/~bkuhl/Dart.htm
http://www.hbci.com/~bkuhl/rubber.htm

Gary Hinze note on building for proper balance

http://samodelair.blogspot.com/2009/05/gary-hinze-from-california-on-delta.html

Canadian Cub instructions, note the supplemental steps A-E to the right

http://www.1stmerrickville.ca/events/canadian_cub/Canadian%20Cub%20Instructions.png
http://www.1stmerrickville.ca/events/canadian_cub/Canadian%20Cub%20Instructions.pdf

First Flight Delta Dart building instructions

http://www.bakalar.org/FirstFlights/ff_deltadart.htm

Eli Whitney Museum assembly instructions

http://www.eliwhitney.org/new/workshop/projects/ama-cub

South African Model Aircraft Association Cub plan with instructions

http://www.samaa.org.za/pdf/samaa_delta_datr.pdf

Dave’s flight video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwuI460FaQU

Williams book

http://www.indoorduration.com/williamschapter2.htm

Sources of Kits

Look around these sites for other things.

AMA Store

http://www.modelaircraft.org/shopama/dept.aspx?id=A56BB228B51A4B51B4E4CCBC4C1F7BDB

Sig Manufacturing Store

http://www.sigmfg.com/IndexText/SIGFF5.html

Midwest Delta Dart kit

http://www.midwestproducts.com/store/product/9e0e4b92-8382-49de-ab30-6795f45640d8/Delta_Dart.aspx

British Model Flying Association Dart and others

http://www.bmfa.org/education/kits.html

Great Canadian Cub kit

http://www.greathobbies.com/productinfo/?prod_id=GHPCUB

Trillium Balsa, Canada

http://www.trilliumbalsa.com/beginercub2.html

 

Use in Educational Programs

British Model Flying Association Education Programme

http://www.bmfa.org/education/index.html

First Flights Program

http://www.bakalar.org/FirstFlights/index_first_flights.htm

Whitney Museum Aeromodeling Club

http://www.eliwhitney.org/new/workshop/aeromodeling

Canadian Cub Scouts building Canadian Cubs, in pictures

http://www.1stmerrickville.ca/events/canadian_cub/

Thayer Syme’s site

http://www.gryffinaero.com/pathways/chapter6.html

AMA Cub Program document

http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/709.pdf

Kettle Moraine Middle School Program, Wales, WI

http://www.kmsd.edu/Middleschool.cfm?subpage=254466

Delta Dart Teachers’ guide

http://www.aiaa.org/kidsplace/kidsplacepdfs/Delta%20Dart.pdf

Mansfield Middle School Flight Camp, Storrs, CT

http://www.mansfieldct.org/Schools/MMS/staff/hand/Flightcamp.htm

Pennsylvania State College Radio Control Club elementary school Delta Dart model building class

http://www.personal.psu.edu/afn1/scrc/Delta%20Dart%20Classes/Overview.htm