Welcome to the Miniature Aircraft Association website.  There are many pages of information here for you.  If you are interested it being a member of our group you might like to check out the Membership Application page.  If you are a pilot looking wanting the current conditions near Higgins Field, our weather page is reported from a station within a mile of the flying field.   The  Weather Forecast Pages are forecast for the exact GPS coordinates of Higgins Field. We also have many more informative pages you you can reach from the links on the right, including events from our club and others in the Northwest on our Event Calendar.  Most events on this calendar have a link to a map that may be viewed in either a road map format, or satelite format, and zoomed in and out for the optimal view.  Club members are invited to join the MAA's Forum, where they can discuss relivant topics, get answers from other club members on any of the numerous topics in the model automobile and aircraft hobby.  In addition to a Newsletter Archive dating back to 2002, we also have a Media section with still photos and Videos from MAA and other area events of interest.


Who We Are

The club grew in membership and the local housing area was expanding by leaps and bounds. Several club members had been working with the Benton County Park Board and a long-term lease was set up in 1997. We are now firmly established at our current site off Highway 225 near the Yakima River. A great deal of work has been accomplished. Our well has been pumping water to our well established grass areas. We've installed underground sprinklers and in 2002 moved from a dryer belt runway to paved a 40 by 400-foot runway. Fortunately, our grass saved us from losing everything in the big Hanford fire of 2000. It burned all the way around the fields up to the grass, however, it did scorch the edges of the grass and we lost our well house, but that was repaired in short order. Also in 2002 we renamed the field to Higgins Field, with a unanimous vote from all members present. In 2003 the Benton County Park board voted to install electricity to its Horn Rapids Park and watering the grass became much easier. Recent improvements include a grass runway for cross winds.

The MAA holds several fun flies and big bird events each year with our annual three day Indian Summer Jamboree as the last event of the year. The MAA field has a large graveled parking lot, plumbed rest room facilities and concessions. Over night camping is permitted. One mile north is the Horn Rapids Park facility with full service RV parking, including power and a clean out facility. Check our web site calendar for specific dates, information and maps.

Our flying style is for sport flying. Our planes run from the very simplest electric to big bird to scale with a growing interest in helicopters & 3D planes. Our standard is, if you can fly it safely, then fly it. The site also includes 2 tracks for racing cars and trucks.  Continual improvements are being made. Our membership is open to all. We require that you belong to the AMA and be a member of the MAA, however guests and prospective members are welcome to fly along side of current AMA members. Training is available with "buddy boxes" for novices.  This is a great opportunity for camaraderie, sharing ideas, and having fun.