[1] It is affiliated to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) through the Australian Sport Aviation Confederation.

Founded in 1947,[2] as of April 2013[update] the MAAA has over 10,000 members, down from a high of 12,000 in 2012, and total assets including flying fields, land and equipment worth more than $4 million AUD.

The MAAA offers a Wings program, teaching beginners how to safely operate radio controlled model aircraft.

Aeromodelling started in Australia in the early 1900s following the invention of the aeroplane however, it was not until the 1930s that organised modelling groups appeared.

It was hoped that model flyers from the UK and USA would come to the competition however it ended up being only Australian's and New Zealander's who attended.