About UAL
An independent national league founded in 2014 to develop aeromodelling in Ukraine, support young people and build a stronger community around the culture of flight.
Who we are
UAL brings together athletes, aeromodellers, coaches, mentors, youth teams, local clubs and people who share a passion for model aviation. From the beginning, the League has developed as an environment where different generations and experience levels can meet.
Today, UAL activity includes competitive aeromodelling, youth and educational programmes, support for local clubs, events, community initiatives and international cooperation. The League aims to preserve traditional model aviation while remaining open to contemporary formats.
Inside UAL
The League is built around practical work: preparing aircraft, learning together, flying, competing and sharing experience between generations. This video provides a direct look at that environment.
Mission & Vision
Mission
We aim to create opportunities for young people, support athletes and local clubs, transfer experience between generations and keep Ukrainian model aviation connected to the international aviation community.
Vision
We envision an environment where children and young people can discover aviation regardless of where they live or their family circumstances, while model aviation continues to develop as sport, tradition and part of Ukraine’s aviation culture.
2014—2026
UAL began as a community united by aeromodelling, sport and a desire to pass knowledge to the next generation. Over time, the League expanded from local meetings and training into broader youth, educational, community and international activity.
The Ukrainian Aeromodeling League was founded in 2014 by Serhii Bondarenko together with a group of like-minded enthusiasts. The early years focused on regular meetings, joint training, practical knowledge exchange, demonstration flights and local thematic events.
This period established a principle that remains central to UAL: creating a permanent environment where experienced aeromodellers can work alongside newcomers and where sporting practice is connected with technical creativity and responsible flying culture.
As the community grew, the League’s work increasingly extended beyond individual competitions. Training and club activity expanded, youth initiatives developed and experienced participants became more systematically involved in workshops and mentoring.
Connections between clubs from different regions also strengthened. For UAL, sporting results remained important, but so did the transfer of knowledge, support for local communities and a clearer pathway for young participants from a first model to regular practice.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly limited traditional in-person events, training sessions and meetings. Part of the League’s communication, educational activity and knowledge exchange moved online, helping participants stay connected.
As restrictions eased, UAL gradually returned to practical sessions, training and in-person meetings while retaining useful experience from remote communication.
Russia’s full-scale invasion fundamentally changed the environment in which the Ukrainian aeromodelling community operated. Supporting people, young participants and local initiatives became a major priority, particularly where access to education, community and technical creativity had become more difficult.
Community and educational programmes therefore took on a larger role. UAL focused on maintaining connections within the community and helping aeromodelling remain an accessible development environment for young people.
At the current stage, UAL is gradually expanding its sporting, youth and international work. Key areas include developing the youth network, supporting local clubs, restoring regular formats of interaction and creating new opportunities for knowledge exchange.
The League is also placing greater emphasis on international contacts, youth exchange and cooperation with communities that can help Ukrainian athletes and young aeromodellers remain connected to the wider European and global model aviation environment.
The League in detail
Values
We build an environment where mutual support and respect matter as much as technical skill.
Experience should be passed to the next generation systematically through practice, explanation and example.
Integrity and respect for competitors, rules and results are fundamental to sporting culture.
We aim to lower barriers for children and young people who want to discover model aviation.
Responsible flying, equipment handling and training organisation are non-negotiable priorities.
UAL combines respect for traditional aeromodelling with openness to new disciplines and formats.
Founder & President
Serhii Bondarenko founded the Ukrainian Aeromodeling League in 2014 with the idea of creating a permanent platform for the development of aeromodelling and the exchange of experience between generations. As President, he is responsible for the League’s strategic development, partnerships, international relations and long-term youth and community programmes.
One of the central principles of this vision is continuity between generations. The experience of athletes, coaches and aeromodellers should not remain individual knowledge; it should become an opportunity for younger participants.
President’s Message
“When we founded the Ukrainian Aeromodeling League in 2014, the idea was simple: bring together people fascinated by flight. Technology and circumstances change, but aeromodelling continues to teach patience, responsibility, precision and continuous improvement. Most importantly, it connects generations.”
Serhii Bondarenko · Founder & President
UAL
UAL is open to new participants, clubs, mentors, partners and volunteers.
