Biographies

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John Hackert Biography

I was introduced to RC modeling while attending Santa Barbara, California, High School in the early 1960s. A classmate and fellow electronics shop student invited me to attend a rudder-only pulse soaring event held at the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Transistors were just becoming employed in RC hobby electronics, and the Controlaire V all-transistor receiver was the hot item.  Galloping Ghost was not quite there yet for the average hobbyist, so everyone flew pulse with escapements and some pulse proportional with magnetic actuators.

David Jones Biography

Drone with orange wings flying over grassy field.

There is not enough room here for me to go into what I would like to tell you, so I will just start with how I developed the first digital spread spectrum RC system. It was back in 2001, and I was in the small UAV business building autopilots and telemetry systems for small UAVs.

Mike Duggan Biography

Large yellow model airplane on grass, parked near a truck.

Like many hobbyists, my interest in aviation started at a very young age. It was not until high school, 38 years ago, that I had an interest in radio controlled model aviation. A classmate of mine was speaking to his friend about flying a radio controlled aircraft. From that point on, I needed to know everything I could about them.

Deryl Rolle Biography

Model airplane of a vintage fighter aircraft flying over grass.

I really enjoyed flying remote control airplanes. I’ve been flying remote control airplanes for 25 years now. I’m all grown up with airplanes and helicopters, now I've stepped up with big planes now. I don’t do nitro planes anymore. All gas and turbines now.

Stuart Smith Biography

Man launching model plane near a sunny beach, two onlookers nearby.

I started flying RC 37 years ago. I got my private pilot's license 49 years ago. What I learned from RC transferred into full-size, and after building a number of RCs, I started building experimental aircraft. I am now building my 4th experience. I am finishing my 14th rebuild and just purchased my 31st airplane.

Andrew Keates Biography

Smiling man in a hat, outdoors, surrounded by greenery and yellow flowers.

Aeromodelling is something I started when I was about 10 years old. It challenged me to figure out how to build things, figure out why engines worked or didn't, and to get back to building after a crash. In part, it led me into a fascination with physics, a degree in physics, and a successful career in engineering, where I was a principal engineer at a large semiconductor manufacturer.

Robert Donnelly Biography

Man and woman smiling, holding model planes, standing on sunny desert ground.

I’m a 55-year-old small business owner who focuses on family and occasionally enjoys the sport of modeling. I'm very blessed to have my entire family flying, and our daughter, Skylar Donnelly, not only holds records in electric but is the first junior female world champion in F1B. I’m also a board member for the National Youth Aviation Academy. Thank you for doing what you do and providing help with getting our youth involved.

Jamie Fiffles Biography

Man kneeling beside a large blue model aircraft on an airstrip.

I’ve been building and flying model aircraft since I was six years old. Saved up all summer and bought my first RC radio at 11 years old. From learning to fly with a sterling fledgling and a Goldberg skyline 62, to building giant scale warbirds for decades, I've flown them all across the US, including Hawaii at major events, and I've competed at Top Gun for 10 years. To say it’s a passion is an understatement!

Larry Walker Biography

My love for aircraft began when I was a small child. My father worked for Boeing. He was in charge of the wing sections on the 747. I started out with a Cox Control Line Mustang P51. I quickly jumped to Radio Control with a couple of kits. I am now 60 years old and have been enjoying Radio Control airplanes, helicopters, watercraft, cars, and drones.

Albert Manansala Biography

Instructor demonstrating drone parts to three students in a classroom.

My name is Albert Manansala, now 55 years old. I have been RC modeling for 37 years. Right after graduating high school, I worked part-time at Willoughby Hobbies in Guam, which is owned by the late Capt. Dale Willoughby, an AMA HALL OF FAMER known as the FATHER OF SLOPE SOARING of AMERICA. He taught me everything I know about building RC airplanes and showed me how to find and ride the “INVISIBLE WIND” using our RC gliders.

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