Biographies

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Ray Coppock Biography

Man with sunglasses smiling on a boat with a fishing rod, calm water in the background.

I joined the Air Force right after high school and served 23 years active duty as a Munitions Specialist (Ammo), retired as a Senior Master Sergeant.

After retiring from the Air Force, I served another 18 years as an Air Force civilian providing munitions technical support for foreign military users.

After retiring I finally found time to take up the RC aircraft hobby I’d loved as a teenager. I consider myself an amateur pilot but I really enjoy learning everything I can about RC aircraft.

Kerry Snider Biography

I started flying fixed wing in 98. I started helis in 04. I got into helis because no one would fly them at local fly-ins and I wanted to see one fly. About the time blade introduced the blade cp which was my first heli I have been hooked since I purchased one. My current fleet includes over 50 flyable models and like 15 fixed wing aircraft. I am sponsored by KBDD intl. And vice president of the houston county screaming eagles in crockett, tx. I love this hobby.

Frank Cox Biography

Man holding a model airplane with a yellow and red design outdoors.

It was a Saturday in the Summer of 1958. I was 8 years old and lived with my aging grand parents. I was looking for something to get in to when I heard a strange noise coming from the direction of the elementary school. It was a hypnotic high pitched sound that pulsating louder then faded and grew louder again. I was drawn to it; I had to find out what making that sound. When I arrived at the source of the noise I found a blue airplane flying in a large circle.

Scott Schroeder Biography

Model warplane on a tiled patio, painted in green and brown camo.

I started flying U-control with my father when I was eight or nine years old. My dad would build the model and we would go over to the local school yard. He would handle all the engine and launch tasks leaving me to fly. Over the years, as my dad got older and stopped taking me, I picked up rudimentary radio control just after transmitters had become proportional.

Jim Hill Biography

I started flying model airplanes in 1955 when I was 11 years old. The first was a plastic P-40 with a .049 cub engine. It flew but not well. The Glen L Martin company was close to my home and they sponsored a club. They were all adults but took me under their wings and taught me how to build balsa planes. I built and flew control line models most of my free time.

After high school I took a break and went to college and met my future wife.

Michael Bullen Biography

Two men stand beside a yellow model airplane on a grassy field, with mountains in the background.

I started flying rc planes in January of 1986. This was a lifelong dream since attending the Reno air races in 1974. It was there I saw the local club flying their planes prior to the start of the races and airshow. When I graduated from college I bought my first plane and learned to fly in Phoenix Arizona. My trainer was Ozzie Virgil who played Baseball for the Altanta Braves. He and his Dad were members of AMPS.

Scott E Freeman Biography

Smiling man with glasses in a cozy room with clock and patterned curtain.

Started flying late in life (2008). I was working with coworkers who flew RC planes and invited me to my local RC airfield in Rochester NH near waste management and bought my first plane from Hobbieco Trainer. I flew for about four years and stopped when I moved to another job, and the airfield had moved to another location. I've sold that plane and my equipment, but I am still interested in flying again.

Mark Henning Biography

Attempted RC flying while in High School. Hand built Heathkit Transmitter, Receiver and 4 servos. The poor plane got off the ground briefly but never for more than 10 seconds. Fast forward 40 years. Met an RC flyer in my neighborhood, he saw my antique equipment and said build a trainer, get a new Futaba radio, and I will teach you to fly. So I did and with a buddy box and some instruction, I was flying solo by the time I was 60.

I flew with him and some friends for many years until the club field was shut down.  At 74, I may pick it up again, only time will tell.

Jerry Stuckey Biography

Man cleans a small gray drone parked outside.

I have been a member of AMA since 1978. I’ve flown in many competitions in aerobatics and won many awards. After flying large scale precision aerobatics through 2012, I was contacted by the United States military to train young military drone pilots. I hold several contracts with major defense contractors and manufacture produce and operate target Drones for every branch of our military service. I have turned what was a hobby at one time into a very lucrative business simply because of AMA and RC experience.

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