129,515.12 raised in 2026. We have reached 25% of our goal.
Help us reach this year's goal of $500,000!
AKA, Airplane Nut. 67 this month. Clear back to 1968 was the year my father started taking flying lessons. He was able to purchase a 1946 Aerocoupe. 1969, at the age of 11, I got my first ride. My Dad was a very busy guy running a welding company and hauling precast concrete. As the years passed, my passion for aviation grew along with my curiosity of how airplanes flew. My Dad continued to work hard and so his passion for bigger, faster airplanes grew.
Retired CIO of a Fortune 500 company with a background in Mechanical, Electrical, and Information Technology. I hold multiple engineering and software patents. In my retirement, I teach STEM to 5th–12th graders through the University of Tennessee Extension and 4-H, and I also enjoy equine ranching and golfing.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that there are not many hobbies that can give you as much fulfilment and satisfaction on so many levels. RC flying has been the best. As I progress in this hobby, I have learned so much. My Friday night starts with charging batteries and loading the planes in the car. But what I will never head out without is my AMA Membership. Trust me, it's the cheapest peace of mind you can take along with you. Have fun and stay safe out there, all.
I first became a member of AMA way back in 1965. This was at the demand of my father. My father was a kid that grew up during the Golden Age of Aviation. He built many Free Flight models and was influenced by growing up near Newark Airport. My father was an Army Air Force veteran who was washed out of the pilot training program and became a crew chief on B-24s and lastly on Curtiss Commandos, prepping pilots of both tow planes and gliders for the Normandy invasion. Long story longer, my father must have passed that aviation bug gene onto me.
From the Ground Up: A Lifelong Passion for Flight
From a young age, I was captivated by remote control vehicles. If it could go faster, handle better, or pack in the latest electronics, I was all in. That fascination quickly grew. As I entered my teenage years growing up in Wisconsin, just a short drive from EAA, I found myself constantly inspired by the world of aerobatics and the incredible things aircraft could do in the sky.
Retired Army Aviator and Lieutenant Colonel. Flew the iconic UH-1 Huey. Cold War and Afghanistan Veteran. Lifelong model airplane builder and recently into scale R/C planes.
My journey into aviation began in the early 1990s with the RC hobby. What started as an interest in model aircraft ignited a passion for science, problem-solving, and flight; eventually leading me to Embry-Riddle, where I earned multiple degrees.
Model aviation has been one of the greatest hobbies in my life. I had the opportunity to get involved with model aircraft back in 1969 from my Dad. I started building with my Dad's guidance, Free Flight gas models, as well as tow-line gliders. Built many TOP KICK tow-line gliders and A-class Miss America cabin gas models. We flew with the "then" SAM 1 club here in Colorado. My Dad was the driving force in my Free Flight gas and later rubber models.
Born in 1940, paralyzed from the waist down with polio in 1944 but made a remarkable recovery. Fascinated with aviation as a youngster and built many 25-cent stick/tissue/dope/rubber Free Flight models. Eventually built many Control Line semi-scale and stunt models with Fox 19 & 35 engines as the engine of choice.
I was born into a family with a father who flew the “HUMP” (in a C-46) in WW2 and loved model airplanes. He encouraged my brother and I to build simple model planes. He created a place where we could work with the scrap balsa he had. As we grew and got better, he encouraged us to repair and fly the planes others gave to him. We were “serviceable” at flying U-controlled planes and really good at chasing Free Flight airplanes. In our town, we were part of the “Mini-Air Modelers” club. Money was tight in our family, so Radio Control was not an option for a long while.
