129,515.12 raised in 2026. We have reached 25% of our goal.
Help us reach this year's goal of $500,000!
My Dad was the first in the family, along with my uncle, to embrace the love of flight! My Dad served in Korea, and after he left to come home, he had a stop over in Japan where he purchased two line control planes and then had them shipped over to the states. My uncle, who was a World War 2 veteran, would assist my Dad, not with flying them but with rebuilding them after he crashed them.
Ray submitted the following video that offers details about his life, including how model aircraft helped him stay busy when recovering from a tragic accident: https://youtu.be/rDHHt1EKzn4?si=TVQnTl6Pq5MDIOig&t=89.
My AMA story begins when I was in grade school and went to a Civil Air Patrol event in a plowed-out corn field where a remote control aircraft club flew balsa and fabric-covered RC planes. I was captivated. Later on in junior high, I had a Cosmic Wind Control Line plane, Free Flight helicopter, and glider. None made it to high school, and I took a break from the hobby until I was living in an apartment and going to school.
My father was an Air Force F-86 Fighter Pilot, then Chief Pilot for the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. We started Free Flight models when I was 8 or so. Did fly (poorly) Control Line for a couple years. We started RC with a Ranger 42 with a single channel radio. We were founding members of the Helena Montana Flying Tigers club. I got my first four channel via a Royal Classic 70 kit. Flew fun fly and Quicky 500 pylon racing.
I am a retired major college and pro coach. Played at Tennessee '61 to '64. I have a private pilot license and got into RC in 1976. Love flying and building. My latest build is now on Old School Model Works' internet site. It is a Sky Ranger 40 with a Tennessee theme. I live in Las Vegas and fly at the dry lakebed in Boulder City. Need more. Please feel free to contact me at cattanara@cox.net.
Current age 75. BSEE, MBA-Mktg. Started in modeling with small plastic WW2 aircraft. My Godfather was a bombardier in WW2 and told me many stories.
Around age 11, I learned to fly U-control with a Stuntman 23 and a BabyBee 049. Flew Ukie for about 2 years, till I discovered RC while on a Sunday drive with my parents. After that, I was at the "RC Field" behind Manville Kupper airport just about every weekend.
I was heavy into R/C cars, but I always had a love for aviation. I'd often thought about getting into R/C planes, but I knew it would be a dangerous slope. I had a ton of R/C cars, and I figured if I got into planes, I'd have a bunch of those too.
Can’t believe it’s been 30 years in this amazing hobby — and what a ride it’s been! I got my start flying with my dad, and it's been one of the best ways for us to bond over the years. The fact that we still fly together today? That’s the kind of joy you can’t buy.
I began with the good ol’ nitro days (remember that smell?), dabbled in gas for a bit, and eventually made the switch to electric — because let’s be honest, it’s just so much easier and lets you focus on what really matters: having fun in the sky.
In the early 90s, during a very stressful time in my life, my brother suggested picking back up my childhood hobby of building and flying model airplanes. I joined the AMA, bought an R/C Trainer, Radio, and all the gear I need to get started flying Radio Controlled Airplanes.
