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My nickname is "Chic." I grew up in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, living off the end of an active runway of the Greater Pittsburgh Airport. I watched Boxcars, Constellations, and Electras take off. When at the Observation Deck, I even talked to the departing pilots.
B.S. in Ceramic Engineering, University of Washington, 1961
M.S. in Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1963
PhD. in Engineering-Mineral Technology, University of California, Berkeley, 1965
1965-1987 Research Scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, N.M.
1987-1999 Associate Professor of Metallurgical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
My journey with model aviation started at age 9 or 10 by building plastic model airplanes with my father. By the time I was 16, I wanted to learn how to fly real aircraft and I started working at Midwest Products Co. Inc in Hobart, Indiana, to earn money to pay for my lessons.
The AMA helped me gain the background needed for the career I have today, serving as an engineer and drone pilot for an upcoming NASA space mission launching in 2028 to land a drone on Saturn's moon, Titan. Growing up, I dreamed about flying, which led me to studying mechanical and aerospace engineering in college and learning to fly remote control and full-scale airplanes.
Being a modeler since the age of six or so has opened many doors for me and allowed me to meet some really interesting people.
I began building gas u-control models in early 50s and joined AMA. I have been a member ever since. 15100. I represented Virginia in 1959 as the States Air Youth Champion and won a trip to California. Very exciting for an 18-year-old modeler's first time from home.
I started flying around 15 years ago. When I first started, I would fly anywhere with open space as I went through the process of learning to fly and then learning to repair airplanes. As my interest in the hobby grew, I eventually found and joined local club. I learned more about flying in the 1st summer in a club than I had learned the years prior to joining. Not only was I enjoying flying at an actual club, but I also discovered the camaraderie of flying with other RC enthusiasts.
As a young kid in the 60s, I was fascinated by the planes and car models that used the little Cox .049 engines. I had them all. Who didn't love the smell of nitro fuel! LOL! As I got older, I had no real role models for Radio Control flying, so I had never heard of the AMA. As a young adult starting a family, of course I wanted my son to experience the thrill of model building and operating a functional model.
I began building models with my father when I was about 5 years old.
My first solo build was when I was about 8 or 9. I was building stick and tissue models with rubber motors without much luck, as I knew nothing about weight and balance. At about 12, I bought a Cox P-40 and started flying Control Line models with my school friends.
When I was about 24, a friend gave me a transmitter and receiver that he had tried to fly in a radio controlled plane without any success.
I used to hear everyone talk about wishing they could have spent more time with their Dad. So, I bought an Aeroscout just to hang out with my dad and I loved the hobby. I've only been flying for 1.5 years but I love it. We now fly together frequently and have drawn much closer because of a RC plane passion. Turbo Timber evolution is my favorite plane to fly and we each have one. The people at BRRC make it so much fun and have helped us tremendously along the way.
