85,171.87 raised in 2026. We have reached 17% of our goal.
Help us reach this year's goal of $500,000!
I'm a lifelong model airplane member. I soloed in Control Line in 1961 and RC in 1962. I'm still flying everything from small electric to 40%+ IMAC here in the SW. With all of my lifechanging events, I'm now sadly leaving the hobby :-)
I was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1952. I started building model airplanes when I was around ten years old. Most were gliders and sail planes. I managed to crash the Control Line models until my buddy Bill got a Cox .049 trainer and we finally learned to fly Control Line. I still have a Cox .049 Trainer hanging from the ceiling in my office and I fly it from time to time.
I became fascinated as a young lad watching my uncles fly Control Lines, such as Flight Streaks. By lad, I was around 7 at the time in the 1970's. At 10, I got my first Control Line, a Ring Master with an O.S. .35 engine. My uncle helped with the build, and he had me flying it during the maiden. In no time, I was doing all kinds of stunts. It is still in my hanger today, and I am in my 60s.
I began in 1967 building Estes rockets in 2nd grade. I built and flew several Guillow's models during those early years. My parents recognized my interest in model airplanes and in 1969 they purchased me my first Cox .049 Control Line, the green P-51. I flew that for several years as I began to learn to build. I built more Carl Goldberg Stunt Man 23's and Swordsman 18's than I can remember.
I've been passionate about radio-controlled aircraft and vehicles for nearly four decades, starting my journey into the hobby at age 13. Now at 52, my enthusiasm for RC has only grown stronger over the years. As a proud member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), I've had the privilege of exploring virtually every corner of this incredible hobby.
I was about to retire and the person I was training to take my place gave me a Corsair RTF airplane as a going away gift. I hadn’t flown a model airplane since I was a teenager, and u-control at that!
I found the Airmasters RC Club by accident one day and stopped in and asked if they could teach me to fly. That was in 2016. After a few years as club secretary, I was voted in as President of the club.
In high school, I built planes to fly Control Line. Years later, I built a radio-controlled electric plane. I flew it once and crashed it.
Now, I build almost-ready-to-fly planes that are powered by four Stroke Saito engines. Also, I have two electric planes to build.
I have my own 15-acre field to fly my planes in.
My dad was born in 1915, and he lived through this early era of aviation and finally through the Space Shuttle era. He built airplane models as a teen, and directed my interest to aviation by gifting me model aircraft while I was growing up. I continue as a member of the AMA and with this great model aviation hobby, in great part as a remembrance of and in honor of my dad.
Flying my helicopters, jets, airplanes, trucks, and cars that I'm able to drive and my boat is my hobby and my passion. I love doing this when I can. I'm able to build, learn new stuff, and I'm able to help out. I can train people at the field and when I do, it feels good to help somebody else new to the sport.
Greetings My fellow Flyers and supporters of our addiction,
With the Grace of GOD, the club has been very giving to me in the membership fee over the last few years in which I have been deeply and gratefully humbled by the opportunity you have allowed me to enjoy with all the Perks it brings.
