I was 10 years old when my parents moved us from Bronx, New York, to Queens. One afternoon, I heard the sound of model airplane engines coming through my window. I went outside and followed the sound and found a group of teenagers flying Control Line models. I introduced myself and they took me under their wing and taught me to fly Control Line.
I took a pause in my flying for girls and rock and roll. Well, I married one of the girls, and while moving out of my parent's home, I found all my Control Line gear, including a Jim Walker U-Reely and my Johnson 32 engine. I proceeded to build a Sterling Mustang C/L model and joined a group of guys who flew at Flushing Meadows Park. It was here that I finally learned to stunt fly. My teacher was Dick Kurth, who taught most of us there how to fly.
In 1985, I volunteered to work at the AMA Nats at Westover AFB in Massachusetts. It was there that I was introduced to Free Flight model airplanes. One of the guys suggested I build a One Night 28 rubber-powered model. After building the model, I was invited to fly it at the Bam Bash at Galeville airport in Walden, New York. My friend Richard Berner gave me some rubber and a crocket hook and taught me how to fly my One Night 28. At the time, I didn't realize I was flying in a contest and was quite surprised to win 3rd place. That started my journey in flying Free Flight.
I joined the Brooklyn Skyscrapers who furthered my Free Flight experience. One of my club members, Bob Hatschek, invited me to join him at the F/F Nats.
I started designing my own models and eventually took 1st place in PeeWee 30 after many 3rd- and 2nd-place finishes. I met many new F/F friends at the Nats who I am still in contact with today.
In 2019, I moved to Davie, Florida, about 8 miles from Markham Park that has an R/C runway and facility including a C/L circle. I stopped flying F/F as the travel started to wear on me and I learned to fly R/C and continued flying C/L. The park is a 10 minute drive from my home, and on Saturdays I fly R/C and on Sunday I fly C/L. Flying at Markham Park introduced me to another group of model builders.
So, my model airplane journey continues. At 73, I'm still enjoying the hobby that started 63 years ago with the teenagers flying C/L. Pictured is me and one of my R/C aircraft.
