Active airplane modeler since I was 9. Dad was an Army Air Corps Veteran and budding student pilot. The bug bit me as early as I remember. I walked a mile to a camp of crop dusters to try to beg a ride in (at that time) Piper Cub. I saw a bunch of heavy drinkers sitting around a campfire in the evening and thought better of getting a ride.
The urge to fly never left me. I took lessons for a while, trained in sailplanes, and ran out of money. Modeling was a stimulating substitute.
In Denver, a "Stunt" club, "The 500 Club," was active in the late 50s. Their club jackets bore a "500s Member" Patch. When a member had flown a 500 pattern, they removed the "s" to become a full on 500 Member. I and my buddies were envious and practiced interminably to try to just learn the pattern, much less to try to perfect it. I joined AMA, and proudly pasted the decals on my Sterling Model's Ruffy.
I moved to California in time to visit the 1959 NATS at Los Alamitos NAS. At the time, the Los Alamitos Racetrack parking lot, across the street from LosAl NAS, was a favorite place to fly, both U-Control and Radio Control. I believe an early pioneer of R/C, Walt Good, flew there.
Still involved, my old AMA membership lapsed, AMA couldn't issue my old number but now I'm AMA 1116185.
Regards,
CAG
My first love was U-Control.
