My journey into radio-controlled aviation began long before I ever held a transmitter. As a teenager in the Police Explorers program, a routine stop with the lieutenant in charge became a defining moment. At his father’s home, I saw a large F4U Corsair suspended from the ceiling, while in the backyard his father was teaching himself to fly an RC helicopter. That unexpected encounter planted a seed—one that would quietly grow for years.
In my early twenties, two fellow volunteer firefighters and I decided we would take up RC flying together. Throughout the winter months, I carefully built a balsa trainer from a traditional wood kit, learning patience, craftsmanship, and the fundamentals of aircraft construction. When spring arrived, excitement quickly turned into reality—the maiden flight ended in a crash. While disappointing, the experience reinforced both the challenge and allure of the hobby.
Years later, in my mid-thirties, my wife and I moved with our children to a new town. During the community parade, I crossed paths with the local RC flying club president, who was walking alongside a float, handing out business cards. I attended the very next club meeting and joined, determined to finally learn properly. After multiple crashes flying on my own, I realized the importance of mentorship and spent several years as a club member. However, as my children grew older and became involved in Boy Scouts, I shifted my focus toward family and service, setting RC aviation aside once again.
Everything changed in 2015 when I befriended a man through another organization. During a visit to my home, he noticed several glow-powered aircraft hanging in my garage and asked if I still flew. I admitted that I hadn’t flown in many years—and had never learned to solo. He explained that he had recently joined a local RC club and was flying an E-flite Apprentice S, an electric trainer equipped with Spektrum’s groundbreaking SAFE (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) technology. Confident in its stability, he told me that with a buddy box, he would have me flying solo within two weekends.
We met the following Saturday. Three weekends later, I had not only soloed, but purchased my own Apprentice S. The SAFE technology proved to be a true game changer, providing stability, confidence, and a safety net that allowed real learning to take place. Inspired, I became an early adopter and advocate of the technology, joining a pioneering group on the RCGroups forum who experimented with transplanting SAFE receivers into a wide range of aircraft.
Our collective success allowed pilots to enjoy the benefits of stabilization while advancing into new airframes and flying disciplines. While not a silver bullet, SAFE gave me the confidence and momentum I needed to push forward and truly grow as a pilot.
Today, I serve as an AMA Intro Pilot instructor and the Head Instructor for my RC club, roles that reflect my deep commitment to mentorship and safety. I fly a wide variety of aircraft and continue to embrace auto-level and stabilization technologies as personal bailout systems, whether using Spektrum or FrSky platforms. I have witnessed firsthand how these tools empower new pilots, helping them overcome fear, build skills, and ultimately exceed the technology itself.
Driven by a lifelong desire to learn and explore, I continue to challenge myself with new aircraft, new systems, and emerging technologies. My next chapter will take me into the world of RC turbine jets, with plans to fly a Hangar 9 MB-339 powered by a KingTech turbine—an exciting milestone in a journey that began decades earlier with a ceiling-hung Corsair and a backyard helicopter.
For me, model aviation is far more than a hobby. It is a lifelong pursuit of craftsmanship, technical growth, and shared experience—a journey shaped by perseverance, mentorship, and a passion for flight that continues to evolve.
