I was introduced to RC modeling while attending Santa Barbara, California, High School in the early 1960s. A classmate and fellow electronics shop student invited me to attend a rudder-only pulse soaring event held at the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Transistors were just becoming employed in RC hobby electronics, and the Controlaire V all-transistor receiver was the hot item. Galloping Ghost was not quite there yet for the average hobbyist, so everyone flew pulse with escapements and some pulse proportional with magnetic actuators.
Life got in the way for me and fast forward to 1967 while serving in the US Air Force I became a regular spectator of the RC club on base who were all flying digital proportional equipment designed and built by one the members called the "Flight Director System," named after the advanced flight control system in the T-38 Talon supersonic jet trainer. They sold a custom-built one through six-channel systems, but the cost was way beyond the means of an E5 staff sergeant. I could afford and used pulse proportional rudder-only systems from ACE, while building and flying many airplane designs by Ted Strader. In 1970, I designed and built a home-made Galloping Ghost system using Rand Magnetic Actuators, but I did not have much success due to radio interference from the CB radio fad.
Fast forward again to 1978 when I was well established in my life's career in computers and was given a used 5-channel, Cox Digital Proportional system with NiCd rechargeable batteries for Christmas, and the rest is, as they say, history. I have been active in the hobby since, flying all types of models from .049 powered trainers to EDF jets, including scale, 3D, gliders, and indoor micros. I have never been much for rotary wing, but I tried it for a year or two.
I was one of the founders of the Electric Powered Aeromodelers in 1999, the first all-electric-only club in the NYS Capitol District, and I served as president for nearly 20 years. During those glorious days, the EPA had two outdoor-powered model sites, a slope soaring location, and two indoor locations for our 70-plus members to enjoy the hobby year-round. We became an AMA Leader Club and held contests, fun flies, and charity events, as well as club-sponsored trips to the former WRAM Show and, of course, the ever-popular NEAT fair, along with other gatherings such as club flying nights.
But, by far, the most gratifying and proudest accomplishment I have was nominating famous RC modeler, designer, author, builder, kit producer, EPA member, and friend to all, Mr. Ted Strader, for membership in the AMA Hall of Fame. Ted won that honor that he so deserved and was inducted at the 2013 Neat Fair.
I am old now and don't get out much to fly or just visit the club, but I have remained an AMA and EPA member and always will. Of all my life's hobbies, electronics, full-scale flying, computers, hunting, and fishing, RC modeling and Amateur Radio are still the most rewarding and the ones I hope to continue doing for years to come.
