Model Aviation is a huge part of who I am today. I’ve been around general aviation my whole life, but in 2009, I went to EAA AirVenture for the first time, and I was 10 years old. We walked to Pioneer Field, and that’s where I was introduced to model aviation. I flew the Hobbyzone Cub on a buddy box and was instantly hooked. From there, I pretty much saved up all of my money and got right into RC. I’m from BC Canada, and was lucky enough my parents were snowbirds so I did online school for two years and was able to live in Mesa, Arizona. I quickly got my AMA membership and joined the Arizona Model Aviators field, which I consider to be my home field today.
My first two airplanes were the Parkzone T-28, and the Hangar 9 PTS Mustang, which I still have both even to this day. Over the years, I fell off with RC and focused on getting my full-scale private pilot’s license. At 17, I got my PPL license and flew for fun. Now, I am a commercial airline pilot in Canada with WestJet, and I own and fly a Mooney Ovation, which I have taken to EAA AirVenture 3 times now. I’ve recently gotten back into RC, and I still to this day consider the Arizona Model Aviators field in Mesa, Arizona, to be my home field.
I appreciate and will never take for granted what model aviation did for my youth growing up. I have many awesome memories growing up flying with my good friend Spencer Nordquist, and Bryant Mack. We still keep in touch to this day, and once and a while fly RC together. Any youth looking to get into it, I would strongly recommend … until you have so many airplanes that you don’t know what to do with haha. Thanks AMA for all you do!
