Written & Submitted by AS (08/1996); Transcribed by NR (8/1996); Edited by SS (2002), Updated by JS (10/2008), Reformatted by JS (01/2010), updated by JS (12/2010, 12/2011)
Career
- 1970-1984: Editor of Model Airplane News
- 1989 - : Editor of VRCS (Vintage Radio Control Society) newsletter
- 1968 to present: AMA Leader member and Contest Director
- 1968-1971: AMA District II Vice President
- Columnist and author for 22 years
Honors
- 1995: VRCS Hall of Fame
- 1995: Howard McEntee Award
- 1998: AMA Pioneer Award
- 1998: Model Aviation Hall of Fame
To the best of my recollection, the following outlines my various Radio Control activities: Involved in various phases of model aviation since the age of eight; a span of 58 years; started in Radio Control in 1952.
Member of
- North Jersey Radio Control Club, 1953-65
- Rockaway Valley Radio Control Club, 1963-1980
- Central Jersey Radio Control Club, 1987-1990
- Lakeland Radio Control Club, 1990 to present
- Vintage Radio Control Society, 1989 to present
Newsletter Activities
- Editor of The Printed Circuit (newsletter of the NJRCC), 1959-61
- Editor and founder of The CIAM Flyer (newsletter of Youth and Education, Federation Aéronautique Internationale (FAI - the committee for aeromodeling, Paris)
- Editor of the VR/CS Newsletter 1989 to present (newsletter of the Vintage Radio Control Society)
AMA Activities
- Leader Member, 1962 to 1993
- Contest Director, 1968 to present
- AMA District II vice president, 1968 to 1971 (resigned to accept editor's position at
MAN)
- Nationals Radio Control judge, 1967 to 1969
Chair positions
- Chair FAI/CIAM Youth and Education Subcommittee
- Chair AMA Scholarship Committee
- Aerospace Educators' Council
- Press Liaison for 1994 European Scale Radio Control Championships
Magazine Activities
- Columnist (RJC News), Model Airplane News, 1969 to 1988
- Columnist (Vintage Varieties), RIC Report, 1991
- Contributing author of numerous articles on events, how-to, reviews, designs in many magazines; MAN, Model Builder, American Modeler, and foreign publications
- Editor Model Airplane News, 1970 - 1979, 1980 - 1982, 1983 - 1984
- Editor for Air Age book, “Giant Steps” for Air Age Publications
Industry Activities
- Ad copywriter for numerous modeling firms.
- Consultant to numerous firms including MRC, Cass Engineering, J&J, Span Aero, Sig, TopFlite
- Wrote and appeared in TV film, “Scaling the Heights,” for Ylies Radio, Helsinki, Finland (pilot for scale model Pitts flown in formation and maneuvers with a full size Pitts)
- Flight demonstrator for Sherlock Models, Cass Engineering and, as a result, was the first American to fly an American radio and model (Pulsar) in the Soviet Union 1979
- Built many prototype aircraft and wrote construction booklets for manufacturers planned kit releases
Aircraft Designs
- Snapper (1956)
- Eyeball (1968); selected as best pattern aircraft at 1969 WRAMS Show and Asbury Park Trade Show; published in 1969 and by various companies (J&J, Dee Bee and Swenson – Europe)
- Migiball, published in 1982
- Eyelash, published in 1983 and kitted by Span Aero
Miscellaneous
- Active Pattern competitor, 1960-1987
- Miniaturized and repackaged Howard McEntee's Kickin' Duck system working directly with the designer
- Ham License WB2BEL
- Founded and was contest director for RV/RC Novice Contest (first of specialized competition in Radio Control for beginners)
-Art Schroeder, 1996
Ashley Rauen, AMA staff, wrote the following for the January 2008 issue of Model Aviation magazine.
Art Schroeder: 1928-2007
Art Schroeder, 81, passed away Thursday, October 11, 2007. Beginning in the hobby at age 8, he had been an AMA Leader Member since 1962 and spent his life involved in various phases of model aviation.
He had several model designs published, including the Eyeball, the Snapper, and the Migiball. Span Aero kitted Art’s 1983 Eyelash.
He had vast experience as a writer, having edited the NJRCC’s newsletter form 1959 to 1961, Model Airplane News on three occasions, Giant Steps (a book for Air Age Publications), and the Vintage Radio/Control Society (VR/CS) newsletter form 1989 through 2001. In addition, he wrote several columns for such publications as Model Airplane News, R/C Report, and American Modeler.
Art founded and edited the CIAM Flyer, the newsletter for the FAI Subcommittee for Information and Education. He was chairman of the subcommittee and produced the newsletters at his own cost.
Art acquired many honors during his aeromodeling career. He was a VR/CS Hall of Fame inductee, a recipient of the Howard McEntee Award (which recognizes great contributors to and innovators in RC), an AMA Pioneer Award honoree, and was inducted into the Model Aviation Hall of Fame in 1998.
Art contributed greatly to making aeromodeling what it is today. He took part in founding various aeromodeling organizations and developed events such as the RV/RC Novice Contest, which was among the first specialized RC competitions for beginners.
He played an active role in forming and promoting the VR/CS, which was initially Bill Winter’s idea. He quickly involved Art, John Worth, and Joe Beshar.
Joe had been a close friend of Art’s since they were both members of the North Jersey RC Club, and they often practiced together. According Joe, Art was genuine and motivating from the beginning.
“He was just an inspiration to be around,” said Joe.
When the VR/CS was founded in 1988, everything was planned except for a way to get the word out about the organization. Joe immediately thought of Art and asked him to be the editor of the club’s quarterly newsletter. After that, the VR/CS really took off.
“I give Art Schroeder the credit for it all,” said Joe. “It was his inspiration, determination, and interest that have made it a success.”
Bob Noll is the current president of VR/CS and knew Art very well. He said: “I first met Art as a competitor in RC Pattern in the 1960s. Art and I flew in the same pattern class and enjoyed exchanging wins throughout the Northeast.
“I remember Art as a very fierce and fair competitor. Art recognized the importance of Pattern competition to our hobby and ensured that it was included in the original VR/CS Bylaws, an element that remains an important ingredient with the organization today.
“As VR/CS president, I have consulted with Art on many occasions because of his effort in the formation of the society and his continuing love for the vintage RC movement. Art developed the rules and scoring matrix we currently use for our Concours competition, the most prestigious category of competition within VR/CS.”
Art touched several lives in his time as an aeromodeler. He made friends at the beginning that he kept throughout his life. He spent his 69 years in the hobby setting new standards and motivating modelers to reach new goals.
1967-1968: Art Schroeder. Photos originally from AMA Publication Department (AMA Collection #0001)
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