Written by AMA staff (06/1987); Transcribed by JS (06/2008), Reformatted by JS (09/2009)
Near the end of 1985, the AMA Executive Council voted to approve the concept of a technical award to be given by the Academy. The award honors the development of items that improve performance of model aircraft or their components, enable equipment to perform new tasks, simplify or facilitate the tasks now required in building or flying, and encourage safety or sound suppression….
...The Academy is proud to announce that the first Technical Award has been presented to Satellite City, Inc. – Bill Hunter, president and Bob Hunter, vice president – for the introduction of cyanoacrylate adhesives to the modeling community and the promotion thereof…
…Bill Hunter, AMA 55203, president of Satellite City, Inc., has been an active modeler for many years. A builder for 34 of his 39 years, he engaged in competition from 1956 through 1984. During that time, he was both the Junior Champion in 1959 and Senior Champion in 1967 at the AMA Nationals.
Bill’s energetic promotion of modeling spans all areas of the sport, but he is particularly involved in Junior activities. He was the co-designer of the 1970 version of the Free Flight competition series called the Satellite.” Bill’s current modeling interest is AMA and FAI Free Flight power. He is a member of the San Valeers club.
Bob Hunter, AMA 2388, is 60 years of age. He has authored Free Flight design and technical material. Active in competition from 1950 through 1976, he was the Open and Grand Champion at the 1959 Nationals. Bob designed the 1957 version of the Satellite and was codesigner of the 1970 version. These two versions of the design have held 60% of the AMA Free Flight Gas records.
Bob is also active in promoting and furthering the interests of Juniors and modeling in general. He is a member of the San Valeers club and is interested in Free Flight and quarter-scale Radio Control.
Bill and Bob Hunter developed the Hot StuffTM cyanoacrylate formulas in 1970. As experienced modelers, they had perceived a need for an instant-bond adhesive in their own building programs. While it had been on the market for many years, cyanoacrylate adhesive had been confined primarily to the laboratory – or as a very special-use product. The Hunters’ contribution was in making it readily available to modelers and in demonstrating the many advantages of its use. Once introduced, the adhesive’s virtues were immediately recognized by other modelers as well. Over the past 17 years, the material has evolved into a variety of forms serving a range of modeling uses.
Today, there is little doubt that cyanoacrylate use has revolutionized model construction. The days of “pin it, and glue it, and wait…and wait…and wait” have virtually disappeared. However, until the Hunters helped it to catch fire through their pioneering use of videotapes, the cyanoacrylate revolution was relatively unknown. By providing important information on product use and advanced modeling techniques, the Satellite City videotapes showed the way. In a fact, sharing tips has always been an important part of Bill and Bob’s modeling careers. The Hunters also had a significant role in a recent chapter of aviation history. Hot StuffTM was chosen by designer Burt Rutan for use in many phases of the development and final construction of the renowned Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager. The Academy herby expresses its congratulations to Bill and Bob Hunter of Satellite City for their outstanding technical contribution to the modeling community. They are worthy recipients of AMA’s first Technical Award.
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