Written & Submitted by BU (06/1996); Transcribed by NR (11/1996); Edited by SS (2002), Updated by JS (11/2008), Reformatted by JS (01/2010)
Career
- AMA leader member and contest director
- Assistant chief pattern judge of the AMA Nationals from 1965 to 1970 and chief Pattern judge from 1971 to 1972
- USA representative judge for the Radio Control World Aerobatic Championships held in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1979
- Judged every Circus Circus Tournament of Champions through 1984 (every other year for 14 years)
- Judged several Masters Radio Control contests in the 1970s and 1980s as well as local Southern California sanctioned pattern Radio Control contests
Competitive Activities
1947-1949: Competed in local U-Control contests in and around Detroit, Michigan 1948-1949: Competed in the Plymouth Internationals and won a trip to the 1950 Nationals in Dallas, Texas through contest wins supported by the PAL organization. 1950: Flew Junior U-Control Stunt at the Nats
1951: Flew Senior U-Control Stunt, Control Line Speed B, Control Line Jet (Dyna Jet) and Free Flight at the Nats Flew A, B, C, and Rubber in an attempt at an all around senior championship.
l952-1956: qualified as a member of the USAF modeling team but could not compete due to other commitments. 1957-1963: College (BA) 1964: Flew Radio Control Pattern at the Nats
1965-1972: Flew Radio Control Formula 1 and FAI at the Nats
Leadership Rolls Relative to Radio Control Activities
I've been an AMA member (6429) since either 1947, 1948 or 1949, and have been a leader member and contest director since the early 1970s.
I am the past president of the San Fernando Valley Flyers 1966 (AMA #158), past president of USPJA (1978 or 1079) and helped form the guidelines of the organization with Bill Northrop, Betty Stream and Dave Lane.
I am a past two-term president of the Tri-County Barnstormers (1993 and 1994) and AMA charter 1605.
AMA Nationals
Assistant chief pattern judge 1965-1970, chief pattern judge 1971-1972 USA representative judge for the RC World Aerobatic Championships held in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1979.
Judged every Circus Circus Tournament of Champions through 1984 (every other year for 14 years)
Judged several Masters Radio Control contests in the 1970s and 1980s as well as local Southern California sanctioned pattern Radio Control contests.
Served as contest director for many multi Radio Control event contests over the years, both large and small (all AMA sanctioned).
Authored “how-to” articles and product reviews for Model Builder magazine and served as its West Coast advertisement representative during the early years of publication. A semi-aerobatic Radio Control model I designed and called the Benpatch appeared as a construction article in the first issue of the magazine. In 1978, I was fortunate to get a cover shot of my full size Baby Ace and quarter scale Radio Control Baby Ace designed by Don Butmen and myself (the photo was taken by well-known photographer Dick Tichener). The Ace was kitted by Joe Bridi Models and later, by Great Planes. In 1972, Model Airplane News published a construction article of my FAI Minnow II Radio Control racer and featured my three kids, my Radio Control racers, and myself on the cover of that issue.
Aircraft Related Memberships and Activities
I've had my pilot’s license since 1972 and currently belong to the EAA as well as the AMA and IMAA. I also have been a past member of NMPRA, the PAST club and USPJA. Currently I'm enjoying scratch building and flying scale “big birds.”
I thank you in advance for considering me as a candidate as one who helped shape the modeling environment. -Robert G. Upton, AMA 6429 (6/96)
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