Written by CL (c. 2003); Transcribed and edited by JS (11/2007), Reformatted by JS (10/2009)
Hi. My name is Carl Loehle. Born in Louisville, Kentucky on June 17, 1930, I have always had an interest in modeling. I received a 100 model kit when I was five and one-half years old, finally completing a Comet 100 kit in late 1936 or early 1937. I never got one to fly. However, I read a lot of Flying Aces and Air Trails magazines. Finally, in 1940, a Comet Air Youth Series RiseOff-Ground (ROG) flew and I was hooked! I designed my first gas model in 1942, with a slag engine.
I went to work just after World War II at K. S. Caufield’s, an early Comet distributor. I started going to contests with the late Claude Curry, such as the old Legion-Star-Allison contest in Indianapolis, the Plymouth dealers contest, the Midwest Model Airplane Championships, etc. I still have some trophies from that era. I used my Crosley automobile to chase airplanes in 1946.
Then came an invitation from Uncle Sam for an all-expense paid Asian tour from 1951 to 1953. Upon returning, I joined Fischer Hobby Distributors. Along came Radio Control. My school chum, Joe Ballou, and I designed and kitted a ½A Radio Control model. This was in the late 1950s.
I left the hobby business in 1963 to return to another interest – open wheel racecars. I spent a total of 22 years building, driving, crewing, and more in the racing game.
I owned and flew two Luscombes and built a VP2. I joined my son, Mike, in his light airplane kit business in 1982 and moved to Tennessee in late 1984. The year 1985 saw my return to modeling. I rejoined the AMA and have been a member ever since. I “fly” with Lee Webster and all the gang in the Coffee Airfoilers in Tullahoma, Tennessee.
I designed the well-known 5151 Mustang and some other full-size airplanes. I fly in contests sponsored by the AMA, Society of Antique Modelers (SAM,) and Flying Aces Club (FAC.) I win some and place some. I love Rubber Free Flight, especially Peanut Scale. Currently, I have 69 models ready to fly, plus twelve or thirteen under construction. I really enjoy my obsession.
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