Written by AMA Staff (c. 2004); Edited by JS (12/2005), Reformatted by JS (09/2009)
Gene Hempel, 68, began aeromodeling with his father, but did not compete until he finished college. In the early 1960s, he graduated from Arlington State College with a degree in aerospace engineering.
While employed in the aviation industry as a flight test engineer for the F8U-1 program, he attended flight school in Maryland to gain flight status as a Type Acceptance Pilot for the US Navy.
Gene began flying Control Line in 1970. His area of interest was Speed, and he contributed articles on the subject to Model Aviation from 1975 to 1988. Each article pertained to engine modifications to gain extra speed.
Gene and his son, Patrick Hempel, started a machine shop business in 1985, manufacturing Radio Control engine accessories and replacement parts for military and commercial applications.
In 1970, Gene became a Contest Director (CD) and supervised several local and national Control Line Speed events. In 1984, he was named the Event Director for the Federation Aéronautique International (FAI) F2A World Championships.
Gene has served in a number of club positions for the Dallas Model Aircraft Association and served an integral role in securing the present Control Line site in Dallas, Texas known as Hobby Park.
In 1988, Gene was elected AMA Vice President for District VIII. He served in this capacity until 1994 when he moved out of the district. Gene chaired the AMA Safety Committee from 1989 to 1994.
In 2002, Gene taught the principles of aeronautics to elementary school students from Weimar, Texas during their visits to the Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum in Schulenburg, Texas. He is currently working on the Advanced Aviation Project planned for the Boy Scouts of America, assisting with live demonstrations and workshops.
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