Written by RH (03/2013), reformatted by JS (03/2013)
Hal Cover
Hal Cover’s love for model aviation began at the age of 3. The AMA record holder in many aeromodeling genres and published designer attempted to build an airplane with Tinker Toys. He later moved on to build bigger and better things, and his passion for all things that fly evolved into a career in the aerospace industry.
His career has included working as a materials and process specialist and manager, and working as a materials consultant for Northrop Grumman.
Hal has many lifetime achievements—both personal and professional—including receiving two commendations from
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for work on the Centaur Launch Team, and for his work on a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather satellite program.
His personal feats have included holding records in AMA
events such as Unlimited Rubber, Class A/B Payload, Class A Gas ROW (rise-off-water), Indoor B Tissue, and Indoor
Helicopter Category I. He also has had more than 20 articles published in magazines including Model Airplane News, Flying Models, Model Aviation, American Aircraft Modeler, and Model Builder.
“Through these articles, Hall has freely given his knowledge and expertise to the readers in hopes of enriching the hobby,” Lee Hines wrote about Hal in his AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame nomination.
Hal has been an AMA member since 1949. His first contest was in 1948 at the age of 11, and he earned second place. He competed again in 1949 in the Southern California Plymouth Internationals and took third place in A/B Gas. He has been an AMA Leader Member and CD for approximately 20 years.
He set his first national record in A/B Payload at the 1952 Nats. He continued to compete in AMA contests throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s—setting eight more records. Trophies and records aren’t his only achievements. He served as the CEO/president of the Lost Hills Free Flight Model Airfield Association from 1996 to 2010, and the Nostalgia Free Flight Coordinator for the National Free Flight Society in 1995. Hal has been a member of several clubs including the San Valeers Model Airplane Club, Culver City Smog Cutters, Conejo Valley Flyers, the Southern California Antique Model Plane Society, and the Thermal Thumbers of Metro Atlanta.
“Hal’s involvement in model aviation over the years (58 to be exact) as a contestant, organization leader, design publisher, and helping and encouraging others at every opportunity makes him well qualified for AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame,” Lee wrote in 2012.
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