Written & Submitted by JAD (01/2003); Transcribed & Edited by SS (01/2003)
Career
- Joined the U.S. Air Force at age 17; flew Control Line and Free Flight while stationed in Germany
- Won two first places in Control Line stunt and one first and two seconds in Free Flight while competing in the service
- Started flying Radio Control and flew a Top Flite Taurus off an aircraft carrier in the early 1960s after having joined the Navy in 1957
- Flew in model airplane competition in Ohio and Penna
- Designed some of his own planes
- Organized and established a modeling club, the Kapok Tree Flyers, in Davie, Florida, in the early 1980s; served as club president
- Served as president of a club in Miami, Florida, the moved and joined the Ocala (Florida) Model Club
- Helped the Ocala club find a new flying field and served as vice president for one year then as contest director, club representative and intro instructor for the club
- Has taught numerous members how to build and fly RC airplanes
- Served as vice president of various other modeling clubs
- Ran the hobby shop at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, while in the Navy
- Has taught modeling at local schools and put on displays at his local mall
Harry’s wife, Judith, wrote the following biography on her husband. Judith is also a member of the AMA (number 2947) and is involved as a leader in the Ocala (Florida) Flying Model Club, coordinates the Radio Control (RC) and AMA events in Florida and is a leader member of the AMA.
The Beginning
Started modeling in 1945 while I was going to school and building a stick model and flying it. A friend by the name of Walter Blue assisted me in flying and building airplanes. I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania called New Castle. Then I joined the U.S. Air Force when I was 17-years-old. I was sent to Frankfurt, Germany. I was sent to the hobby shop in London, England, five days a month to pick up model supplies. I flew Control Line and Free Flight in contests in Munich, Wiesbaden and Frankfurt. I won two first places in Control Line stunt and one first and two seconds in Free Flight. On the trip to London, I bough myself an ED Radio System and that is when I started in Radio Control (RC). I switched over to the Navy in 1957 and I flew a Top Flite Taurus off an aircraft carrier (the U.S.S. Oriskany) in the early 1960s.
The first model airplane I built was an AJ Fireball and then engine was a McCoy Sportsman 36. The airplane was built from a kit; it was Control Line and painted bright red and trimmed in white.
Competition
I flew in competition in Ohio and Penna. I flew with the Good brothers (Walter and William) and never did fly in National or FAI competitions.
Experiments
I experimented with Control Line, Free Flight, speed, aerobatics and RC airplanes. I did some home designing on my own as I love to build airplanes. I enjoyed building planes from plans when I was younger.
Leadership
I organized/established a modeling club in Davie, Florida, back in the early 1980s. The club was called the Kapok Tree Flyers. There was a large restaurant and a park not too far from our home that we got permission to use the land when they raised the restaurant. It was a beautiful place. We lost the flying field later on when they decided to rejuvenate the land. I was the president of the club.
We all joined another club in Miami (I can’t remember the name); it was on a horse farm. We had a great group of guys there. I was also the president of this club until Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida. Not too long after that, we sold our house and moved to Ocala, Florida, where I joined the Ocala Flying Model Club of Ocala, Florida. I helped the club find their new flying field on the Greenways. I was vice president of the club for one year. I then became contest director (CD), club representative and intro instructor of the club for several years. I cannot tell you how many members I have taught how to fly and build RC airplanes. I love to build different types of airplanes; I am personally interested in building giant scale planes at the present time (2003).
I was also the vice president of Charles County Radio Control Club, Maryland; Prince George’s County Radio Control Club, Maryland; SACR, Alameda County, Freemont, California; and president of Condors, Coral Springs, Florida.
Contest Leadership
I have directed four local events for the Ocala Flying Model Club.
Hobby Industry Involvement
When I was in the Navy, I ran the hobby shop at Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda, California, where I started flying proportional radio with Mr. Phil Kraft. Phil was my instructor for proportional. I also flew display flights for his salesmen at malls and hobby shops.
Education Involvement
I taught some for of modeling at N.H. Jones School in Ocala, Florida and at Sumter County Middle School. We had two mall displays as well in Paddock Park Mall in Ocala, Florida. Also, we have been invited to different clubs and schools to give speeches about flying RC airplanes. (signed) Harry C. and Judith A. Dunlap January 2003
I started modeling in 1945 while I was attending school; I built and flew my first stick model. A friend by the name of Walter Blue taught me how to fly and build model airplanes. I grew up in a small town not too far from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, called New Castle. When I turned 17, I joined the US Air Force. I was sent to Frankfort, Germany, the 1629th Support Squadron, Atlantic Division, MATS. I was given a temporarily assigned duty (TAD) to shop in London to pick up hobby supplies (including model airplanes) for a hobby shop. I flew Control Line and Free Flight in contests in Munich, Wiesbaden, and Frankfurt, Germany. I won two first-places in Control Line Stunt, and one first and two second places in Free Flight. On one of the trips to London, bought myself an ED Radio System and I started flying Radio Control. After six and one-half years in the Air Force, in 1957 I joined the Navy. I retired from the Navy after 20 years of service.
While in the Navy in the 1960s (on the USS Oriskany, one of the many aircraft carriers I was stationed,) the Captain asked me to fly my Radio Control model airplane for the crew on deck. I was excited I could fly my Top Flite Taurus Radio Control model off the aircraft carrier for the crewmembers. I had several beautiful flights and landings. I will remember those flights all my life.
In addition, while I was in the Navy, I ran the hobby shop at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, where I started flying proportional radio with Mr. Phil Kraft. Phil was my instructor for proportional. I also flew display flights for his sales clerk at malls and hobby shops. The first real model airplane I built was an American Junior Fireball and the engine was a McCoy Sportsman 36. The airplane was built from a kit. It was Control Line and painted bright red and trimmed in white. I flew competition in Ohio and Pennsylvania. I flew with the Good Brothers. I never did fly in Nationals or FAI Competition.
I experimented with Control Line, Free Flight, Speed Aerobatics, and Radio Control airplanes. I did some home designing on my own as I love to build airplanes. I enjoyed building airplanes from plans when I was younger.
I organized/established a modeling club in Davie, Florida back in the early 1980s. The club was called the Kapok Tree Flyers. There was a large restaurant and a park not too far from our home. We received permission to use the area when they razed the restaurant. It was a beautiful place. We lost the flying field later on when they decided to rejuvenated the land. I was the President of the club. We all joined another club in Miami. I cannot remember the name. It was on a horse ranch. We had a great group of members there. I was also the President of this club until Hurricane Andrews hit South Florida.
Not too long after that, we sold our house and moved to Ocala, Florida where I joined the Ocala Flying Model Club. I helped the club find their new flying field on the Greenways. I was Vice President of the club for one year. I then became Contest Director, Club Representative and Introductory Instructor for several years. I cannot tell you how many members I have taught to fly and build Radio Control airplanes. I love to build different types of airplanes, and am interested in building Giant Scale airplanes at the present time. I was also the Vice President of Charles County Radio Control Club in Maryland, Price Georges County Radio Control Club, SACR in Alameda County, California and President of the Condors in Coral Springs, Florida. I have directed local events for the Ocala Flying Model Club (four to date.)
This page is a text transcription of the original document, made automatically and may contain errors. .