Written & Submitted by REV (03/1974); Transcribed by NR (12/1999); Edited by SS (2002), updated JS (09/2007, 02/2016), Reformatted by JS (10/2009)
Eglin Aero Modelers 12 Long Wood Drive Shalimar, Florida 32579 Academy of Model Aeronautics, Headquarters Hall of Fame Committee 806 15th Street North West Washington, D.C. 20005
Subject: Nomination to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame for James E. Kirkland Gentlemen:
The Eglin Aero Modelers hereby nominate the late James E. Kirkland for consideration to the Hall of Fame. (The appropriate AMA Form is attached.)
His contributions during 36 years in the field of model aeronautics stagger the imagination. Please note on the completed AMA Form that Jim excelled in each of the categories referenced. Also, please note in the addenda to the supporting remarks the tributes paid Jim at the time of his passing by prominent individuals in the field of model aeronautics. He was also well known in other parts of the world and, if time would permit, similar editorials could be obtained. Among the contributors to Jim's memory are our dynamic, hard-working President, John Clemens and the boy wonder from Tallahassee, Rhett Miller, last year's national champion who was a prodigy of Jim's (see attached form for their thoughts).
It is felt that the heritage left by Jim Kirkland will continue to influence model aeronautics for some time to come; therefore, it is considered fitting that his name be placed in the Model Aviation Hall of Fame as a final tribute to his memory.
Your attention to this matter and your reply will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, David O. Fraser President Eglin Aero Modelers
Entered Contests
Time will not allow a thorough check of' all contest results. The following information is taken from trophies.
Location Masters Radio Control Tournament, Marietta, Ga.
Detroit (Mich.) Invitational Detroit (Mich.) Invitational C.C.R.C.C.
Guided Mites, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
Fiesta of Five Flags, Pensacola, Fla.
Date 1969 1964 1965 1970 1969 1971
Fifth Orlando
1965
Model Aviation Day, Lafayette, La.
1969
Northwest Florida Autumn Championships M.T.R.C.S. 6th Mid-South 10th Rocket City M.A. Championship Rebel Rally Florida Radio Control Championship Fiesta Southeastern, Pensacola, Fla.
Mobile G.C.R.C.
Atlanta Radio Control Meet Fiesta Southeastern Pensacola, Fla.
Mid South
1969 1969 1969 1969 1968 1970 1971 1968 1968 1970
R.C.A.C.F.
Model Airplane Day, Lafayette, La.
Fiesta Southeastern, Pensacola, Fla.
1965 1972 1965
Result Second First First Third (Control Line D Expert) Second Third (event unknown) and First (Control Line D Expert) Best; First most touch and goes; Radio Control Scale Third Goodyear Pylon Second (Control Line D Expert) First First (Control Line C Expert) Third (C Expert) First First (Control Line C Expert) First (Control Line D Expert) Third (Control Line C Expert) Third (Control Line C Expert) First (Goodyear Pylon) Second (Control Line D Expert) VIP Trophy Third (Control Line D Expert) First (Jr./Sr. Open) and First Fiesta Southeastern, Pensacola, Fla.
1966
Florida Championship Model Airplane Meet, St. Regis CAPS Fly for Fun Model Meeting Third Fiesta Southeastern TORKS Sixth American Capitol City Radio Control, Jackson, Miss.
U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force First Annual Tournament of Champions, Oklahoma City F.A.I. Germany Nationals
1963 Unknown 1963 1960 1961 1966 1965 1963 1964 1965
37th Nationals 36th Nationals 41st Nationals 40th Nationals 39th Nationals 34th Nationals 32nd Nationals
1968 1967 1972 1971 1970 1965 1963
Tangerine Internationals
1968
Tangerine Internationals Tangerine Internationals King Orange International
1971 1969 1962
King Orange International
1965
Decatur Model Airplane Clubs Fifth GCRC St. Petersburg International
1965 Unknown 1965
C.C.R.C.C.
Alexandria Radio Control Contest
1965 1966
1965 1961
(Radio Control Champion) First (Jr./Sr. Open) and First (Radio Control Champion) First (Radio Control Multi) Trophy (event unknown) First (Pylon) Trophy (event unknown) First (Radio Control Rudder) First (Open Pylon) First (Class) and First (Scale) First (Radio Control Multi) First (Radio Control Multi) Fifth Ninth Thirds (Radio Control Rudder) Second (Expert) Fourth (Radio Control III) Fifth (Radio Control Pattern) Fifth (Radio Control Pattern) First (Radio Control Pattern) Third First (Radio Control/Control Line III) Second (Control Line C Expert) First (Control Line D Expert) First (Control Line C Expert) First (Radio Control Multi) and First (Goodyear Pylon) Second (Radio Control Pylon), First (Radio Control/Control Line III) and First (Radio Control Scale) Third (Control Line C Expert) First (Control Line C Expert) First (Radio Control III Expert) First (Pylon Racing) First (Control Line III Expert) First Fiesta Southeastern M.A. Championship
1962
CPPS
Fiesta Southeastern
1963 1964
King Orange International First Carrier Squadron Team Florida State Model Plane Championship
1963 1964 1964
C.C.R.C.C.
1964
First Annual Gulf Coast M.A. Meeting Billy Bowlegs First Radio Control Festival Atlanta Radio Control Meeting Rocket City Radio Control National National National
1964 Unknown 1966 1972 1962 1964 1969
First (Radio Control Scale), First (Radio Control Multi) and Third (Radio Control M.C. Jr. Sr. Op.)
First (Multi-Radio) First (Radio Control Multi) and Second (Open Pylon) First (Radio Control Line III) Trophy (event unknown) First (Radio Control/Control Line III) Second (Control Line III Expert) First (Class III) Second (Multi Pylon) Fourth (expert) First (D expert) Sixth Unknown Failed to qualify for semifinals
Designs Kitted by Manufacturer Manufacturer Veco Products Corp.
P.O. Box 229 Burbank, California Lanier Industries, Inc.
Briarwood Road Oakwood, Georgia 30566 Dumas Products, Inc. 790 S. Park Avenue Tucson, Arizona 37205 Hobby World, Inc. 6602 Highway 100 Nashville, Tennessee 37205 Airborne Associates 4106 Breezewood Lane Annandale, Virginia 22003 Southern Radio Control Products, Inc.
Date 1964
Name of Airplane Beachcomber
1969
Citron
1969
Triton
1971
A-6 Intruder
1973
Nutcracker
1974
Mustang-X 8685 North Palafox Highway Pensacola, Florida 32504
Plans Published in Magazines Name of Magazine Model Airplane News
Date May 1963
American Modeler
July/Aug. 1965
Model Airplane News Model Airplane News
Aug. 1966 March and April 1971
Model Airplane News
Dec. 1972
Category Radio Control Pattern Radio Control Pattern Pylon Racer Radio Control Pattern Radio Control Pattern
Name of Airplane Beachcomber Citron Shoestring A-6 Intruder Mustang-X
Designs Used by Others to Win Contests
The Beachcomber, Citron, Triton, and Intruder are designs known to have been used by others to win contests. Time will not permit gathering precise information of how many of his designs have won or the date of the win. Top flyers Rod Chidgey, Don Coleman, Rhett Miller and others have flown his designs in contests. It is believed all of his designs, except the Talon, have been used by others. His Intruder was used by Rhett Miller to win second place in the 1972 Nationals Class A Pattern.
Experimenter
Jim was well known throughout the model aviation world as an experimenter, designer, and innovator. His airplane designs set standards for competitive aircraft configurations of today. His contributions in electronics set the stage for the modern Radio Control system; in fact, he was the first to win the nationals with a proportional system. His final and greatest contribution was the Funline radio system, which was ready for a team to commence production when he was struck down with a heart attack on Nov. 4, 1972. Due to space limitations, not all his contributions can be listed here; however, some of the major innovations are shown under Industry Attachment 9. D.L. Coleman, D.D.S. 134 N. Mobile Street Citronelle, Alabama March 14, 1975 Eglin Aero-Modelers C/o Mr. Bill Grigsby 224 Hudson Drive Ft. Walton, Florida 32548 Dear Bill,
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Eglin Aero-Modelers upon their plans to nominate Jim Kirkland for inclusion in the Model Aviation Hall of Fame.
Having been closely associated with Jim for 10 years in Radio Control circles, I can think of no one in the South more deserving of this honor. His contributions to the whole port were those of a fine competitor, gentleman, sportsman, and true professional in all senses of the words. I certainly wish you and your club complete success in this endeavor.
Sincerely, Don Coleman, 23214 RCCB District V Headquarters 73 J Air Divisions (ADC) United States Air Force Tyndoll Air Force Base, Florida Nov. 19, 1963 Reply to ATTN Of: 73CCR Subject: Letter of Commendation To: Air Proving Ground Center Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
1. I wish to commend a member of your command, Master Sergeant James E. Kirkland, 2303 Test Group, for his participation in the USAF 1963 World-Wide Fighter Interceptor Weapons Meet at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
2. Sergeant Kirkland contributed significantly to the success of the Air Show and Open House, which were climaxed William Tell 1963, with an outstanding aerial demonstration of his Radio Controlled model aircraft. The complexity and variety of aerobatic maneuvers in this exciting performance was one of the highlights of the Air Show and approximately 30,000 people in attendance gained a new insight into a traditionally fascinating hobby. The professional competence that he had achieved in pursuit of his avocation and his willingness to participate voluntarily in military events, reflect great credit upon himself, his organization, and the United States Air Force. 3. Please express my personal appreciation to Master Sergeant Kirkland for his outstanding performance.
R.W. Burns Brigadier General, USAF Commander
Rhett Anderson Miller, III 3039 Lakeshore Drive Tallahassee, Florida 32303 March 18, 1974 Mr. Frank Prestwood C/o Mr. Ron Van Putte 12 Long Wood Drive Shalimar, Fla. 32579 Dear Mr. Prestwood:
I was very pleased to see that the Eglin Aero Modelers have decided to nominate Mr. Jim Kirkland for the Model Aviation Hall of Fame. In my opinion, there could be no one more deserving of such an honor.
Not only did Mr. Kirkland devote his time to serving in various capacities in the AMA, but was also an active participant in AMA clubs throughout the fifth district.
It is a well-known fact that Mr. Kirkland literally dedicated his life to the development and research as it affected or related to model airplanes. This is evidenced by the fact of that most all of today’s pattern airplanes can be traced to one of Mr. Kirkland’s original designs. From a personal standpoint, I shall always be indebted to him for his untiring efforts to assist me to fly the aerobatic patterns properly. In view of his unquestioned dedication to the hobby, there is no doubt in my mind that he is more than deserving of this honor.
Sincerely, Rhett A. Miller III
Chief of Naval Air Training U.S. Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida 32508 August 14, 1964 Mr. Jim Kirkland 344 Edge Avenue Valparaiso, Florida My dear Mr. Kirkland:
I wish to express my appreciation to you as a member of the 1964 National Model Airplane Meet Winners guest cruise, for visiting the Naval Air Training Command. The fact that you have taken valuable time away from your business to gain a better understanding of Naval Aviation is indicative of your patriotic interest in the welfare of your country.
May this day aboard the USS Lexington serve as a reminder that this Command continually strives to develop not only the finest aviators in the world, but officers of staunch character who will man our fighting ships in the best traditions of the United States Navy. It was a pleasure and honor to have you aboard.
Sincerely, A.S. Heyward, Jr.
Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Air Training
We Bid Good-Bye to Champion
When I arrived in Huntsville, Alabama for the Radio Control Masters Tournament, Jim Kirkland, a smiling faced old friend of mine from the Deep South was one of the first people to greet me. Jim’s greeting was, “Well, Johnny, how does it feel to be here in ‘God’s Country?’” Truly, everything that happened in Huntsville at the Masters was so impressive that, in writing about it in our AMA magazine section under “The President’s Memo,” I mentioned Jim’s remark about “God’s Country.”
What a shock it was just a few weeks later to learn that Jim Kirkland had died of a heart attack! For those who had known Jim, no description of mine could add anything to the fine guy we knew he was. For those not personally acquainted with him, he was everything that you would like to see in an AMA champion. Skilled enough to have been a winner and champion at national and international level and to have been one of our fine technical innovators, Jim always had time to grin and chat a minute with anyone who wanted to bend his ear. And now, recalling again Jim’s lasting remark to me about being in “God’s Country,” I am proud to have been among Jim’s friends, and sad as he leaves to carry our AMA spirit and love into what is truly God’s Country.
1971: Jim Kirkland’s P-51 Mustang pattern airplane at the Chicago Nats. Photo taken by, and courtesy of, Mark Radcliff.
(Left) Jim Kirkland’s P-51 Mustang pattern airplane on display at the National Model Aviation Museum.
Photo taken by, and courtesy of, Mark Radcliff.
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