Born June 29, 1943 Started modeling in 1951 AMA #75271
Information Submitted by JGV (01/2003); Written & Edited by SS (01/2003), Reformatted by JS (02/2010)
Career
- Built rubber-powered models from age eight throughout his college days
- 1968-: Has taught various types of chemistry at the college level
- 1979: Joined the Winona (Minnesota) Aeromodelers
- 1985: Helped revitalize the Winona Aeromodelers
- 1987-1989: Served as president of the Winona Aeromodelers, and has been the contest director since 1988
- 1988-: Has directed his club’s Max Conrad Fun Fly and helped the club find two new flying sites
- 1988-: Has trained numerous people to fly Radio Controlled models
- 1992: Designed, built and flew a large-sized fun fly airplane
- Has been an all-season flyer for 20 years
- Has taught construction and given demonstrations for various groups, including the Boy Scouts and local schools
- Has participated in mall demonstrations and displays
The Beginning
Jim’s love for aircraft began early. As a young child, he was fascinated by the few small aircraft that flew over his rural, somewhat isolated small town. The small rubber-powered models his older brothers occasionally built further compounded his fascination with aviation. Soon enough, Jim was building his own rubber-powered models at age eight.
He doesn’t remember the name of the first model he built, but he does remember some details. The model was a small, high-wing aircraft similar to a Piper Cub or Taylorcraft. The model was built from either a Guillow’s or Sterling kit. Jim’s older brother, Bob, helped him build the model.
For Jim, the most difficult part of building that first model was finding patience. Gluing on small parts and waiting for them to dry while holding them in place was difficult for an eight-year-old. To this day, Jim admits that patience is not one of his virtues!
Modeling wasn’t all difficulty, though. Jim enjoyed glide testing the model. For him the most fun came from glide testing and, finally, actually flying the model. As he said, “It is all about successful flight, right?”
Jim continued building rubber-powered model airplanes all the way throughout his college days. He also did a little Control Line flying, usually with Cox aircraft and engines of the .049 size. Jim didn’t join his first modeling club until 1979 in Winona, Minnesota. Jim continues to be a member of the Winona Aeromodelers presently (2003).
Competition
Competition for Jim started later in life. He first competed at age 44 in 1987 at the Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Pure Water Days fun-fly contest. He competed with an Extra 230 and received best of show in the competition results.
Experiments
Jim dabbled a bit in experimenting with model airplanes. In 1992, he designed, built, and flew a large-sized fun fly airplane. It was .60-sized, had a wingspan of about four and a half feet and a chord of about one and a half feet with a boom fuselage. It also had one big tire and wingtip wires for ground stability.
Leadership
Throughout his 23 years of involvement with the Winona Aeromodelers, Jim has taken a leadership role in the club. From 1987 to 1989, he served as the club’s president and has served as contest director since 1988.
He also helped revitalize the club, which was originally called the WinAero Club. After it was revitalized, the name changed under the push of Jim and Peter Aarsvold in 1985. Since then the club has sponsored a fun fly and remained active.
As contest director, Jim has directed his club’s Max Conrad Fun Fly from 1988 until the present. The Winona Aeromodelers started sponsoring successful fun flys with an occasional competition in 1984.
Jim has also helped the Winona Aeromodelers find two new flying sites in his time as a club member. He helped fine one site two years ago when the club lost its previous site. Since 1988, he has trained a countless number of people to fly Radio Controlled (RC) aircraft and is in his 20th year as an all-season flyer, which is not an easy feat in Minnesota!
Education
Jim has conducted Delta Dart construction for Boy Scout meetings as well as construction and flying demonstrations for schools and other organizations. He has also been part of mall show demonstrations and displays.
His own personal education includes a B.S. in chemistry from St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin, in 1965. He received his Ph.D. in inorganic/analytical chemistry from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, in 1969.
Jim has been teaching analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry and general chemistry since 1968. He was employed at the College of Saint Teresa in Winona, Minnesota, from 1968 to 1989 and then at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from 1989 to the present.
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