Transcribed and edited by JS (11/2007)
I first became aware of Radio Control flying and the AMA in 1967 after I had moved to Houston, Texas. Before that, I was flying Control Line airplanes on vacant lots and baseball fields. I had not belonged to a club or joined the AMA.
A neighbor in Houston was flying Radio Control with a club from a dirt strip on a hilltop near our neighborhood. I became very interested, bought a .60-size engine, a Senior Falcon kit, and a Bonner Digimite four-channel radio. I joined the small club (and I guess the AMA) at that time. I built the Senior Falcon and started taking instruction. I found out that the Senior Falcon was a little too much for me. I then built a small Headmaster with a .19-size engine and continued to learn to fly. I moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1969 and joined the Crescent City Radio Control Club. I know I was an AMA member at that time, as it was a requirement to fly at their field. I continued flying Radio Control in New Orleans until 1997.
I became more active when I retired in 1992. In 1997, my wife and I moved here to the Orlando, Florida area to be near our oldest son. I already was familiar with the clubs in this area and immediately joined the Remote Control Association in Central Florida. I live about 20 minutes from our field, so have flown quite often. I am a very active builder with at least one kit under construction at all times. I am a Sport flyer, having never entered a contest. I fly .20, .40, .60, .90, and 1.20-size engine airplanes of all types. I have never flown a gas-powered airplane, although I have a completed one hanging in my garage.
I enjoy attending fly-ins such as the Radio Control World’s Fly-In this past weekend. I like Giant Scale and War Birds. A highlight of this year was attending the Rally of Giants in Muncie, Indiana. This was my first time to visit AMA headquarters and their National Model Aviation Museum. In addition, I attended the Tournament of Champions a couple of times and Top Gun in 2001. I am 68 years of age and hope to keep flying for many more years.
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