Written by various authors; Transcribed & Edited by SS (09/2002), Updated by JS (10/2007, 01/2012, 2026)
Career
- Worked on developments and prototypes for Chance Vought/Sikorsky Aircraft Company in Stratford, Connecticut, during World War II
- After World War II worked for Guillow’s Company as a design and manufacturing engineer; designed the Trixter series of Control Line stunt planes
- 1947: Won third place at the New York Mirror Meet in Stunt event
- Late 1940s/early 1950s: Assisted in testing and developing Ray Arden’s new glow plug
- Won the stunt event at the 1948 Plymouth International Contest in Detroit, Michigan; received the Air Trails Perpetual Stunt Trophy flying his own Trixter Invert, Junior
- Fall of 1948: first person to use a Fox .35 engine in competition
- 1949: Placed second at the National Championships
- 1950: Won Open Stunt and the Walker Cup at the Nationals
- 1950: Guillow’s Company kitted his Barnstormer design
- 1951: Won Open Stunt at the Nationals; his protégé, Don Ferguson, won the Walker Cup
- Designed a Radio Controlled model, the Trixter Beam, which he produced from his own company, Andrews Aircraft Model Company, Inc.; also designed and produced H-Ray, X-Ray, Aeromaster Bipe and a whole line of Sportsmasters
- Served as president of various model airplane clubs
Honors
- 1959: AMA Fellow
- 1981: Model Aviation Hall of Fame
- 1994: Precision Aerobatics Model Pilot Association Hall of Fame
Wynn Paul, historian of the Precision Aerobatics Model Pilot Association (PAMPA) submitted this biography that PAMPA had on file about Lou Andrews.
Lou Andrews began modeling in the late 1930s designing, building and flying Free Flight airplanes including Wakefield. He lived in the Connecticut and Massachusetts areas. Before and during World War II, Lou worked on development and prototypes for Chance Vought/Sikorsky Aircraft Company in Stratford, Connecticut. He worked with Igor Sikorsky and Charles Lindbergh. His first Control Line model in the early 1940s was a converted Free Flight model (called a “goat” at the time) that used butcher’s twine for control wires. After World War II, Lou worked for the Guillow’s Company as a designer and manufacturing engineer. During this time, he competed in Free Flight and Control Line events. He placed third in the 1947 New York Mirror Meet in the stunt event. While with Guillow’s, he designed the Trixter series of Control Line stunt planes.
Lou was one of the New England-area flyers who assisted in the testing and developing of Ray Arden’s new glow plug. Arden was from Connecticut and gave out many of the new glow plugs at the 1947 Nationals (Nats). Lou flew his Trixter Invert with the Ohlsson .29 engine converted to glow plug operation.
Lou won the stunt event at the 1948 Plymouth International Contest in Detroit, Michigan, winning the Air Trails Perpetual Stunt Trophy. He was flying his own design of the Trixter Invert, Junior.
When Duke Fox first produced the first run of his Fox .35 engines in the fall of 1948, he sent some to Lou Andrews who became the first person to use the new engine in competition. This was the original four head bolt, two-bolt back plate-version engine.
At the 1949 Nats, Lou chose to fly a large 660-square-inch airplane that required a larger engine, thus he used the Fox .59 engine. He finished in second place, close behind Robert Dailey who also was using a .59-size engine.
Lou Andrews flew his new design, the Barnstormer, at the 1950 Nats in Dallas, Texas, using a Fox .29 engine. He won the Open Stunt division and by virtue of having the highest score of the three age divisions, he won the Walker Cup. Lou’s protégé, Don Ferguson, won the senior division, also flying a Barnstormer. In November of 1950, the Guillow’s Company came out with the Barnstormer kit as designed by Lou. This would prove to be a very popular and competitive Control Line stunt airplane.
At the 1951 Nats, Lou won the open division of Stunt again. He was flying a Barnstormer that was dressed up with cheek cowls, wheel pants, and cockpit detail in an effort to gain more appearance points. His protégé, Don Ferguson, again won the senior division and out-pointed Lou for the Walker Cup.
Lou traveled to California for the 1952 Nats. He was flying a plane that George Aldrich characterized as a semi-scale Shoestring painted in the chartreuse and red paint scheme similar to the full-scale racer. Lou finished in eighth place.
Andrews had become interested in Radio Controlled models and designed the Trixter Beam, which he produced from his own company, AAMCO, as he had left Guillow’s. He also designed and produced H Ray, X Ray, Aeromaster Bipe and a whole line of Sportsmasters. Lou competed in Radio Control events on local and national levels.
Lou excelled in all aspects of modeling – designing, building, and flying. He valued practice and often would fly eight hours a day. He was a gentleman in all respects, often helping his competitors at contests.
Lou Andrews’ contribution to the Control Line precision aerobatics event was as a competitor winning the Walker Cup in 1950 and the Nationals twice. He also won the Plymouth Internationals Meet. He designed several outstanding Control Line airplanes, most notably the Barnstormer. Along with Harold deBolt and Harold “Red” Reinhardt, Lou was considered one of the most outstanding stunt flyers in the New England area in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He promoted modeling in the New England area in Control Line, Free Flight, and Radio Control. He was known as a gentleman and friend to all competitors.
Competitor Entered the following contests:
- 1946: Connecticut, Champ, Class D Speed
- 1947: Massachusetts, Champ, Class D Speed
- 1948: Massachusetts, Champ, Class D Speed
- 1948: Massachusetts, Champ, Control Line Precision and Novelty stunt
- 1948: North East, Champ, Control Line Precision and Novelty Stunt
- 1949: Plymouth International
- 1950: Plymouth International
- 1951: Plymouth International
- 1952: Plymouth International
- 1953: Plymouth International
- 1954: AMA National Championships
- 1955: AMA National Championships
National events winner of the following
- 1949: Plymouth International, National Champ, Control Line Precision and Novelty Stunt
- 1950: Plymouth International, National Champ, Control Line Precision and Novelty Stunt
- 1951: Plymouth International, National Champ, Control Line Precision and Novelty Stunt
- 1952: Plymouth International, National Champ, Control Line Precision and Novelty Stunt
- 1953: Plymouth International, Radio Control first (Beam)
- 1954: AMA National Championships, Radio Control first
- 1955: AMA National Championships, Radio Control first
Designer/Experimenter Designs kitted by Paul Guillow:
- 1948 to 1963: over 50 rubber scale models kitted
- 1950: Beam
- 1954: Explorer
- 1955: Vangard
- Rat Racer
Designs kitted by Andrews Aircraft Model Company, Inc.:
- 1964: S-Ray
- 1965: H-Ray
- 1966: Aeromaster
- 1966: Sportmaster
1968: Trainermaster 1970: A-Ray 1972: Minimaster 1978: Big H-Ray 1979: Quick-Ray 500 1980: X-Ray
Experiments
- 1946: Single vent tank
- 1949: First to throttle a Radio Control glow-plug engine
- 1949: Entered first competitive flight of two Control Line planes at one time
- 1950: Ornithopter model; wings moved to propel aircraft model similar to a bird’s wings in flight
- 1953: Five operational functions from one signal control through mechanical modifications (escapement) including the following:
o Rudder – left o Rudder – right o Elevator – up o Elevator – down o Two speeds from one engine
- 1953: First steerable nose wheel; first brake on nose wheel
- 1955: First model with strop ailerons
Leader Officer positions held include the following:
- 1942: Bridgeport Aeronuts, President
- 1946: New England Radio Control Modelers, President
- 1948: Norwood Society Aeromodel Eng., President
- 1962: Cape Ann Radio Control Model Club, President
AMA Executive Director John Worth wrote the following letter about Lou Andrews after his election to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame.
February 10, 1982
Mr. Jerry Davis 693 Beacon Street Newton, MA 02159
John Worth Academy of Model Aeronautics National Headquarters 815 15th Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Dear Jerry
Lou Andrews is one of the most highly respected leaders in the Academy of Model Aeronautics. He is a life member, a Fellow and a member of the Model Aviation Hall of Fame.
When he flew actively in AMA-sanctioned contests, he was one of the top competitors. His model designs are famous and highly regarded as excellent performers and his kits are acknowledged to be among the best in terms of craftsmanship and quality.
Lou is also respected as a model industry leader for his vision and ability to set trends and establish standards. His model products were always top notch. The only problem was that he could not produce enough to meet the demand. I am sure that many purchases may have been lost as a result. In the model business, ability to deliver is the key to a successful business. The Radio Control market is a constantly growing thing. AMA’s membership has quadrupled since 1966 and is still growing steadily – we ended last year with 82,600 members and this year we are 5,000 ahead of last year’s rate. Practically all of this growth is from people getting into Radio Control.
A tremendous boost to even further growth would be a Radio Control model, which is crash resistant. Many people get discouraged after a crash, if the damage is extensive. Anything that can be done in this area should result in greater sales.
Sincerely, John Worth Executive Director
Mention S-Ray, H-Ray, Aeromaster, Trainmaster and many people think of Andrews Model Aircraft Company. Lou Andrews has a long record of contest success, designing and experimenting success, together with devotion and unselfish sharing in this hobby. Since 1946 when he was Connecticut State Champ in Class D Control Line Speed, through the 1950s when he was a repeat winner in the Plymouth International Meets, and later on as a top competitor in AMA National Championships with first place wins in Radio Control events, Lou has always been the man to beat. As a designer, he has had over 50 rubber powered models kitted by the Guillow’s Company between the years of 1948 and 1963. His own company has produced one of the finest lines of basic and advanced Radio Controlled airplanes from 1964 to the present day. Quality and workmanship have been the order of the day for the Andrews Company.
In the field of experimentation, Lou has scored with: single vent tank, throttle adaptation to RC Glo-plug engine (1949), Ornithopter model (1950), Modified signal control to permit five operational functions through a mechanical escapement (1953); steerable nose wheel with braking capability (1953), and first model with strip ailerons (1955). His Trixter Beam design was one of the most successful early RC model kits to introduce newcomers to the field. A dedicated modeler and club official, he has served as President of four Connecticut clubs, starting in 1942 with the Bridgeport Aeronuts and finally with the Cape Ann RC Club in 1962.
Lou has also been a generous supporter of AMA with financial donations during AMA’s hard times of the early 60s. He was one of the AMA’s first Life members (L-16) and is an AMA Fellow.
Again, we have lost another well-known and well-liked old-timer in this hobby of ours. The following came from Don Krafft, AMA VP District I, on behalf of Lou’s daughter, Pamela Andrews Barnard of Salem, New Hampshire.
Louis (Lou) J. Andrews
Lou, who was a designer and manufacturer of model aircraft, passed away May 10, 1995, at the Concord Hospital. He lived in North Reading, MA, for over 29 years before moving to Barnstead, NH, about 12 years ago. Lou was a designer for Guillow before starting his own business, the Andrews Aircraft Model Company (AAMCO). Some of his designs were the Aeromaster, Sportmaster, Trainermaster, S-Ray, HRay, A-Ray, X-Ray, and the Big H-Ray. The Aeromaster was probably the most successful model aircraft design to date. The company was sold to Great Planes in the early 1980s.
He was the founder and a Life Member of the Cape Ann Model Aircraft Club, and was a Life Member in the Hall of Fame of the Academy of Model Aeronautics [Model Aviation Hall of Fame].
The photo [at right] was taken in the spring of 1986 and shows Lou with the original Aeromaster.
This page is a text transcription of the original document, made automatically and may contain errors. .