Written by DK (2017); Reformatted by JS (04/2019); Updated by JS (01/2024)

Richard Verano AMA Hall of Fame Nomination

In Richard Verano’s model aviation career he has accomplished the following outstanding results:

Total of 16 U.S. Nationals titles in RC pylon.

From 1993 to 2009, Richard represented the United States in various FAI F3D World Championships.

1993 FAI World Championship in Austria, 1st place individual, 1st in team, and a world record 67.2 seconds.
1995 FAI World Championship in Muncie, 2nd place individual, 2nd in team, and a world record 66.00 seconds.
1997 FAI World Championship in Czech Republic, a world record of 64.9 seconds.
1999 FAI World Championship in Sweden, 1st in team, 3rd place individual, and a world record of 59.3 seconds - first to record a sub minute time in F3D Pylon.
2003 FAI World Championship in Czech Republic, 2nd place individual, and 2nd in team.
2005 FAI World Championship in France, 4th place individual, and 9th in team.
2009 FAI World Championship in Germany, 2nd place individual, and 1st in team. These international results illustrate Richard’s unbelievable record in competition. Richard enjoys the competition side of the RC hobby. His first contest was the U.S. Nationals held in Riverside, California in 1977. He flew novice pattern and placed a respectable 19th out of approximately 60 entries. In 1983, he entered Masters class pattern (top class back then) at the U.S. Nationals in Chicopee, Massachusetts. Again, he placed 19th out of approximately 60 entries. In 1987, Richard started pylon racing. First, he flew Formula 1, F3D, and later Q40 and Q500. Richard won his first National event in 1989, by taking first place in both Formula 1 and Q500 that year. From 1989 to 1998, 1990 was the only year that he did not win a national event. The biggest achievement was in 1997, when he won all four pylon events at the U.S. Nationals. In 1998, he almost swept the pylon Nationals again, winning 2 of the 3 classes he entered. Richard has been employed in the hobby industry his entire life. In 1975, he started working for his great friend and Hall of Fame member, Joe Bridi. Bridi Hobby Enterprise was bought out by Great Planes in the late 70s, and he ended up working for another kit manufacturer called Craft Air. In 1984, Craft Air was bought out by Mark Smith Industries, and Richard moved on and began working for another RC company, Airtronics. In 1986, he was hired by Futaba

Corporation as a quality control manager in the RC department. In 1988, Futaba began importing the YS engine line, and Richard transferred from Futaba QC department to the YS category. In January 2000, Great Planes obtained the rights of importing the Futaba radio line and left the YS line of engines open for other importers. Since he’s had a long relationship with the Yamada family (YS Engines), Richard was selected to import their engines.

Richard was born on September 9, 1958, in Angeles City, Philippines. His father was serving in the U.S. Army at that time, so he was born as a naturalized U.S. citizen. After 23 years of service in the military, his father retired in 1969. In 1971, the family migrated to the United States. They ended up living in Carson, California, where there was a large RC club called the BIRDS RC club. He joined the club in 1974 and soloed the same year with a Bridi Trainer 60. Joe Zingali of Zinger Propellers was responsible for teaching him how to fly.

Richard is now busy promoting another form of pylon event called Warbird racing. With the help of a couple of key individuals, Warbird racing was run as a National event beginning in 2016. This event is very popular on the West Coast, attracting almost 50 entries per contest. YS Engines has sponsored a two-day race every September since 2013, averaging around 65 entries each year. Richard believed Warbird racing had the potential to be a large event after the 2016 U.S. Nationals. In addition to supporting pylon racing, Richard also helps many Pattern and Helicopter pilots.

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