Biographies

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Chris Hickok Biography

A group of people stand outdoors, smiling, with trees and a building in the background.

I started flying glow fuel in the mid 90s. In order to fly, I needed an AMA Card. Being in So Cal at that time, there were no fields I could fly without the AMA insurance. So I joined. And I joined a chartered club, “The American Model Airport Association,” originally located in Chino. They had a field at a place called Fishermans retreat in Redlands, California. That is where I soloed under the guidance of Mr. Henry Arance. As time passed, I became a contest director, club secretary, VP, then a brief stint as President.

James Holston Biography

A boy smiling, holding a model airplane, stands outdoors in a suit and tie.

I am a second generation AMA member, my Dad who passed in 2023 at 94 years old had a very low AMA number and gave me the gift of his time helping me with model building starting when I was 5 years old. I started out with Comet kits, moved through Free Flight, tow line gliders, Control Line, and RC, and now at 68, have come full circle and am back building Comet kits and scratch building other stick and tissue designs. I thank the AMA and my father for blessing me with these lifetime skills that I have enjoyed for over 60 years.

Jim

Michael Wright Biography

Smiling man with a beard and cap, outdoors.

My journey begins into model aviation at the age of nine, building rubber band-powered balsa airplanes. This hobby quickly becomes a passion, and I develop skills in structure, covering, and painting. In time, a turning point occurs when my neighbor—who is also a skilled surgeon—takes notice and invites me to help build a much larger radio-controlled model, the SIG Cadet.

This is my first exposure to advanced modeling and radio-controlled flight.

Steve Meyer Biography

Man kneeling beside a large model airplane on a gravel surface.

I started flying at the age of 14. I was taught on a Carl Goldberg skyline 62. I am now 67 and still flying. I have flown pylon racing, been a member of the quarter scale association, and have flown many types of aircraft from 1/7 scale up to 1/3 scale.

I have flown electric aircraft as well as Gas and nitro birds. My AMA number was received at the age of 14 before I even started learning. I have been flying at my father's club here in Tucson, Arizona, for almost 16 years now. My father was also a member of AMA. Unfortunately, he passed away two years ago.

Matt Lacopo Biography

Joined AMA in the late 80s in San Diego. Moved to Oklahoma City in the 90s. Found a club before I found a job. Quit flying around 2000 to support my grandson's motocross racing but kept all of my stuff. Got back into it by flying simulator which made me a better pilot than I ever was over 20 years before. Started fixing up and modernizing my equipment bought a few electrics.

R/C airplanes and motorcycles are still my passion at 71 years old. I will still be flying after I can not swing my leg over a bike any longer. I still belong to the same club, West Side Flyers.

Mike Klintworth Biography

Christmas 1965, my Dad wanted to get into aeromodelling. Mom and Dad were raising four boys, and there wasn't a lot of extra money, but Dad new that if he got me and my next brother down included in the deal, Mom would go for it. So they got my brother and I a Cox PT-19 trainer complete kit. Well, we had to wait till spring. I was very enthused about all this, my brother was just so-so.

Peter Waplinger Biography

Model airplanes, including flying a drone as well as being a soaring pilot (with 68 hours), have been a great hobby, which my Dad introduced me to.

I was nine years of age when we drove in a VW bus from Lima, Peru, to Buenos Aires, to visit my Mom's family there. While in Buenos Aires, we visited a store, which offered a great variety of Free Flight gliders. We took a couple kits to my grandparents home while there and ended building one small kit and also purchased a A-1 kit (Jetstream), which we took back home to Peru. 

Francis Maguire Biography

I built stick models, drugstore gliders, and solid wood kits in the 1940s.

Late 40s neighbor introduced me to Control Line models, taught me and my brother how to build and fly them. Joined Propsnappers Club and flew in several contests, receiving trophies!

Long gap after high school, US Army, College, working, marriage.

Joseph Phillips Biography

Man kneeling on runway with model airplane, holding remote control.

I have been active in modeling since early childhood. Started building model aircraft while in elementary school. Active in Control Line flying in high school then Radio Control until present. Over the years, I have also built a few models from scratch, including a Control Line T-28A and a Control Line Dauntless that was based on some 3 views from a WWII manual. The T-28 was developed from some 3 views in an Air Force manual I borrowed from my Dad who worked at a local Air Base.

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