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I started playing with Flying models in 1944. I was 8 years old. I cut out models with my dad's razor blades. I have flown pretty much continual since. Was exciting as the hobby kept progressing to bigger and better things. I live in the desert southwest, so flying is pretty much year-round.
My modeling love started around 1968 when my father brought home a newly released Cox F2G Corsair. He taught me how to start it, I taught myself how to fly it. My father George Pizon was a great influence and teacher, and I owe him a lot.
I had had my first RC Airplane in 1974, a Top Flite Headmaster with a OS Max .25 for power and a Heathkit GD-19 5 Channel radio which I helped him build! I originally had a 4-digit AMA number but lost it when I didn’t pay for a couple years, so now I have my 5-digit 82653 number.
My early memories are peering into the cockpit of a single-seat Navy jet at an airshow, and the sound of four big radial engines on Constellation airliners.
I was given a Cox glow engine and learned to fly u-control in schoolyards.
Hobby shops put me in touch with accomplished modelers. This was before the internet, so meeting others was essential for learning.
My RC Journey
My journey into RC aviation started the same way a lot of modern stories do—by accident. A video popped up on my Facebook feed one day, and something about it grabbed me. I didn’t even know why at first. I just knew I wanted to understand it. That curiosity quickly turned into hours of research and watching videos, which eventually led me to buy my first RC aircraft: an Arrows Bigfoot from HobbyZone.
I joined AMA in 1963 or '64. I am a member of the Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club (GCRCC) and also a member of the Sirs club in Bloomington, Illinois. I am a retired Franciscan priest and have taught many kids how to fly. I was the dean of students at Saint Francis seminary in Cincinnati, where the GCRCC had its flying field. At 93, I am no longer able to fly.
I always told people, this is a great hobby, because it keeps your eyes on heaven, and when you crashed, it is humbling. It has been a great hobby for me.
I'm a lifelong model airplane member. I soloed in Control Line in 1961 and RC in 1962. I'm still flying everything from small electric to 40%+ IMAC here in the SW. With all of my lifechanging events, I'm now sadly leaving the hobby :-)
I was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1952. I started building model airplanes when I was around ten years old. Most were gliders and sail planes. I managed to crash the Control Line models until my buddy Bill got a Cox .049 trainer and we finally learned to fly Control Line. I still have a Cox .049 Trainer hanging from the ceiling in my office and I fly it from time to time.
I became fascinated as a young lad watching my uncles fly Control Lines, such as Flight Streaks. By lad, I was around 7 at the time in the 1970's. At 10, I got my first Control Line, a Ring Master with an O.S. .35 engine. My uncle helped with the build, and he had me flying it during the maiden. In no time, I was doing all kinds of stunts. It is still in my hanger today, and I am in my 60s.
I began in 1967 building Estes rockets in 2nd grade. I built and flew several Guillow's models during those early years. My parents recognized my interest in model airplanes and in 1969 they purchased me my first Cox .049 Control Line, the green P-51. I flew that for several years as I began to learn to build. I built more Carl Goldberg Stunt Man 23's and Swordsman 18's than I can remember.
I've been passionate about radio-controlled aircraft and vehicles for nearly four decades, starting my journey into the hobby at age 13. Now at 52, my enthusiasm for RC has only grown stronger over the years. As a proud member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), I've had the privilege of exploring virtually every corner of this incredible hobby.
