134,177.98 raised in 2026. We have reached 26% of our goal.
Help us reach this year's goal of $500,000!
I’m a retired auto repair technician/shop owner. My first production to RC was at the age of four. I was born in Zambia, Africa, and attended an RC flying demo at a local park in 1961. Two Americans performed amazing flying with pattern aircraft. I can vividly remember the gold-colored control boxes they held. I was awestruck.
I entered the world of aviation in the late '90s, fueled by the smell of spent nitro and the mentorship of my father. A full-scale pilot himself, Dad saw RC flying as the perfect "entry ramp" to the skies. He was right. My journey started with a two-channel EZ-Bee powered by a screaming Cox .049—a plane I flew until it was held together by more epoxy than foam.
I grew up flying Control Line in my neighbor's field. I later started flying the radio control at about the age of 15, then I had to start flying it out in the neighbor's cow pasture. It is certainly a challenge. I had to eventually remove the landing gear and land the airplane in a tall grass field, which worked out really well.
I always had an interest in flying. Started with Control Line, never could get it off the ground. My father and I used to go to a field and watch R/C planes but couldn't afford the equipment. I joined the Air Force and finished out my career in the Air National Guard. My neighbor was into R/C and I'd go over his house. I joined the local club and he helped me build my first plane. A Dura Plane. I wanted something TOUGH.
I started with a Comet stick model plane in 1951. Went to UControl with a Revel Racer with an .049 engine. At age 14, I went to the desert in California to fly sail planes. At age 16, I went to Santa Monica to learn pistons. 23,000 hours later at age 76, I joined an AMA Club in Dunnellon, Florida, to learn how to fly RC. It is the hardest flying I ever did.
I no longer fly full-size aircraft but fly often a fleet of RC aircraft.
David Barker recently retired from the Idaho Falls Police Department, following a 29-year career, during which he was certified as a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport (2008-2019), and most recently served as the Department’s Logistics Officer, Training Coordinator, Quartermaster, and UAS Assistant Team Lead.
I began my model flying with U-Control, a balsa trainer with a Cameron .19 and Joined AMA in the 1950's. I still have my AMA issued number 9550. The flying in Waukesha, Wisconsin was promoted by the local hobby shop, The Hobby Horse.
Planes to follow were the Ringmaster, Barnstormer, Veco Scout, Smoothie and the Veco Thunderbird stunt. The Nobler was very hot at contests that beat me out for points. Bob Gialdini was a local stunt champ competitor with his design. I competed in AMA flying events in Milwaukee with junior stunt, and rat racing.
I have been an active modeler since I was old enough to toss a glider.
I just recently found the September 1961 issue of Model Aviation that had the results of the '61 Nats. My 3rd place in Junior 1/2 A speed was the first time I won at anything. Later in my teens, I won a few times at the Nats and held a number of Control Line speed records in the junior and senior age group.
