170 MODEL AVIATION
From the Canton RC Club comes this
memorial.
Richard A. Fano: 1933-2007
There are leaders, there are followers, and
then there are inspirations. Dick “Pop” Fano
of Canton, Ohio, falls in this category. Those
of us who were fortunate to have known Dick
will agree that when it came to the modeling
hobby, he was that inspiration.
One of Dick’s favorite sayings was “an
airplane and a radio.” He could tune an
engine like no other; fly the MonoKote off
the wings; and devote countless hours in the
hobby and his business, solely to see others
become involved in fixed-wing, helicopters,
boats, cars, trucks, or rockets. His satisfaction
was seeing a new student progress,
culminating in receiving his or her solo wings
from Dick.
His reputation in the hobby preceded him.
Dick won several regional competitions in FF
when he got into the hobby and participated
at the national level doing extremely well
before moving on to fixed-wing aircraft.
Hobbyists from West Virginia,
Pennsylvania, and eastern Ohio would
venture to “the shop” because it had the finest
and most complete collection of modeling
paraphernalia. If he was there, your day had
better be an open calendar.
When he went to the local club’s flying
field, he always did something to enhance the
facility. He wanted it to be a premier airport
in the area and perfection was Dick’s motto.
Where most northern-tier clubs shut down
for the winter, you could always see Dick and
his band of followers at the field every
Sunday—rain, shine, sleet, or snow. He was
instrumental in starting the New Year’s Day
Fly-In with sauerkraut and all the trimmings.
Not only our club but several of the local
clubs had the honor of seeing Dick visit their
field on any given Sunday. This hobby was
his life and his sustenance. The title of CD
was not something he took lightly. He ran
fly-ins smoothly and effectively.
There is a huge void in our hearts and in
the modeling community since Dick’s
passing. His inspiration and craftsmanship
will be forever missed. Although Dick never
flew full-scale airplanes, watching him at the
field and the satisfaction he got out of flying
RC aircraft, brings to mind the High Flight
poem by John G. Magee Jr. that military
pilots hold in high regard.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered
wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the
tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred
things
You have not dreamed of—wheeled and
soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and
flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air ...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy
grace
Where never lark nor even eagle flew—
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of
God.
Rest in peace, good friend.
Russ Brown, editor of Crosswinds, the
Cleveland Free Flight Society’s (CFFS)
newsletter, provided the following
information and pictures:
“Excellent, mild flying conditions at
Lorain County Community College at the
Storks’ field concluded the 2007 outdoor
flying season.
“Welcomed back in Flying Aces Club
(FAC) action after a medical pass, was FAC
Top Gun Gordon Roberts flying his Debut
Embryo Endurance #14. Gordon is building
again with Debut #15 on line. The Northern
Ohio Free Flight Association fliers joined
CFFS for combined duration and FAC scale
model flying.
“Local Top Gun and designer, FAC Air
Marshal Steve Griebling, enjoyed a triple-win
day, closely followed by Detroit ace Stu
Weckerly, Dan Kane with a Fokker D.VII,
and Rich Weber flying a bright red-and-bluewing
Sundorph 1937 Bendix racer.
“Building season is on for the big CFFS
Indoor Contest and records trial at Kent State
Field House, April 5, 2008.”
They’re off! Prewar model Greve racers face
off in an elimination round.
Paul Boyanowski cranks winds into the
Lockheed Altair while Ralph Kuenz holds.
Buzz Trabbic hooks up the propeller on Dan
Kane’s Fokker D.VII.
CFFS president Rich Weber cranks full turns
on his Italian Nardi FN 305.
Please check the AMA Contest Listings
for additional information.
Bob Brown
Vice President
35 Sanford St.
Bradford PA 16701
Tel.: (814) 368-7655
www.amadistrictiii.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Randy Adams, Fairfield
OH; (513) 858-3154;
[email protected]
Mike Barbee, Delaware OH;
(740)362-5545;
[email protected]
David H. Ellis, Cross Lanes WV;
(304) 776-1408
Nelson Gould, Macungie PA;
(610) 395-9159
Dan Luchaco, Sayre PA;
(570) 888-1856;
[email protected]
Jim Martin, Franklin OH;
(937) 260-0143
Leo Rodriguez, New Stanton PA;
(724) 925-0159;
[email protected]
Matthew Turowski, Drums PA;
(570) 788-0661;
[email protected]
Joseph S. Vislay, Monclova OH
(419) 878-8843;
[email protected]
Frequency Coordinator:
Ron Morgan, Scotland PA;
(717) 264-7425;
[email protected]
D i s t r i c t I I I Volunteers
District III
Bob Brown, District III Vice President; [email protected]
Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/03
Page Numbers: 170