Former President Dave Brown Honored
Roughly 100 people attended a banquet January 26, 2008, at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie, Indiana, in tribute to Dave Brown, who served as AMA’s 22nd president from 1996 through 2007. He was accompanied by his wife, Sally; his daughter, Connie; her husband, Tim Gleason; his son, Dave; his wife, Suzanne; and five grandchildren.
Banquet and tributes
Dave has served in Academy leadership positions as executive vice president, vice president, and finally president, for 28 years. Bob Underwood, who emceed the banquet, did the math and determined that equals attending approximately 110 Executive Council meetings, going through 1,000 Executive Council meeting motions and votes, and writing 330 magazine columns.
Notable attendees at the dinner included:
- AMA Executive Director Jim Cherry
- Finbar and Anne Constant (friends who traveled from Ireland)
- National Aeronautic Association (NAA) President Jonathan Gaffney
- Anita Storey (wife of ninth AMA president Keith Storey)
- Maynard Hill (AMA’s 10th president)
At the front of the room was a table with a place setting and a candle burning in honor of modelers who could not attend. There was no head table at the gathering because it was meant to be a “family affair.” The presentation was complemented by a slide show by Mark Lanterman featuring Dave at various stages of his life.
Joyce Hager, AMA’s staff director, read a letter from former AMA president Don Lowe, who was unable to attend the banquet. An excerpt from that letter stated, “[Dave Brown has] made an important contribution, and this hobby is better for [his] service.” Joyce added, “I have great admiration for Dave. He was a great mentor.”
Life and career highlights
Dave started modeling at age 7. In his younger years he and friends constructed a scale XP-35 aircraft and covered it with foil from Marlboro cigarette packs. His other interests have included midget car racing and playing the banjo.
He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1970, after which he went to work for World Engines in Ohio as a toolmaker. In 1979 he started his own company—Dave Brown Products—which he and Sally still own and run.
In 1985 Dave Brown Products introduced the first RC flight simulator. The company continued to grow with introductions such as wheels, aluminum spinners, and other accessory items.
Dave’s competitive modeling career, which began in the 1950s, has included participation in CL Aerobatics, CL Scale, CL Speed, and RC Aerobatics (Pattern). He competed in events such as the Baden-Wuerttemberg State Championships, AMA Nats, Tournament of Champions, and FAI World Championships.
Dave wasn’t the only Brown honored at the banquet. Bob Underwood presented Sally with AMA’s first HOPE (Hall of Partners Extraordinaire) Award, which honors those who support their partners in their aeromodeling endeavors. “At least one half of Dave is Sally,” said Bob. According to him, she has acted as nurse, pit crew, wife, business partner, mother, children’s advocate, and has served in numerous other roles. “It’s been quite a ride,” she said.
Although Dave will no longer be AMA president, he will represent the Academy in various capacities with the FAI executive committee, the NAA, and CIAM (the FAI Aeromodelling Commission). “We look forward to working together for many years to come,” said newly elected AMA President Dave Mathewson.
The evening concluded with toasts given by Bob Underwood and Finbar Constant. “Keep on flying,” said Dave.
—AMA Staff
Frank Tlush: A Leader for More Than 70 Years
One of AMA’s founders and a famous aeromodeling pioneer, Frank Tlush, passed away December 20, 2007, at his home in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. He was 90 years old.
Early achievements
Frank was best known for the model engines of the 1930s that bore his name and for his model that won the Texaco Trophy at the AMA Nats in 1936. He was inducted into the Model Aviation Hall of Fame in 1988 and received the Historic Achievement Award at the AMA’s Celebration of Eagles event in Muncie, Indiana, in 1996.
Before the AMA was formally established in 1936, Frank was one of seven model‑aviation pioneers who signed a document separating the Academy from the National Aeronautic Association (NAA). The AMA became the independent national organization to represent aeromodelers in the U.S.
At the Detroit Nats in 1936, Frank won the prized Texaco Trophy with his original design—a 9-foot-wingspan free-flight model—using his Tlush Super Ace 10cc engine, which went into production in 1935. Today that 72‑year‑old model hangs in the AMA museum as a tribute to Frank’s place in aeromodeling history.
Family, business, and wartime service
Frank was one of eight children—five brothers and three sisters—and all the brothers were involved in aviation. His older brother, Charlie (who passed away at age 94 in 1996), was Frank’s mentor; Charlie’s machinist experience led to the development of the Tlush engines. The brothers worked together until World War II, when Frank served in the Corps of American Engineers in the South Pacific.
After the war, in 1946, the five Tlush brothers established the American Standard Company, known for high‑quality machine products for the aerospace industry. The company won the Supplier of the Year award in 1968 from Boeing’s Vertol Helicopter Division.
Frank recalled that in the early 1930s he and Charlie saw a pioneer Loutrel engine at a Kresge Aero Club meeting, which inspired them to build their own engine. That led to small‑scale production and eventually larger production with additional machine tools beyond their original lathe and drill press.
Contributions to AMA
Frank traveled several times from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., to confer with NAA officers about establishing an independent organization for aeromodeling. He worked with AMA founder Lt. H. W. Alden and Frank Zaic to help make this happen.
During my 27 years as AMA Executive Director (1964–1991), Frank provided advice and guidance. AMA experienced tremendous growth—from a low of 17,000 members to 165,000—and I’m extremely grateful to him for his help. In many visits and phone calls over the past 30 years, Frank frequently credited much of his success to his great family and especially his wife, Edna. They had been married for 48 years when Frank died.
The history of AMA’s birth and progress owes much to Frank Tlush’s contributions. His memory lingers.
—John Worth District IV
TAG 2008: the AMA Has It!
Do you want to introduce model aviation to your friends and neighbors, and receive local recognition and financial benefits in return? If so, learn more about AMA’s 2008 Take Off And Grow (TAG) program.
What is TAG?
Developed to encourage Academy members and clubs to promote modeling as a positive recreational activity, TAG was the first of several new programs AMA implemented in 2007. TAG provides an extensive one-day introduction to model aviation, with the intent of drawing in new people. The introduction is followed by a flight-training program for new members gained from the opening-day activities.
How it works
Clubs that apply to host a “TAG Model Aviation Day” will be provided with a complete program-requirements and guidelines document. It includes ideas for promoting and advertising the event and an outline of possible activities.
Clubs are encouraged to preregister attendees to help them prepare. Each participant will also be entered in the AMA’s revised Introductory Pilot Program (IPP). Although there is no cost to the nonmember, by becoming an IPP student he or she will be covered under the Academy’s liability protection as long as training is supervised by an AMA Introductory Pilot (IP) Instructor.
On the day of the event, each student will receive brief classroom instruction to familiarize them with model aviation and what to expect, followed by hands-on training under a club instructor’s supervision. If the training involves RC aircraft, each attendee will have the opportunity to fly a trainer on a buddy box under an AMA IP Instructor’s guidance. (The TAG program is also available to free-flight and control-line clubs.)
Benefits and incentives
If your club is selected to host a TAG Model Aviation Day, the AMA will provide up to $1,000 in advance to help set up your program. At the end of the event, your club can keep the items purchased as AMA’s way of saying “thanks.”
Through TAG, AMA members can also take advantage of AMA’s Ambassador Program: a current member who signs up three new Open or Senior members will earn next year’s membership free.
Hosting a TAG Model Aviation Day is a great way to reach your community, provide a family-oriented recreational activity, and build positive relationships that may help when keeping or acquiring flying sites. TAG will require many people’s cooperation to be successful and will help make the hobby even better.
How to apply
AMA has a limited number of TAG openings for 2008. If your club wants to participate, contact:
- April Hathaway: [email protected] or (765) 287-1256, ext. 516
- For more information: April or Jack Frost at [email protected] or (765) 287-1256, ext. 515
You can also visit the “TAG Links” at www.modelaircraft.org/education/08tagannounce.aspx to download a syllabus and application.
—Education Department
Claude McCullough: 1922-2008
Aeromodeling great Claude McCullough passed away January 30, 2008, at the age of 85. He was a leader in model aviation and a skilled competitor. In more than 70 years of model aeronautics, Claude left his stamp on the hobby and industry.
Early life and military service
Born in Ottumwa, Iowa, May 16, 1922, Claude was raised an only boy with two sisters. At age 9 he and his sisters went to live on a farm under their grandparents' care. Approximately four years later he began participating regularly in all types of modeling competitions.
In 1943 Claude entered the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He had wanted to be in the U.S. Air Corps, but poor eyesight made that dream unattainable. He was attached to the Air Corps and worked at a B-24 base in Italy during World War II. Claude returned from the war in 1947 and resumed farming near Ottumwa.
Career at Sig and design work
In 1971 Claude moved to Montezuma, Iowa, where he began working at Sig Manufacturing Co. Sig gave Claude the opportunity to design model airplanes and related products. There he met and became good friends with Mike Gretz, now a design engineer for Sig.
"Claude was very quiet but very intelligent," said Mike. "He was an easy man to talk to and knew all about models and full-scale aircraft." Scale modeling was particularly important to Claude; he saw it as distinct from RC, free-flight, and control-line.
Claude created numerous scale projects and won several awards, including:
- The Sterling Award for best Scale model at the 1972 Nats
- Best Scale Model at the 1989 Quarter Scale Association of America Las Vegas Fly-In
- The George Meyer Memorial Craftsmanship Trophy (more than once)
He designed and had several kits manufactured by Sig, including the Yak-18P, Kadet, Skybolt, Kobra, and Morrissey Bravo. He developed transmitters, receivers, escapements, motor controls, and stunt tanks, and his plans were published in various aeromodeling magazines.
Claude also had experience in writing and photography, with articles and photos published in Air Trails, Flying Aces, American Modeler, R/C Modeler, Model Airplane News, Sport Modeler, and Model Aviation.
Competition and AMA service
Claude competed in his first AMA Nats in 1941 and considered the Nats the highlight of each year. He once told Mike his goal was to be the first individual to compete in 50 Nats. In the summer of 2007 he took part in the 48th Nats of his career—possibly the most Nats any person has participated in.
Claude’s AMA service began with an appointment to the Clubs and Chapters Committee in 1948. He was named to the Contest Board in 1950 and served as chairman from 1955 to 1956. In 1957 he was elected AMA president; after a year he stepped down in favor of Walt Good and resumed his role as Contest Board chairman until 1960.
He was appointed to the Scale Advisory Committee (SAC) and remained on the SAC board when it converted to the Scale Contest Board in 1970, serving through 2008. This 60-year period of continuously holding an AMA office by appointment may be the longest such term in AMA history.
Claude was inducted into the Model Aviation Hall of Fame in 1979 and into the Society of Antique Modelers Hall of Fame in 1991.
Legacy
"He totally devoted his whole life to model airplanes," said Mike. Claude also had other interests: he was an avid news consumer and a lifelong movie fan with an extensive collection.
Claude McCullough was a determined man who knew what he loved early in life and never let it go. He will be remembered and missed for all he did for every facet of model aviation.
—Ashley Rauen AMA Communications Specialist
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
