As your District X vice president (VP) I am often given the opportunity to meet some remarkable people. Our San Diego-area associate vice president, Tim Attaway, invited me to an unforgettable evening event. He has written a report to share with all of us.
A memorable night in San Diego unfolded July 17, 2012, with a special presentation to two deserving longstanding AMA members: retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert “Bob” Cardenas and Frank Gagliardi, president of the Silent Electric Flyers (SEFSD), of San Diego.
Following the award presentation, Bob shared his experiences as a B-24 bomber pilot with SEFSD members. Bob survived being shot down during World War II. He also test-flew the German Arado 234 and the ME 262 after the war.
Bob was the chief test pilot for the YB-49 Flying Wing, turning over the program to Glen Edwards when called upon to be the pilot of the B-29 that would later drop the Bell X-1 on its first supersonic flight.
His friends have included Chuck Yeager, Bob Hoover, Scott Crossfield, and Glen Edwards. Bob shared stories of his life in aviation, accented with dozens of terrific pictures of his progression toward being inducted into the Air Commando Hall of Fame in 2002.
Bob’s discussion of flying the various Northrop Flying Wing variants was interesting. He was the first to conduct stall tests that put the aircraft into a near-fatal end-over-end tumble, from which he was able to recover. However, it doomed the design and its production because of serious control and stability issues.
He squelched rumors that a political conspiracy canceled the project. It was simply too ahead of its time to solve these control problems. His anecdotes regaled the crowd of roughly 50 SEFSD members, and we appreciated his visit.
Frank is a friend of the general. He was born in Bronx, New York, and began his modeling experience with an AVN-8, and now builds and flies Scale, Pylon Racers, indoor aircraft, 16-foot B-29s, and turbine jets.
He joined the U.S. Marines in 1953, and spent 25 years with various Marine bands including the President’s Own. He retired to San Diego and has become a living legend in our area.
Don Madison, a close friend in modeling, has also achieved legend status in Scale models, and the two have achieved something impressive.
Don, born in Kansas, relocated to San Diego at age 5 and went on to join the U.S. Army Air Force in 1943. He became a navigator in B-24 aircraft. He served in the Korean War, flying a B-29. Don’s special interest has always been Scale warbirds.
The two have cultivated model airplane clubs in San Diego—establishing the Association of Model Clubs of San Diego County.
In 1998, Don was asked to help sort through the modeling estate of a friend. The friend’s widow was in dire need of assistance. Frank was soon in on this mission, and they have now teamed up a number of times to help with large estates. They have helped 48 widows secure the sale of their late husbands’ modeling assets.
Don and Frank deserve to be in a hall of fame for their many contributions promoting modeling and the AMA for decades. Now they give assistance to the many widows who outlive their husbands in San Diego County.
This dynamic twosome received a special AMA recognition award given by District X VP Lawrence Tougas. He made a special trip to San Diego for the award presentation.
L-R: Tim Attaway, Frank Gagliardi, Don Madison, and Lawrence Tougas.
Robert Cardenas and Lawrence Tougas.
It was a pleasure to attend this meeting. I won’t soon forget all of the wonderful people I met that night. Please check the District X website, www.ama10.org, for a video to go with this article.
Please remember that there are three looming deadlines for AMA programs: Flying Site Improvement Grants, March 1; AMA Hall of Fame, March 31; and Youth Scholarships, April 30. Take advantage of them and enjoy the benefits your membership provides.
