Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/11
Page Numbers: 92,93,94

92 MODEL AVIATION
Jim T. Graham | jgraham@Born to Fly rcgroups.com
Turning your RC hobby into a profession
Jason Cole enjoys a little flying time at his
local field in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jason and Mike Hines of Hobby Lobby prepare for a demonstration flight at the world’s
largest outdoor RC event: the Joe Nall Fly-In.
Jason performs a late-night flight at the Joe Nall event. The crowd
was thick even at night!
It’s demo time for Jason and O’Neal Galbrith at the Southeast
Electric Flight Festival, which is the world’s largest outdoor electric
RC show.
AS SOME OF you know, I spend a lot of time on the RC show
circuit. At most of these events, someone asks me how to get into
the industry. There are many ways to do that and many things
you can do to make your hobby your job.
In this edition of “Born to Fly” I speak with Jason Cole of
Hobby Lobby International. He will go into detail about the route
he took to go from a weekend flier to an RC professional.
JTG: When did you start flying?
JC: As a kid I would play with foamie hand-launch gliders. My dad
had a Control Line Blue Angels F-18, so I did have some early aviation
stuff as a kid. I have always loved things that fly.
I started flying RC in college. I was bored and found the hobby and
fell in love with it. I didn’t know the hobby existed until one day I
walked into a local HobbyTown USA. I was like, “Oh my gosh, look
at all this stuff!”
JTG: I met you through TheProfileBrotherhood.com, and you were a
hard-core 3-D pilot. I was the public relations/marketing person for
Hobby Lobby at the time and you came by to fly with a bunch of Pro
Bros. Is 3-D still your main interest after all your years at Hobby
Lobby?
JC: I still enjoy the challenge of 3-D, but working at Hobby Lobby has
broadened my perspective of what is available in the hobby. I have
found that if it flies, I’m going to love it.
I go into phases of things I’m into. I have gone through the heli
phase, the sailplane phase, and right now I’m into jets. We have had a
great run of really cool jets at Hobby Lobby. I have had a great time
flying them, rigging them with lights, and taking them to the beach
with me on vacation.
JTG: How did you get into the RC industry?
JC: It all starts with having a passion for the hobby. My very first job
in the hobby was at that HobbyTown USA I walked into during
college.
Electric flight was the up-and-coming thing, and I became the local
electric expert. I would hang out at the hobby store and share my
experience and suggestions about electric flight.
HobbyTown invited me to work for them,
and that sounded like fun. I worked my way
through college at HobbyTown. It was great
for a college job, but I wasn’t aware you
could make a profession out of working in the
hobby.
JTG: So the next thing you know, you’re in
the lobby of Hobby Lobby. I overheard you
say that you were looking for a job. I ran
back to the vice president and said that we
had a good employee candidate in the store.
I think all of your experience at
HobbyTown USA had a lot to do with your
getting that job.
JC: That was awesome that the stars aligned
for me to be in there that day and meet you
guys. I was excited to visit Hobby Lobby,
where I had purchased things from the online
store, and then to get offered a job was just
amazing.
I started out as one of the sales guys on
the phone. I already had a good knowledge
base from ordering from Hobby Lobby in the
past and already knew about Hobby Lobby’s
products. My college degree allowed me to
move up to assistant sales manager.
Then there was that fateful day when Jim
T. Graham/Billy Hell left Hobby Lobby to
start his own RC company. That opened up
the marketing spot for me to step into.
November 2010 93
Showing off new products is part of Jason’s job as advertising director for Hobby Lobby.
He is holding eRC Micro Warbirds.
Jason sets up for a knife-edge pass for the RC press.
Demonstration pilots have to fly for the camera and the crowd.
Prepping your fleet for a show requires time and nerves. Little
things seem to go wrong at the last minute!
JTG: One of your roles as an RC pro is to be a demonstration
pilot at large events such as the Southeast Electric Flight Festival
and Joe Nall Fly-In. I want to know what it was like for you the
first time you were on the flightline, flying the only model in the
air.
All eyes were on your airplane and you had a person on a
microphone describing your every move. Was that a huge amount
of pressure?
JC: It’s a ton of pressure the first time. You’re out there with guys
like Jason Noll and Quique Somenzini, and now you are out there
doing the same thing they do. Your hands are shaking and your
heart’s thumping, but you get through it and do the best you can.
You have to take the confidence you have in your flying and
put it to the test. It’s about making it look good and making it look
easy and keeping a smile on your face. It gets easier, but even now
I get a little nervous.
JTG: I’m sure this has happened. You are doing a demo, and you
auger a model into the ground.
JC: I was at E-Fest in 2007 doing a heli demo. I was the only one
there and thought that flying the demo while
Frank Noll held the mic and I talked about
the heli was a good idea.
That was not a good idea and I quickly
crashed that heli right into the ground!
JTG: We have both been doing this for
many years. Has living RC day in and day
out taken any joy out of the hobby for you?
JC: I will say that I don’t fly on my own
as much as I used to, but I still absolutely
love this hobby and am in it for life. Work
allows me to get out my need to fly, but we
don’t just play all day.
As you know, there is a lot of work to
be done at the office. I do get to fill a lot of
my RC needs on the clock, and that is
great.
JTG: One great thing about working at a
place such as Hobby Lobby is that you get
to see the new stuff come in. You know who
the hard-core RC pilots are, because they
gather around the boxes on the shipping
dock, waiting for someone to cut them
open and reveal what RC airplane or
helicopter has just arrived. Has that been
your experience?
JC: It is still exciting when the samples
come in. Sometimes we are the first people
to see a product. We get to be the first to
build and fly it as well. That is a lot of fun
and a neat thing we get to experience
working in the RC industry.
JTG: Let’s talk about events. Tell us about
the first time you went to an event, all
expenses paid, to represent an RC
company.
JC: Oh man, when I first started it was you
and David Payne that got to do that, and I
was so jealous! I wanted to go to those
events! My first event I was super excited
and a little apprehensive because I had
personally gone to events but I had never
gone as a representative of a company.
JTG: What advice would you give an RC
enthusiast who has a dream of working in
the industry? Do you think there is a
formula for how to make it in this
profession?
JC: Some of it has to do with who you
know and how you get your foot in the
door, but it really comes down to your
drive and desire. College also plays a big
role.
If you want to be in product
development, then you might want to study
engineering and aeronautics. If you are
interested in the PR [public relations] aspect
of the industry, then study marketing.
Ultimately it comes down to your desire
and dreams. Set your mind to it and you can
do it.
JTG: One other thing I’ll add is that you
need to love what you do, because that will
always show on the flightline. Being
courteous and friendly is a big part of being
successful.
When I attend an event, my intention is
to do my job but have a great time doing it
and making sure others are having a great
time as well.
JC: Yes, this hobby is all about fun. So if
you aren’t having fun, then you shouldn’t be
doing it. This is a ton of fun, and I’m having
fun doing it!
JTG: What are your goals for your RC
career?
JC: I am slowly migrating to product
development. I think my passion is leaning
towards the product side of the business.
I want to be the guy that is creating the
new products, working with the
manufacturers on designs, structure, and
trim schemes. I think that is what I will stay
with for a long time.
JTG: Are there any last words you would
like to get into the story?
JC: Thanks for taking the time to talk to
me. Thanks to you for everything you have
done for RCGroups.com, for Hobby Lobby,
and for the industry in general. The more
folks we can get involved in the hobby, the
better! MA
Sources:
Hobby Lobby
(866) 512-1444
www.hobby-lobby.com
RCGroups
www.rcgroups.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/11
Page Numbers: 92,93,94

92 MODEL AVIATION
Jim T. Graham | jgraham@Born to Fly rcgroups.com
Turning your RC hobby into a profession
Jason Cole enjoys a little flying time at his
local field in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jason and Mike Hines of Hobby Lobby prepare for a demonstration flight at the world’s
largest outdoor RC event: the Joe Nall Fly-In.
Jason performs a late-night flight at the Joe Nall event. The crowd
was thick even at night!
It’s demo time for Jason and O’Neal Galbrith at the Southeast
Electric Flight Festival, which is the world’s largest outdoor electric
RC show.
AS SOME OF you know, I spend a lot of time on the RC show
circuit. At most of these events, someone asks me how to get into
the industry. There are many ways to do that and many things
you can do to make your hobby your job.
In this edition of “Born to Fly” I speak with Jason Cole of
Hobby Lobby International. He will go into detail about the route
he took to go from a weekend flier to an RC professional.
JTG: When did you start flying?
JC: As a kid I would play with foamie hand-launch gliders. My dad
had a Control Line Blue Angels F-18, so I did have some early aviation
stuff as a kid. I have always loved things that fly.
I started flying RC in college. I was bored and found the hobby and
fell in love with it. I didn’t know the hobby existed until one day I
walked into a local HobbyTown USA. I was like, “Oh my gosh, look
at all this stuff!”
JTG: I met you through TheProfileBrotherhood.com, and you were a
hard-core 3-D pilot. I was the public relations/marketing person for
Hobby Lobby at the time and you came by to fly with a bunch of Pro
Bros. Is 3-D still your main interest after all your years at Hobby
Lobby?
JC: I still enjoy the challenge of 3-D, but working at Hobby Lobby has
broadened my perspective of what is available in the hobby. I have
found that if it flies, I’m going to love it.
I go into phases of things I’m into. I have gone through the heli
phase, the sailplane phase, and right now I’m into jets. We have had a
great run of really cool jets at Hobby Lobby. I have had a great time
flying them, rigging them with lights, and taking them to the beach
with me on vacation.
JTG: How did you get into the RC industry?
JC: It all starts with having a passion for the hobby. My very first job
in the hobby was at that HobbyTown USA I walked into during
college.
Electric flight was the up-and-coming thing, and I became the local
electric expert. I would hang out at the hobby store and share my
experience and suggestions about electric flight.
HobbyTown invited me to work for them,
and that sounded like fun. I worked my way
through college at HobbyTown. It was great
for a college job, but I wasn’t aware you
could make a profession out of working in the
hobby.
JTG: So the next thing you know, you’re in
the lobby of Hobby Lobby. I overheard you
say that you were looking for a job. I ran
back to the vice president and said that we
had a good employee candidate in the store.
I think all of your experience at
HobbyTown USA had a lot to do with your
getting that job.
JC: That was awesome that the stars aligned
for me to be in there that day and meet you
guys. I was excited to visit Hobby Lobby,
where I had purchased things from the online
store, and then to get offered a job was just
amazing.
I started out as one of the sales guys on
the phone. I already had a good knowledge
base from ordering from Hobby Lobby in the
past and already knew about Hobby Lobby’s
products. My college degree allowed me to
move up to assistant sales manager.
Then there was that fateful day when Jim
T. Graham/Billy Hell left Hobby Lobby to
start his own RC company. That opened up
the marketing spot for me to step into.
November 2010 93
Showing off new products is part of Jason’s job as advertising director for Hobby Lobby.
He is holding eRC Micro Warbirds.
Jason sets up for a knife-edge pass for the RC press.
Demonstration pilots have to fly for the camera and the crowd.
Prepping your fleet for a show requires time and nerves. Little
things seem to go wrong at the last minute!
JTG: One of your roles as an RC pro is to be a demonstration
pilot at large events such as the Southeast Electric Flight Festival
and Joe Nall Fly-In. I want to know what it was like for you the
first time you were on the flightline, flying the only model in the
air.
All eyes were on your airplane and you had a person on a
microphone describing your every move. Was that a huge amount
of pressure?
JC: It’s a ton of pressure the first time. You’re out there with guys
like Jason Noll and Quique Somenzini, and now you are out there
doing the same thing they do. Your hands are shaking and your
heart’s thumping, but you get through it and do the best you can.
You have to take the confidence you have in your flying and
put it to the test. It’s about making it look good and making it look
easy and keeping a smile on your face. It gets easier, but even now
I get a little nervous.
JTG: I’m sure this has happened. You are doing a demo, and you
auger a model into the ground.
JC: I was at E-Fest in 2007 doing a heli demo. I was the only one
there and thought that flying the demo while
Frank Noll held the mic and I talked about
the heli was a good idea.
That was not a good idea and I quickly
crashed that heli right into the ground!
JTG: We have both been doing this for
many years. Has living RC day in and day
out taken any joy out of the hobby for you?
JC: I will say that I don’t fly on my own
as much as I used to, but I still absolutely
love this hobby and am in it for life. Work
allows me to get out my need to fly, but we
don’t just play all day.
As you know, there is a lot of work to
be done at the office. I do get to fill a lot of
my RC needs on the clock, and that is
great.
JTG: One great thing about working at a
place such as Hobby Lobby is that you get
to see the new stuff come in. You know who
the hard-core RC pilots are, because they
gather around the boxes on the shipping
dock, waiting for someone to cut them
open and reveal what RC airplane or
helicopter has just arrived. Has that been
your experience?
JC: It is still exciting when the samples
come in. Sometimes we are the first people
to see a product. We get to be the first to
build and fly it as well. That is a lot of fun
and a neat thing we get to experience
working in the RC industry.
JTG: Let’s talk about events. Tell us about
the first time you went to an event, all
expenses paid, to represent an RC
company.
JC: Oh man, when I first started it was you
and David Payne that got to do that, and I
was so jealous! I wanted to go to those
events! My first event I was super excited
and a little apprehensive because I had
personally gone to events but I had never
gone as a representative of a company.
JTG: What advice would you give an RC
enthusiast who has a dream of working in
the industry? Do you think there is a
formula for how to make it in this
profession?
JC: Some of it has to do with who you
know and how you get your foot in the
door, but it really comes down to your
drive and desire. College also plays a big
role.
If you want to be in product
development, then you might want to study
engineering and aeronautics. If you are
interested in the PR [public relations] aspect
of the industry, then study marketing.
Ultimately it comes down to your desire
and dreams. Set your mind to it and you can
do it.
JTG: One other thing I’ll add is that you
need to love what you do, because that will
always show on the flightline. Being
courteous and friendly is a big part of being
successful.
When I attend an event, my intention is
to do my job but have a great time doing it
and making sure others are having a great
time as well.
JC: Yes, this hobby is all about fun. So if
you aren’t having fun, then you shouldn’t be
doing it. This is a ton of fun, and I’m having
fun doing it!
JTG: What are your goals for your RC
career?
JC: I am slowly migrating to product
development. I think my passion is leaning
towards the product side of the business.
I want to be the guy that is creating the
new products, working with the
manufacturers on designs, structure, and
trim schemes. I think that is what I will stay
with for a long time.
JTG: Are there any last words you would
like to get into the story?
JC: Thanks for taking the time to talk to
me. Thanks to you for everything you have
done for RCGroups.com, for Hobby Lobby,
and for the industry in general. The more
folks we can get involved in the hobby, the
better! MA
Sources:
Hobby Lobby
(866) 512-1444
www.hobby-lobby.com
RCGroups
www.rcgroups.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/11
Page Numbers: 92,93,94

92 MODEL AVIATION
Jim T. Graham | jgraham@Born to Fly rcgroups.com
Turning your RC hobby into a profession
Jason Cole enjoys a little flying time at his
local field in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jason and Mike Hines of Hobby Lobby prepare for a demonstration flight at the world’s
largest outdoor RC event: the Joe Nall Fly-In.
Jason performs a late-night flight at the Joe Nall event. The crowd
was thick even at night!
It’s demo time for Jason and O’Neal Galbrith at the Southeast
Electric Flight Festival, which is the world’s largest outdoor electric
RC show.
AS SOME OF you know, I spend a lot of time on the RC show
circuit. At most of these events, someone asks me how to get into
the industry. There are many ways to do that and many things
you can do to make your hobby your job.
In this edition of “Born to Fly” I speak with Jason Cole of
Hobby Lobby International. He will go into detail about the route
he took to go from a weekend flier to an RC professional.
JTG: When did you start flying?
JC: As a kid I would play with foamie hand-launch gliders. My dad
had a Control Line Blue Angels F-18, so I did have some early aviation
stuff as a kid. I have always loved things that fly.
I started flying RC in college. I was bored and found the hobby and
fell in love with it. I didn’t know the hobby existed until one day I
walked into a local HobbyTown USA. I was like, “Oh my gosh, look
at all this stuff!”
JTG: I met you through TheProfileBrotherhood.com, and you were a
hard-core 3-D pilot. I was the public relations/marketing person for
Hobby Lobby at the time and you came by to fly with a bunch of Pro
Bros. Is 3-D still your main interest after all your years at Hobby
Lobby?
JC: I still enjoy the challenge of 3-D, but working at Hobby Lobby has
broadened my perspective of what is available in the hobby. I have
found that if it flies, I’m going to love it.
I go into phases of things I’m into. I have gone through the heli
phase, the sailplane phase, and right now I’m into jets. We have had a
great run of really cool jets at Hobby Lobby. I have had a great time
flying them, rigging them with lights, and taking them to the beach
with me on vacation.
JTG: How did you get into the RC industry?
JC: It all starts with having a passion for the hobby. My very first job
in the hobby was at that HobbyTown USA I walked into during
college.
Electric flight was the up-and-coming thing, and I became the local
electric expert. I would hang out at the hobby store and share my
experience and suggestions about electric flight.
HobbyTown invited me to work for them,
and that sounded like fun. I worked my way
through college at HobbyTown. It was great
for a college job, but I wasn’t aware you
could make a profession out of working in the
hobby.
JTG: So the next thing you know, you’re in
the lobby of Hobby Lobby. I overheard you
say that you were looking for a job. I ran
back to the vice president and said that we
had a good employee candidate in the store.
I think all of your experience at
HobbyTown USA had a lot to do with your
getting that job.
JC: That was awesome that the stars aligned
for me to be in there that day and meet you
guys. I was excited to visit Hobby Lobby,
where I had purchased things from the online
store, and then to get offered a job was just
amazing.
I started out as one of the sales guys on
the phone. I already had a good knowledge
base from ordering from Hobby Lobby in the
past and already knew about Hobby Lobby’s
products. My college degree allowed me to
move up to assistant sales manager.
Then there was that fateful day when Jim
T. Graham/Billy Hell left Hobby Lobby to
start his own RC company. That opened up
the marketing spot for me to step into.
November 2010 93
Showing off new products is part of Jason’s job as advertising director for Hobby Lobby.
He is holding eRC Micro Warbirds.
Jason sets up for a knife-edge pass for the RC press.
Demonstration pilots have to fly for the camera and the crowd.
Prepping your fleet for a show requires time and nerves. Little
things seem to go wrong at the last minute!
JTG: One of your roles as an RC pro is to be a demonstration
pilot at large events such as the Southeast Electric Flight Festival
and Joe Nall Fly-In. I want to know what it was like for you the
first time you were on the flightline, flying the only model in the
air.
All eyes were on your airplane and you had a person on a
microphone describing your every move. Was that a huge amount
of pressure?
JC: It’s a ton of pressure the first time. You’re out there with guys
like Jason Noll and Quique Somenzini, and now you are out there
doing the same thing they do. Your hands are shaking and your
heart’s thumping, but you get through it and do the best you can.
You have to take the confidence you have in your flying and
put it to the test. It’s about making it look good and making it look
easy and keeping a smile on your face. It gets easier, but even now
I get a little nervous.
JTG: I’m sure this has happened. You are doing a demo, and you
auger a model into the ground.
JC: I was at E-Fest in 2007 doing a heli demo. I was the only one
there and thought that flying the demo while
Frank Noll held the mic and I talked about
the heli was a good idea.
That was not a good idea and I quickly
crashed that heli right into the ground!
JTG: We have both been doing this for
many years. Has living RC day in and day
out taken any joy out of the hobby for you?
JC: I will say that I don’t fly on my own
as much as I used to, but I still absolutely
love this hobby and am in it for life. Work
allows me to get out my need to fly, but we
don’t just play all day.
As you know, there is a lot of work to
be done at the office. I do get to fill a lot of
my RC needs on the clock, and that is
great.
JTG: One great thing about working at a
place such as Hobby Lobby is that you get
to see the new stuff come in. You know who
the hard-core RC pilots are, because they
gather around the boxes on the shipping
dock, waiting for someone to cut them
open and reveal what RC airplane or
helicopter has just arrived. Has that been
your experience?
JC: It is still exciting when the samples
come in. Sometimes we are the first people
to see a product. We get to be the first to
build and fly it as well. That is a lot of fun
and a neat thing we get to experience
working in the RC industry.
JTG: Let’s talk about events. Tell us about
the first time you went to an event, all
expenses paid, to represent an RC
company.
JC: Oh man, when I first started it was you
and David Payne that got to do that, and I
was so jealous! I wanted to go to those
events! My first event I was super excited
and a little apprehensive because I had
personally gone to events but I had never
gone as a representative of a company.
JTG: What advice would you give an RC
enthusiast who has a dream of working in
the industry? Do you think there is a
formula for how to make it in this
profession?
JC: Some of it has to do with who you
know and how you get your foot in the
door, but it really comes down to your
drive and desire. College also plays a big
role.
If you want to be in product
development, then you might want to study
engineering and aeronautics. If you are
interested in the PR [public relations] aspect
of the industry, then study marketing.
Ultimately it comes down to your desire
and dreams. Set your mind to it and you can
do it.
JTG: One other thing I’ll add is that you
need to love what you do, because that will
always show on the flightline. Being
courteous and friendly is a big part of being
successful.
When I attend an event, my intention is
to do my job but have a great time doing it
and making sure others are having a great
time as well.
JC: Yes, this hobby is all about fun. So if
you aren’t having fun, then you shouldn’t be
doing it. This is a ton of fun, and I’m having
fun doing it!
JTG: What are your goals for your RC
career?
JC: I am slowly migrating to product
development. I think my passion is leaning
towards the product side of the business.
I want to be the guy that is creating the
new products, working with the
manufacturers on designs, structure, and
trim schemes. I think that is what I will stay
with for a long time.
JTG: Are there any last words you would
like to get into the story?
JC: Thanks for taking the time to talk to
me. Thanks to you for everything you have
done for RCGroups.com, for Hobby Lobby,
and for the industry in general. The more
folks we can get involved in the hobby, the
better! MA
Sources:
Hobby Lobby
(866) 512-1444
www.hobby-lobby.com
RCGroups
www.rcgroups.com