I AM THE AMA - 2012/09

Jay: How did you get involved in model
aviation?
Joe: My uncle is a test pilot in the Air
Force, and my Dad used to fl y RC. When
I was 14, we were at an antique gas
engine show and an RC club was having
an event. I watched as a 40%
airplane hovered over the
runway. Nick Maxwell
was the pilot.
I said, “Dad,
I want to do
that.” When we
got home we
dug out his old
airplanes, and I
started to learn
how to fl y.
Dad’s
old planes would not hover, so I started
searching the Internet for 3-D-type
planes.
I got a simulator for Christmas and a
42-inch AJ Slick from 3D Hobby Shop.
I then began watching Andrew Jesky’s
videos. I learned some of AJ’s maneuvers
on the simulator and headed to the fi eld.
Dad took me to a Huckfest, and we
were both amazed at the number of
pilots and spectators watching huge
planes do some really amazing stuff. I
was hooked. Dad saw that I was quickly
progressing, so we got an 89-inch Slick
and headed to a Huckfest.
Jay: How has model aviation impacted
your life and/or career?
Joe: Flying RC planes has opened a
lot of doors for me. I’ve participated in
the EAA Young Eagles Air Academy
program at Oshkosh and attended the
camps they have. I was the president of
the local Aviation Explorer Group and
vice president of the local RC club for
a year.
I have also won scholarships
to earn my private pilot’s
certifi cate. I will be attending
Purdue University studying
aeronautical engineering.
The Crown Prince of
Dubai has also invited me
to come fl y a demo at a
world championship
parachuting contest in
November.
Jay: In what
disciplines of
modeling do
you currently
participate?
Joe: I fi nd it
very cool that
there are so
many aspects.
I currently
participate in
3-D, IMAC
[International
Miniature
Aerobatic Club],
and also 3-D helicopters. I would
like to get into Pattern. 3-D has
always been my favorite, because the
possibility of different maneuvers is
endless.
Jay: What are your other hobbies?
Joe: I don’t really have any other
hobbies. I used to play trumpet, guitar,
and drums, but I don’t have enough time
to keep up with all of them. Building and
maintaining planes and practicing keeps
me very busy, but it’s what I love to do.
Jay: Who or what has in uenced you
most?
Joe: Nick Maxwell and Andrew Jesky
have both been inspiring. Nick’s fl ying
got me started in this hobby, and
Andrew’s constant support has gotten
me where I am today.
Nick is helping me learn to set up and
fl y helicopters, which has been a great
experience. I can’t thank these guys
enough for taking the time to answer my
questions and support me.
I also need to thank my sponsors for
their support over the past few years,
especially Ben Fisher from 3D Hobby
Shop. I also want to thank my friends
and family for their support.
Jay: What advice do you have for
someone looking to become a sponsored
pilot?
Joe: The desire to get sponsored is
something that I have seen hurt many
new pilots. The most important thing
is being a quality pilot, and if sponsors
want to jump onboard with that path,
then I am more than happy to represent
quality products.
I decided at the start that I was never
going to be a sponsored pilot, so I never
focused on being one. I was in the
hobby for the fun of it, and I practiced
a ton because I loved to do it. I made
sure I worked my way through sport
maneuvers before I tried 3-D, and that
approach helped.
Many young pilots focus on getting
sponsors instead of having fun and
practicing the basics. Being helpful and
kind to people is more important to a
sponsor than how well a person can fl y.
The goal is just to have fun, though;
anything more than that is a bonus.