I Am The AMA - 2013/04

JS: How did you get involved with model aviation?
JG: As a young boy, my fascination with airplanes grew stronger with every plane that passed by the apartment we lived in. Post WWII articles showing the Spitfires, P-40 Flying Tigers, bombers and planes of all types as well as my trying to build simple kits sparked my interest in model aviation even more.
My dad took me to the 1939 World’s Fair and to this day, I remember the aviation display in the transportation section of the fair. Dad was so supportive of my interest that he bought me little models to build, you know, the stick and tissue kind.
This was a really big investment on his part as mom and dad had very little to share no less for models. I grew out of the age of girls and college parties with marriage and children my interest then turned back to models and I began trying to figure out how to control them remotely starting with escapements and then reed type controllers.
These efforts sparked an interest in modeling for my two sons and they got involved flying Control Line. We had a great time together struggling with the engines and the tangled lines. Eventually we did get these rough models going and the fascination with modeling grew even stronger. I still have two of these models hanging on the wall in my basement.
JS: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career?
JG: Modeling had a significant impact on my 46 year career with the NFL. All of the technological advancements that I was able to bring to the NFL had its roots in modeling. Trying to get the escapements and reed controllers working, learning about radio frequencies were technical challenges that led to innovation at the NFL.
Examples such as the development of the frequency coordination program, transmission of the Super Bowl to the world outside the us, converting the teams and NFL films from film to digital video were achievements that had their roots in modeling. Even the ham radio operation that I enjoyed during the early years of modeling provided electronic education. There were many situations that I was able to take advantage of because modeling and its diversity allowed me to accomplish so much in so many different technical areas.
For example, as I mentioned, the NFL frequency coordination program that I designed and managed for the past 14 years was adopted by the NFL and is recognized by the FCC. So much of that accomplishment can be credited to my modeling knowledge of radio frequencies, transmission schemes and how the equipment worked.
I’m very proud to have been honored with the designation as a “fellow” AMA member. I am also a lifetime member with license number l-48, none of which would have been possible if I weren’t and avid AMA member and modeler.
JS: What disciplines of modeling do you currently participate in?
JG: I’m happy that I can still fly what I love the most, Pattern type planes. For example, Integrals, Valliants, Osiris, Spark and all two meter types as well as the smaller 60-inch Osiris are lots of fun.
There are so many wonderful pattern ships available today, the ones I mention are what I am flying now. Although I don’t compete anymore, at just turning 81 I’m delighted that I can still fly some decent maneuvers and come home and build other models or just “tinker” in the work shop.
As technology improved, modeling helped me in so many ways, for example, how to manage the conversion of glow to electric at a time when there weren’t any models available to accommodate electric power systems.
JS: What are your other hobbies?
JG: Besides my primary love, RC modeling, I found my way into full scale flying and was fortunate to own a Cherokee 180 and then a Cherokee 6 place/260. I spent a good bit of time getting my private, instrument, commercial and twin ratings.
When the money ran out and I had to pay for college for my son, I sold the Cherokee 6 to a ham radio retailer that included in the sale a ham radio station. This led to my extra class license as an N3AW and a ham radio contest station where I competed in many worldwide phone and cw contests.
I also play the piano and started taking lessons at age 72. Of course what would retirement be without adding a few rounds of golf into the mix as well?
JS: Who (or what) has influenced you most?
JG: Aside from my personal love of modeling, there were so many wonderful and talented modelers that I had the good fortune to meet and fly with. A good many of these people were part of my efforts to produce informative and entertaining films/videos for the AMA, notably Ron Chidgey, Phil Kraft, Doc Edwards and his Daddy Rabitt.
There were the Good brothers, Walter and Bill Good that certainly were an inspiration to me as well as to the entire modeling fraternity. They were responsible for the first radio control of a model and to watch the movie, “The Good Brothers” is a delight getting to understand how far we have come with technical innovation in our sport.
My Precision aerobatics mentor was a talented flyer, designer and builder of pattern ships, George Asteris, besides his tutoring, his own designed “omen” were the primary reason that I was able to win in some of the most heated competitions at the time. I won the District championship in the advanced class category one year as a result of his tutoring.
Of course my greatest inspiration was the late, former Executive VP of the AMA, John Worth.
It was through John’s love of the AMA that we forged ahead with innovative concepts to share AMA with the outside world. He endorsed my producing entertaining full movie productions (music, narration, live interviews, and sound effects) of many of the different disciplines within the AMA. I produced these videos at no cost other than for the film and processing.
JS: Could you tell us a little about the modeling films you have made?
JG: Some of the movies that I made for the AMA are listed below. It was John Worth’s insight and enthusiasm to build the AMA and its membership that interested me in trying to help by producing films that captured the excitement, fun and beauty of model aviation.
These productions are a way to remember where we have come from as the advancement of modeling has grown dramatically since these films were produced. Of special interest are films like the Good Brothers or “those marvelous miniatures” with sequences including people like Maynard Hill and Phil Kraft at his Kraft radio production facility. Phil Kraft is on camera discussing modeling and then takes us for a pictorial ride in his full-scale quick fly intercut with him flying the RC model of the Quickfly.
The Good brothers, founders of the first radio control models, are fascinating to hear first-hand how they achieved their success and disappointments getting to fly and win contests with their “Guff” model.
Some of these films I believe are available in the AMA film library:
Radio Control World Championships (1971 rcwc)
Those Marvelous Miniatures
The Good Brothers
The Choppers
Diamonds in the Sky
Wired for Excitement
A Plane a place a perfect day
Judging and Flying Precision Aerobatics
Grand Illusions
Discovering Aeromodeling
In summary, modeling has shaped my life and career as well as teaching me how to be a productive, competitive and caring person.