09About.jt1.doc
[headline: Frank Noll Industry Professional]
JS: How did you get involved with model aviation?
FN: My father was into aeromodeling since he was a child, building gliders, and rubber band models. He later went on to work for the civil service building wind tunnel models for the Air Force. By watching him as a child, I was able to learn how to build and fly and owe him greatly for getting me into this hobby.
JS: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career?
FN: Modeling has afforded me the ability to meet many influential people and travel to places that I probably wouldn’t have been able. It has also led me to my current position with Hobbico in Champaign, IL.
JS: What disciplines of modeling do you currently participate in?
FN: I’ve recently retired from Giant Scale competition aerobatics which was my primary interest most of my life. I now enjoy other aspects of the hobby such as flying my jets, helicopters, park flyers and indoor planes.
JS: What are your other hobbies?
FN: I’m an avid golfer! When I’m not traveling, or working on household duties you can usually find me on a golf course.
JS: Who (or what) has influenced you most?
FN: There’s a couple of guys that I looked up to while I was younger and was getting serious in the hobby. One was Don Lowe who was a good friend of my father’s, and the other was Ivan Kristensen. While younger, I would watch these guys fly and dream about being as good as they were. To this day, they’re both great close friends.
JS: What advice would you give someone looking to turn their hobby into a career?
FN: Most importantly, you’ll need to have the passion to do it. Most people think that it’s a dream job to be in the hobby, and regarding certain aspects, it’s true. But, it is a business and with it comes the normal business decisions which affect yourself as well as others.
Decide what you’re looking for with your decision, and keep in mind it’s not always what you’re interests are in that may lead to a good business decisions. What you may find exciting may not always be “mainstream.”
