72 MODEL AVIATION
IF YOU REGUARLY read MA or
Park Pilot magazine, you might have
seen the name Maxford USA,
because its models have been
reviewed in both publications. The
company produces what owner
Richard Sang refers to as “sportscale”
aircraft. The goal of the
product line is to be easy to assemble
and fly while maintaining a scale
appearance.
Richard’s interest in aviation
started early and was fostered in
school in China, where he learned
how to build and fly an FF model
with a teacher’s help. He continued
to dabble in FF as he grew older.
Richard didn’t get involved in RC
until shortly after moving to the US
in 2001.
In 2004 he decided to open a
business and was torn between
starting a computer software
company or an RC establishment.
Although Richard’s education was in
computers, the joy of aviation and
the dream of being involved with it
won out, and Maxford USA was born.
The models that the company carried
in the beginning were designed and
produced in China and were available
to anyone who wanted to distribute them.
In a year’s time, with the business
beginning to grow, it was decided that
Maxford should design its own airplanes.
The benefits would be twofold.
First, the company would have greater
control over the aircraft and their designs,
allowing Maxford to be totally satisfied
with the product before taking it to
market. Second, this allowed the
company to have its own models; the
ultimate goal was to build the business as
a brand—not merely a distributor.
The first in-house design that the
company released was its Hughes H-1
racer. The project took nearly two years
to complete, but it included some notable
M ax f o rd U SA
by Jay Smith
The staff (L-R): Connie Wang, K.C. Yu, C.Y. Xu, Richard Sang, Curt Sidles, Ramon
Velasquez, and M. Tou.
design concepts such as the Max Cowling
magnetic cowl, which required no screws,
and all control linkages being run inside
the airplane for a cleaner look. The
Hughes was a success, and Maxford
designed aircraft to put into production.
So how does a company that is
focused on releasing sport-scale designs
decide which models to bring to market?
Richard shared with me that many of
the ideas come from the customers. Then
the company has to determine how
difficult the airplane will be to produce
and whether or not there is a demand for
it within the industry, because the goal is
to sell hundreds of models.
Once a design has been chosen,
drawings are typically done at the
company and then provided to one of five
Maxford USA OEM (original equipment
manufacturer) factories in China so it can
create a prototype. A specific factory is
selected for each project.
The prototype is built and flown at
Maxford, and each design can undergo
several revisions. Ultimately the service
manager, Curt Sidles, an RC pilot with
more than 35 years of experience, writes
the manual and approves the final design.
The whole process can take between
eight months and two years.
One of the things I find most
“I get a level of self-fulfillment when customers appreciate our product and are
happy with us. I am trying to make my and other RC pilots’ dreams come true.”
03sig3.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 1/24/11 1:45 PM Page 72
March 2011 73
Curt Sidles—Maxford USA service manager and chief test pilot—has 37 years of RC
experience. Test-running engines is one of the many tasks he performs.
Win Merchandise
From MA and Maxford USA!
Photos courtesy Maxford USA
impressive about Maxford’s models is
that they are improved upon even after
release. Some of the aircraft that are
currently available have undergone one
or two revisions. I asked Richard about
this continual improvement, and he said:
“We always listen to customer
feedback to make our products better. We
do a lot of research but cannot find
everything. So the next time an order is
made from the factory, changes are
incorporated to make it better.”
One such instance is the Gee Bee.
Soon after its release, Maxford received
feedback that pilots wanted a larger
battery compartment in the aircraft.
To accommodate 2100- to 2200-size
batteries, the fuselage needed
modification that also required the wing
to be altered. Undeterred by the effort
involved to make it happen, the next
shipment of models was changed to
satisfy the customer’s request.
Maxford USA holds customer
satisfaction at the top of its business
model. This was evident throughout our
conversation and especially when I asked
Richard what he was most proud of.
“I enjoy the job, and with the design
and production of a new airplane I get a
level of self-fulfillment when customers
appreciate our product and are happy
with us,” he said. “I am trying to make
my and other RC pilots’ dreams come
true.”
Maxford USA products are distributed
through dealers and direct sales via its
Web site. The company also has an
innovative way of supporting clubs,
through its RC Club Group Purchase
Program. This allows clubs to place large
orders at a discount and provides them
with donations for events. The more the
club spends, the more products it receives.
In six years Maxford USA has grown
from a small one-man operation that sold
ARFs into a company with 10 employees
that, with the help of its factories, designs
all of its own aircraft. The company’s
goals are to expand its product line,
increase distribution outside of the US,
and continue to provide quality
merchandise at reasonable prices. All of
those things should be attainable as
Richard continues to fulfill his lifelong
dream of being involved in aviation. MA
Jay Smith
[email protected]
Sources:
Maxford USA
15247 Texaco Ave.
Paramount CA 90723
(562) 529-3988
www.maxfordusa.com
There will be a total of five winners
for this “About Us” contest! The Grand
Prize will be a Northrop Gamma ARF,
and four entrants will each receive a 1/8-
scale World War I pilot.
For an opportunity to win these items,
submit your answer to the following
question.
How many different sizes of WW I
pilot figures does Maxford USA currently
have on its Web site? (You can find the
answer there.)
To submit your entry via e-mail, send
your answer, full name, postal-mail
address, and telephone number to MA
Assistant Editor Jay Smith. Please put
“About Us” in the subject line. To enter
via postal mail, send the preceding
information to MA at AMA, to Jay
Smith’s attention.
Entries will be accepted through
March 31, 2011. Winners will be selected
on or before April 4. One entry per
person is allowed. Those that are lost,
late, misdirected, garbled, or incomplete
for any reason will be ineligible.
This contest is open to legal residents
of the 50 states and District of Columbia
and US military members with APO/FPO
addresses. AMA employees are not
eligible to win.
Winners will be selected in random
drawings, from among all eligible entries
with the correct answer, by an Academy
employee or employees. Those whose
names are drawn will be notified by
telephone or e-mail. Their names and
states of residence will be published in a
future issue of MA and posted on the
AMA Web site. MA
Sources:
Jay Smith
[email protected]
AMA
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256
www.modelaircraft.org
03sig3.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 1/24/11 1:46 PM Page 73
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/03
Page Numbers: 72,73
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/03
Page Numbers: 72,73
72 MODEL AVIATION
IF YOU REGUARLY read MA or
Park Pilot magazine, you might have
seen the name Maxford USA,
because its models have been
reviewed in both publications. The
company produces what owner
Richard Sang refers to as “sportscale”
aircraft. The goal of the
product line is to be easy to assemble
and fly while maintaining a scale
appearance.
Richard’s interest in aviation
started early and was fostered in
school in China, where he learned
how to build and fly an FF model
with a teacher’s help. He continued
to dabble in FF as he grew older.
Richard didn’t get involved in RC
until shortly after moving to the US
in 2001.
In 2004 he decided to open a
business and was torn between
starting a computer software
company or an RC establishment.
Although Richard’s education was in
computers, the joy of aviation and
the dream of being involved with it
won out, and Maxford USA was born.
The models that the company carried
in the beginning were designed and
produced in China and were available
to anyone who wanted to distribute them.
In a year’s time, with the business
beginning to grow, it was decided that
Maxford should design its own airplanes.
The benefits would be twofold.
First, the company would have greater
control over the aircraft and their designs,
allowing Maxford to be totally satisfied
with the product before taking it to
market. Second, this allowed the
company to have its own models; the
ultimate goal was to build the business as
a brand—not merely a distributor.
The first in-house design that the
company released was its Hughes H-1
racer. The project took nearly two years
to complete, but it included some notable
M ax f o rd U SA
by Jay Smith
The staff (L-R): Connie Wang, K.C. Yu, C.Y. Xu, Richard Sang, Curt Sidles, Ramon
Velasquez, and M. Tou.
design concepts such as the Max Cowling
magnetic cowl, which required no screws,
and all control linkages being run inside
the airplane for a cleaner look. The
Hughes was a success, and Maxford
designed aircraft to put into production.
So how does a company that is
focused on releasing sport-scale designs
decide which models to bring to market?
Richard shared with me that many of
the ideas come from the customers. Then
the company has to determine how
difficult the airplane will be to produce
and whether or not there is a demand for
it within the industry, because the goal is
to sell hundreds of models.
Once a design has been chosen,
drawings are typically done at the
company and then provided to one of five
Maxford USA OEM (original equipment
manufacturer) factories in China so it can
create a prototype. A specific factory is
selected for each project.
The prototype is built and flown at
Maxford, and each design can undergo
several revisions. Ultimately the service
manager, Curt Sidles, an RC pilot with
more than 35 years of experience, writes
the manual and approves the final design.
The whole process can take between
eight months and two years.
One of the things I find most
“I get a level of self-fulfillment when customers appreciate our product and are
happy with us. I am trying to make my and other RC pilots’ dreams come true.”
03sig3.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 1/24/11 1:45 PM Page 72
March 2011 73
Curt Sidles—Maxford USA service manager and chief test pilot—has 37 years of RC
experience. Test-running engines is one of the many tasks he performs.
Win Merchandise
From MA and Maxford USA!
Photos courtesy Maxford USA
impressive about Maxford’s models is
that they are improved upon even after
release. Some of the aircraft that are
currently available have undergone one
or two revisions. I asked Richard about
this continual improvement, and he said:
“We always listen to customer
feedback to make our products better. We
do a lot of research but cannot find
everything. So the next time an order is
made from the factory, changes are
incorporated to make it better.”
One such instance is the Gee Bee.
Soon after its release, Maxford received
feedback that pilots wanted a larger
battery compartment in the aircraft.
To accommodate 2100- to 2200-size
batteries, the fuselage needed
modification that also required the wing
to be altered. Undeterred by the effort
involved to make it happen, the next
shipment of models was changed to
satisfy the customer’s request.
Maxford USA holds customer
satisfaction at the top of its business
model. This was evident throughout our
conversation and especially when I asked
Richard what he was most proud of.
“I enjoy the job, and with the design
and production of a new airplane I get a
level of self-fulfillment when customers
appreciate our product and are happy
with us,” he said. “I am trying to make
my and other RC pilots’ dreams come
true.”
Maxford USA products are distributed
through dealers and direct sales via its
Web site. The company also has an
innovative way of supporting clubs,
through its RC Club Group Purchase
Program. This allows clubs to place large
orders at a discount and provides them
with donations for events. The more the
club spends, the more products it receives.
In six years Maxford USA has grown
from a small one-man operation that sold
ARFs into a company with 10 employees
that, with the help of its factories, designs
all of its own aircraft. The company’s
goals are to expand its product line,
increase distribution outside of the US,
and continue to provide quality
merchandise at reasonable prices. All of
those things should be attainable as
Richard continues to fulfill his lifelong
dream of being involved in aviation. MA
Jay Smith
[email protected]
Sources:
Maxford USA
15247 Texaco Ave.
Paramount CA 90723
(562) 529-3988
www.maxfordusa.com
There will be a total of five winners
for this “About Us” contest! The Grand
Prize will be a Northrop Gamma ARF,
and four entrants will each receive a 1/8-
scale World War I pilot.
For an opportunity to win these items,
submit your answer to the following
question.
How many different sizes of WW I
pilot figures does Maxford USA currently
have on its Web site? (You can find the
answer there.)
To submit your entry via e-mail, send
your answer, full name, postal-mail
address, and telephone number to MA
Assistant Editor Jay Smith. Please put
“About Us” in the subject line. To enter
via postal mail, send the preceding
information to MA at AMA, to Jay
Smith’s attention.
Entries will be accepted through
March 31, 2011. Winners will be selected
on or before April 4. One entry per
person is allowed. Those that are lost,
late, misdirected, garbled, or incomplete
for any reason will be ineligible.
This contest is open to legal residents
of the 50 states and District of Columbia
and US military members with APO/FPO
addresses. AMA employees are not
eligible to win.
Winners will be selected in random
drawings, from among all eligible entries
with the correct answer, by an Academy
employee or employees. Those whose
names are drawn will be notified by
telephone or e-mail. Their names and
states of residence will be published in a
future issue of MA and posted on the
AMA Web site. MA
Sources:
Jay Smith
[email protected]
AMA
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256
www.modelaircraft.org
03sig3.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 1/24/11 1:46 PM Page 73
