Gary Fuller ([email protected]) originally sent us this
photo that he took during the American Turf Flyers
2007 Society of Antique Modelers 93 contest in Broken
Arrow, Oklahoma, with little information.
He wrote, “I wish I could tell you more about the model
in the photo, but I think the concentration shown on the
modelers’ faces as they compete with each other is the real
story behind the picture. These guys look serious in the
picture, but under that look of concentration they were
probably having more fun than a bunch of kids at a birthday
party!”
A few days later, he sent another email after doing some
research. He elaborated on his own story.
“It saddens my heart to say that [the information about
the three men] is not good news, either. Key Crawford
(deceased) from Texas is the pilot, Don Blackburn (deceased),
from Perkins, Texas, is seated, and Robert Tucker from Tulsa,
Oklahoma, is kneeling.
“I had a stroke two months after this picture was taken,
when I was 45 years old, so I understand how fast life can be
taken away. I also know how important and helpful model
airplanes or any hobby can be in life.
“ … I was in the process of learning to fly helicopters when I
suffered my stroke. I had my wife bring in my laptop with the
RealFlight simulator on it and I would spend some time each
day improving my skills with the helicopters on the program.
“The first thing I did when I got home from the hospital was
go out to my shop and fix my helicopter that I had crashed a
few days before my stroke.
“I think I’m doing a lot better now thanks to having
modeling as a lifelong hobby. This picture has more meaning
to me now.”
Gary used a Canon EOS 5D camera with a 200mm lens set
at f/11, 1/500-second exposure, and an ISO of 400.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/07
Page Numbers: 171
