My interest in planes started when I was living on a small island in the South Pacific called Kwajalein.  Kwaj (as we called it) was an anti-missile missile tracking station in the mid 70’s and my father was the safety director.  I started flying CL planes, mostly 1/2A ships, and my fate was sealed.  During our time on the island my dad suffered a complication from surgery and lost his left leg below the knee.  As a result he was unable to do much in the way of father/son activities so he bought me a used Aquila Grande and a World Engines 5 channel radio to compensate.  That plane lasted about 50 flights until my instructor launched with the radio off.  I quickly moved to power planes since gliders were “just for training”.  I moved from Kwaj back to Jeffersonville, Indiana in 1977.  There were no local clubs in Southern Indiana at the time so my flying stopped.  My love of planes did not.

I applied to the Air Force Academy but I didn’t get in so I settled for West Point.  My plan was to be a helicopter pilot, but as life isn’t fair the closest I got was a summer program where I got to solo in a helicopter.  I spent my Army career at Ft Hood, TX running around in the M1 Abrams.  About as close to flying as you can get with 65+ tons of metal around you!  When I left the Army I moved to Riverside, CA.  One fine Saturday I was forced into the office to catch up on some work.

During lunch I saw some people flying sailplanes in the school field.  The year was 1991 – after a 14 year break I was once again hooked.  I got an Oly II, Joined the ISS (Inland Soaring Society), and learned to fly.  Rich Shelby was my instructor.  He was a great pilot, but he quit flying (an internal club fight) after only a year or so after I joined.  From 1992 until 1996 I flew, but NO ONE was helping me (or anyone else) to learn how to fly.  In 96 Mike Lee (formerly the RCM Sailplane editor) joined ISS and he helped everybody!  What a difference.

In 1998 I moved to Missoula, Montana and flying again became a thing of the past.  From 1998 until 2001 I flew no more than 5 times (that is flights not days).  In 2001 I stumbled onto 2 gentlemen who had a winch!  It was a real power house with a 6 volt motor powered by a 6 volt battery!  I started flying about once a month and built my first DHLG.  I actually had a web site up for awhile listing my exploits with the DHLG development.

Then it happened – I moved to St Louis in 2002 and joined the MVSA.  The rest is history.  I can honestly say that MVSA is the best club I have ever been in or around.  Flying for 7 years in SoCal I had the privilege to fly against many of the best – JW, DP, LJ, Etc.  I flew in the SC2 (the CA version of OVSS) and flew at most of the SoCal club sites.  None of the clubs had the fun, friendly, and open environment that we have here.  There were individual exceptions of course – Namely JW, DP, and LJ their help was available to anyone who asked.  I can honestly say that my flying has improved more at MVSA than everywhere else combined.  Nelson in particular has helped me immensely.  Now I am learning even more from Chris!  One year in the hobby and he is teaching me!  Someday I will be as decisive and daring as he is. 

Go Army – Beat Navy!