Museum Minutes
Gary Prater Museum Director
This month it is my pleasure to introduce Rich LaGrange, our new registrar/librarian. Dick Kennison retired from that position in January of this year. All who know Dick and his deep knowledge of aviation history know he was irreplaceable; he continues to be involved with the museum despite the hectic first year of retirement. However, Rich brings his own strengths and unique qualities, and I'm sure he will leave a legacy of his own at our institution because he has a very interesting background and personality.
Rich was born into a loving family in Grinnell, Iowa. He studied electronics at Central Technical Institute in Kansas City and holds a degree in electronic engineering technology. He used his education in St. Louis working for McDonnell Douglas Corporation doing fatigue and static testing in the structures and dynamics laboratory. "I got to work on the F-4 Phantom and the Gemini space capsule," said Rich. "I know it sounds great, but a resistor is a resistor, no matter what it's in!"
Rich moved to Muncie in 1969 to work as an engineer for Indiana & Michigan Electric Company. He first worked as a field engineer laying out poles and lines, then moved to customer services — one of the areas where Rich excels. "I figured out what people needed and handled customer complaints. What a job!"
Later he moved to marketing promoting the use of electric heat and process heating, then into the computer coordinator position where he wrote programs and applications in support of marketing and customer services. Eventually, Rich organized important special events for major electric users and related industry representatives. Imagine a job where your main responsibility was going to trade shows and organizing golfing events, fishing trips, breakfasts, and dinners! It's no wonder Rich was one of the main organizers of the Grand Event held in conjunction with Homecoming on June 13–14 this year.
Unfortunately, after 25 years and five months of service, Rich lost his job because of corporate restructuring. (The five months were important because employees with less than 25 years of service lost not only their jobs, but their retirement.)
A year before that, Rich had started flying radio control (R/C). His brother back home had two R/C airplanes that had never been flown because there was nobody around to teach him. Perhaps coincidence, perhaps fate, but Rich — as a power company representative who helped negotiate installation of power service at the Muncie site — became interested. He lobbied his wife for two years until she finally suggested he ask his brother about the two models hanging in the garage.
Now that he had something to fly, Rich put everything in a cardboard box, brought it out to the Muncie site, and set it on the grass next to the runway. Local AMA Sky Chief Bill Green came over and offered assistance. "Bill would take off and land the plane for me, but one day he took off, gave me the transmitter and wandered off. I had to land the plane on my own, and I succeeded. That last time I was a pilot."
Rich flies every month of the year and almost every day it's possible. "I thought I'd get bored once I learned to fly, but the more I fly, the more fun it gets," he said.
Like many modelers, Rich's modeling experience goes back to his youth. He's always been a tinkerer and recently acquired an old rocket that reminded him of a childhood project. He laughed as he told this story: "I used to build small homemade rockets out of brass tubing and stuff I found in junk piles. I made my own rocket fuel from potassium nitrate and sugar. It was cheap and powerful, but was much better as a blasting powder than rocket fuel. One day I crammed too much down the rocket and unfortunately the nozzle was also plugged. Instead of blasting off, it blasted apart and blew a hole in my arm!" He showed the ugly scar.
Rich started working in the library as a volunteer. "One day I walked into Dick's work area and saw all sorts of piles of magazines and books and it looked like he needed lots of help," he said. "I also saw that Sheila in the museum store needed someone to watch the place while she went to lunch, so I volunteered to help her. Pretty soon, I was working weekends and spending lots of time in the museum. I would go home at night and read all the books and magazines about model aviation I could get my hands on."
"There's one thing you should know about Rich: when he gets interested in something, he goes all the way. When I got into computers, my wife said all she saw for six months was the back of my head," he said. "I've got to admit that model aviation has got a hold on me like nothing I have ever done before. I used to be an avid fisherman. After I flew for the first time, I sold my bass boat. I haven't touched my golf clubs since either."
When asked about working in the library, Rich said he didn't believe Dick really intended to retire until the last week. "When I saw he was really going to do it, I stayed by his side every hour of every day. There's just no way anyone could fill his shoes."
Maybe not, but Rich is doing a great job in his own shoes — working in the library, looking for information, and doing research. "Every day I learn something new and some of the requests we get are awesome, like the guy from Germany who wants a list of every book we have, or the guy who can't figure out how to attach the rudder of a plane he's building and calls the AMA for help!"
I couldn't introduce Rich without mentioning his involvement with the Grand Event and Homecoming. Last year Rich was part of the planning committee and had complete control over the flight-assist programs. Of course, the weather was lousy with rain, but he said, "The turnout was fantastic. In two days we still did 168 buddy-box flights!"
Asked about this year's event, he said, "This year I, for one, am planning for no rain and expanded flightline operations. I'd like to see the public have a better view of the airplanes, and the manufacturers have a chance to show off their products and have exclusive use of the microphone for a half-hour, two or three times a day. That would be beneficial for everyone. We will have more exhibits and attractions for both the novice and the experienced modeler. Last year the food was good, the band was great, and the atmosphere was so friendly. This year I'm going to take more time to savor the moment."
That's the spirit, Rich!
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DISTRICT I REPORT
Connecticut / Maine / Massachusetts / New Hampshire / Rhode Island / Vermont
Don Krafft Vice President PO Box 1828, Duxbury, MA 02331-1828 (617) 934-6248
Associate Vice Presidents:
- James M. Semonian, 166 Allen Road, Billerica, MA 01821-5240
- Bob Landry, 80 Main Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452-3146
- M.C. McGuffin, 8 Robinson Street, Houlton, ME 04730-2312
- Harry S. Newman, 36 Sherwood Drive, Hooksett, NH 03106-1078
- Richard Sherman, 28 High Street, Plymouth, NH 03264-1223
- Ed Thompson, 27 E. Greenwich Ave., West Warwick, RI 02893-5407
- Bob Wallace, 91 Sylvan Street, Avon, CT 06001-2230
Frequency Coordinator:
- George Wilson, 82 Frazier Way, Marstons Mills, MA 02648-1866
This month's column consists of pictures sent to me by some district modelers. I try to use most of the pictures sent, but sometimes they are not printable. Also, some months there is an abundance of material and it is not possible to use everything, and by the time there is enough space it is no longer timely. The following photos are from the Discover Flying Club on Cape Cod, sent by Ed McCarty.
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DISTRICT II REPORT
Wes De Cou Vice President 85 Riverside Drive, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920-1308 Day: (908) 221-6899 | Eve: (908) 221-1666 | Fax: (908) 221-2927 decou@idt.net
Bob Kern, president of the Islanders Model Airplane Club, reports he helped members of Junior Girl Scout Troop 1889 earn their Aerospace badge during a December demonstration. Bob brought a .40-size trainer, his 27% Cap 232, and an RC flight simulator. After a hands-on description of flight controls and transmitter operations, the students split into three groups to participate in RC flight simulation, kite building, and assembling and flying balsa gliders. The girls showed keen interest, asked very good questions, and were quite attentive. Thanks to Bob for the pictures and description.
In early January I attended the Atlantic County Skyblazers annual awards banquet. In addition to a unique gift exchange game and presentations crowning the top three fliers (Dave Lockhart, Ron Lockhart, and Bob Osenenko), we were treated to an enjoyable talk by David Allen, a fifth-generation hot-air balloonist. One interesting tidbit from the talk was the origin of the word "pilot."
The following weekend Bob Clemens, president of the Western New York Free Flight Society, invited me to Buffalo to witness one of their indoor contests at Alumni Hall, University of Buffalo. Events included No-Cal Scale, Limited Penny Plane, Bostonian, Intermediate Stick, and Easy B. These indoor rubber- and electric-powered models are intricate — they make me feel like I have ten thumbs!
February 7th was busy locally. The Central Jersey Radio Control Club held its annual flea market, which was well attended. As with many of these events, a shopper could find everything related to the hobby and a lot of ancillary items. Food, merchandise, and a good crowd made for a fun time.
I capped the day with a pleasant visit to the 25th anniversary banquet of the Jersey Coast Sport Fliers. Since its founding in 1973, the club has grown to an annual membership exceeding 200. The club provided each attendee with a gift item; the women at each table received a bud vase with flowers and a small club pennant — a nice touch. Ed Runkle, newsletter editor, was named flier of the year. Four charter members were introduced and presented with plaques for 25 years of dedication. Congratulations!
Remember, if you're having an event, take a picture, add a paragraph, and send it to me.
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AMA News
DISTRICT III REPORT
Club newsletters provide an intelligent means of conveying ideas to everyone within a club's roster. In an attempt to understand the desires of membership, your vice president reads all newsletters. Thanks to all newsletter editors for the great effort they put forth.
Recently, several newsletters mentioned the need for AMA-required identification on your models. One newsletter noted a flyer had his lost model returned three different times because of the AMA label requirement. Another mentioned the label provided necessary proof of ownership when crossing the Canadian border. Although it is a simple process, please make sure your models are identified.
R/C Aviation Country Club: The Columbus, Ohio region of District III is fortunate to have the R/C Aviation Country Club nearby. This year's schedule includes:
- Kyosho Heli-Challenge and Fun Fly, May 29–31
- District III IMAC Mini Fest, July 25
- Heli-Internationals, August 5–9
Note: The Heli-Internationals coincide with a major event at the drag strip next door. Housing will be at a premium. Call Becky Robb at (740) 928-5300 for additional information.
Reading Flying Dutchmen Aeromodelers: The Flying Dutchmen used the Fairgrounds Square Mall in Reading, Pennsylvania, for their annual mall show. David Moorhart provided pictures.
Dayton Giant Scalers and U.S. Air Force Museum Fly-in: How would you like a special after-hours tour of the U.S. Air Force Museum? That's one item on the agenda for the Dayton Ohio Giant Scalers and U.S. Air Force Museum Fly-in, September 4–6. Contact Frank Noll Jr. at (937) 435-9232 for more information. The site is huge — what more could you ask for!
Eastern Pennsylvania Activity: AVP Nelson Gould provided information and pictures.
Model Aviation: Quite often we're asked, "Why isn't my picture in Model Aviation?" The answer: you didn't send one to your vice president. If you or your club have a worthwhile aeromodeling experience and want a little notoriety, send Bob Brown a short descriptive paragraph and supporting pictures. Identify the subjects in the pictures.
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Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
