Pete Andrews: "Mr. 30 Minutes" Remembered
By Gary Underwood
Merrick S. "Pete" Andrews (May 8, 1914 – August 23, 1992) grew up in the Philadelphia area. Like many youngsters in the 1920s, he was fascinated by airplanes, which naturally led him to aeromodeling — both indoor and outdoor free flight. Pete was a quiet yet humorous individual; his dry wit and capable technique will not be forgotten.
Early years and Lakehurst
Pete's true gift became evident in the 1920s, when he began to focus seriously on indoor free flight. By the late 1920s he was immensely active in the Philadelphia competition scene.
The first American dirigible hangar was built at Lakehurst Naval Air Station, New Jersey, in the 1920s, and Pete Andrews was among the first to use its vast airspace for indoor modeling activities. Pete often recalled that indoor free flight was first introduced there around 1927. He became the capstone of what is probably the oldest modeling group still at its original flying site — the East Coast Indoor Modelers.
In the 1930s Pete moved into the winners' category at most meets and became a serious record setter. The group had really gelled by 1931, when huge indoor contests hosted by the East Coast Indoor Modelers attracted hundreds of modelers.
Major achievements
- First 30-minute indoor flight — August 14, 1949 (the first time a 30-minute indoor flight had been made anywhere).
- First to break the 40-minute barrier for one-gram FAI microfilm models.
- Indoor Free Flight World Champion, Cardington, England — 1972.
- The Pete Andrews Achievement Award was established in 1975 for "Outstanding Achievement in Proficiency as an Indoor Competitor."
Anecdote: In 1972, despite his experience, Pete could not bear to watch his last winning flight. He looked at his watch, went outside for a walk, and came back half an hour later to watch the final five minutes of his model's performance.
Legacy and annual contest
Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Center (as it is now known) still hosts some of the most prestigious indoor model flying anywhere in the world.
Beginning this year, on July 3–6, the East Coast Indoor Modelers will host an annual indoor free flight contest to honor the father of indoor free flight — Merrick "Pete" Andrews. It is hoped that this will become a recurring event.
Contact
- East Coast Indoor Modelers
- Address: 9 Treelawn Terrace, Mercerville, NJ 08619
- Telephone: (609) 586-4441
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
