a high-school where some guys were flying U controlled airplanes. These were the combat models where 2 planes were up at the same time, trying to cut the ribbons from the tails of each one. I remember it amazed me and at age 8, you could say I was hooked on manned controlled airplanes. Of course at that age and time, I had never thought of or heard of remote controlled airplanes. Me and my dad would often go and watch these guys fly. Im sure my dad saw the glimmer in my eyes and the excitement they had for me.
Times were hard in those days, but my Mom and Dad always managed to get us kids some of the things we truely wanted. At age 11, I remember my parents getting me a cox u control PT-19 trainer plane. I was so excited. This was the start of my flying career. I didn't know a thing about how to fly it. One day on the news, the City of Midland TX advertised u control flying lessons. It was indoors of all things, inside of a big building. I was very nervous but the instructors were great, I will never forget the thrill of flying for the very first time. I did this for around 7 years mastering the u controlled planes and winning many competitions with larger combat u control planes that I built from balsa kits with the help of my Dad.
At age 18, I graduated high school and all that mattered to me then was moving into my own apartment, and doing the things that single 18 year old guys do LOL, so the hobby more or less fell by the wayside for a while.
Many years passed, until at the age of around 38, After moving from Midland TX to Albuquerque NM, I was at one of the local parks, and noticed a kid, probably age 10, flying a little 515mm Hobbyzone Champ RTF. I saw how easy it was for him to fly, and this got me interested in flying again. Never before experiencing remote control flight, I bought one and went to the park. What seemed so easy for this 10 year old kid was very hard for me. I could never get it to fly, only crashing it. One day I was at the park again and the same kid was there, I watched him for a while, and decided, that if he can do it, so can I, so I went out and launched it again, and actually got it in the air, the excitement of flying RC for the first time is undescribable, the adrenalin rush you get for the first time is amazing. In a way I was self taught. I flew the Champ for a while, and after some time of flying a little 3 channel plane, got board of that and like anything else, wanted something bigger and faster. This was around the time that I met some really nice guys at our local hobby shop, Hobby Proz, Bobby the owner, Charlie, and Skyler. At the time, the hobby shop offered flying lessons if you bought a airplane, so wanting to learn more about RC, I bought my first spectrum 6 channel transmitter and the 1.5m Apprentice. The guys from the hobby shop would meet me at the field and help me fly the plane. The hobby was booming then, and I met alot of really good guys, a few that went on to teach me everything I know about the hobby today.
From that time forward, the trainer planes were not enough. I was all in and I continued to want bigger, better, and faster planes. I've had way too many rc planes over the years to list, everything from foam to built up balsa planes, ranging in size from 50 inch wing spans to 85 inch wing spans, experiencing planes from different manufacturers. It was roughly 16 years ago at age 49 that I bought my first FMS plane. It was the 1450mm P-51 Shangri-la. This was the time I started into the warbirds, and FMS had some nice ones, I ended up getting both the P-51 Shangri-la B and D models, such beautiful planes. I still have FMS 's 1st and last production of their 1400mm Stuka and P-51 Big Beautiful Doll which I was given by a long time RC friend Joeray. I dont fly them much because there are no spare parts available. I recall me and a couple of friends all had the FMS P-51 's and would meet and fly often. I dont recall all of the FMS planes I've had in the past, but I have had many. I do recall after the P-51's, I had the 1st version of the 1400mm T-28 Huff, the best livery they had on a T-28, and the King Fisher, such nice planes. I pretty much stuck with FMS Models from then on as their scaleness and quality is in my opinion better than the rest. In around Jan 2020, my wife Jasmin being the supporter of my hobby that she is, suggested I start a YouTube channel. Me not being to smart about those thing at the time asked her to get me started, and Stars And Stripes RC was started. My channel isn't the best as far as subscriber numbers but my main goal with my channel was to remember the military past and present, and to just try to get alot of content on there. Not just flying videos but some content that might help others. I continued to post videos and then began to join some rc groups on Facebook, 33 in total, and continue to share my videos with them.
It was then roughly in May of 2022, I was looking at some rc social media and noticed, someone on there, who has been my FMS Representative for the last 7 months, Maeve. If I recall correctly, i may not be accurate, but I became friends on Facebook, and she discussed the The affiliate program with me, adding that FMS welcomes RC enthusiasts to join and promote their favorite content. So I sent her a list of my social media groups and my youtube channel link and it's all history from there, at that time I became a FMS affiliate. I've been working with FMS for the past 7 months now, helping with their beginner program for starters and working on contacting RC clubs in the US states to get to know them and getting them to become RC Club Affiliates for FMS. Over the last 7 months I have met some of the nicest people withbFMS, I have enjoyed our relationship and Maeve has been so amazing, and supportive of me and the local RC events I've sponsored and to the RC Clubs I've visited at their RC events.
Recently on or about December 23rd I had a conference call with Maeve meeting her for the fist time, on face time, as well, 3 of her very nice coworkers, discussing 2024 and the RC events to come. It was the next day I believe that Maeve mentioned that she wanted me to be thier FMS Brand Ambassador in the US. I was humbled and greatful that FMS would pick me, knowing that I did not have the best youtube channel out there. There are allot of others I'm thinking that would be better than me. So it is with great admiration and gratitude that they selected me. Knowing that I will be able to represent FMS at RC clubs and events all over is a great honor.
It takes people working together and people to show and take a genuine interest in the new or beginner rc pilots. I think that is one of the main reasons I fell in love with, and have great admiration for FMS, because they do show that genuine interest in getting more new pilots into the hobby. They support and continue to support RC clubs all over, that show the same interest by having dedicated rc pilot trainers in their clubs, with trainer planes and flight Sims.
The RC clubs that make this effort along with the support of FMS will hopefully make a difference. Because at our flying field 20 years ago, there would be 30 to 40 rc pilots there. Today, on a good day there's maybe 6 or 8. So I challenge rc clubs all over, to take an interest in the beginner, the FMS Affiliate program would benefit you, and offers you tools to help get the hobby back to where it was. Thank you to MY FMS family for taking an interest in me and believing in me. I will do my best to represent you in 2024.
