If you aint a rockeet scientist, what ar

What is or was your your profession, job,line of work,if you care to share ? me/ auto parts

leon99:+

Hi Leon,

I am a design engineer specializing in valve train design however, I have been involved in many areas of automotive and industrial design work.

Machinist, about 30 years worth. Steve

Randy!
Why is it none of the camshaft manufactuers can make a cam that is right for the local track? Any local track.
Valve train design should surely be a fascinating science
Especially with todays Rpms and frequencies

LAST EDITED ON Feb-10-04 AT 09:42 PM (CDT)
 
Well let's see.... A professional football player for one day (failed the physical, same reason the military booted me), a brick layer, golf course maintenance, Head Golf Professional, Owner of a custon golf club repair and manufacturing business, liscensed plumbing contractor (still maintain my liscense), and for about the last 26 years a high school teacher and coach (coaching for 30 years), but I still do club repair.
And I have recently added building stunt planes for others.
Bill <><

Registered Nurse, surgical intensive care-thoracic, vascular, and ENT.

Didn,t I see you once on Wrestling from Hollywood posing as the Great Gustauv? Believe it was about 1955. Maybe it was Dan Rutherford.With wiskers and beard it,s really had to tell.

(In addition to humorist, philosopher, and MOTU?)

Electronic design engineer. I specialize in control architectures, servos and other highly fascinating stuff.. 8->

[photo not recovered: 3e69bb3870f12ad5.jpg]

A Bradypus, or Sloth, am I, I live a life of ease
Contented not to do or die, but idle as I please
I have three toes on either foot, or half a doz. on both
With leaves and fruits, and shoots to eat, how sweet to be a Sloth

The world is such a cheerful place when viewed from upside-down
It makes a rise of every fall, a smile of every frown
I watch the fleeting flutter by of butterfly or moth
And think of all the things I'd try if I were not a Sloth.

I could climb the very highest Hymalayas, be among the greatest tennis players,
win at chess or marry a Princess or study hard and be an eminant professor.
I could be a millionaire, play the clarinet, travel everywhere,
Learn to cook, catch a crook, win a war then write a book about it.
I could paint a Mona Lisa, I could be another Caesar.
Compose an oratorio that was sublime.
The door's not shut on my genius but I just don't have the time.

For days and days among the trees I sleep and dream and doze
Just gently swaying in the breeze suspended by my toes
While eager beavers overhead rush through the undergrowth
I watch the clouds beneath my feet; How sweet to be a Sloth.

-Sloth Song, from the Brothers Four album "Try to Remember

Work for a structural steel company....documentation....plans etc.....in my breaks....MODEL PLANS.....restore...print, trade,buy sell.

used to sell fishing gear....dont really miss it....except all the stories.....

LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-04 AT 07:55 AM (CDT)
 
Retired public school teacher....American and World History (31 years of that was plenty, oh, the stories I could tell). Also, retired U.S. Naval Reservist.....E-6, 1st Class Personnelman (21 years of weekend warrioring and 2 week ACDUTRA in the summertime was enough). I called it quits and now do as I please, 24/7/365 (66 in a leap year such as this one). There's adequate guaranteed retirement income (Missouri Teacher Retirement System/U.S. Military Retirement) and military retired medical coverage for life. Also, there are more C/L and R/C planes, kits and engines in my shop than I could use up if I lived another 200 years, make that 300 years. Ain't life grand?.............TD

Computer Programmer/Systems Analyst/Web Designer/....(?)

Tim

Hunter-gatherer.

LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-04 AT 00:24 AM (CDT)
 
HA! HA! Currell, Your not the one I saw pullin' spruce scraps out of the dumpster the other day are you?!? NAW, Just kiddin'! We live way too far apart for me to actually catch ya!! grin...Besides, I already got the good spruce for myself!

It's been said that there are only two types of people in this world... Hunter/gatherers and cave dwellers. Wife say's I am a cave dweller... But I LOVE my little garage! It's where the magic of balsa and glue happens...

To pay for it all I have spent the last 25+ years in the printing industry. I currently run a Halm Jet printing press...

I am working for a large american (!) software company doing support for storage software.
Norvald

Viking
regards,
Rick "catdaddy" Blankenship

Analytical Chemist

Geology Major, Baseball, Pipefitter-Welder, LOCAL 290 STEAMFITTERS, 28 years, Natural Gas Distribution Forman, Went back to school and got my degree in Project Management, and Project Estimating for mechanical contractors. Now I’m Retired at 47 because of a serious back injury.

Scott(that's Chapter Two)Riese

my wife and i own a dental lab we make dentures partials cast partials crowns and bridges. been doing it for 23 years. we now employe 18 people. and bob i fixed the tab line

I am a retired Secondary School Teacher (math, science). I have also worked periods as an acoustical lab technician, section violinist, and ATC specialist. On my own time I published six editions of the definitive bibliography on tailless aircraft, learned to fly, raced karts, was treasurer of The National Auto Racing Historical Society (a VMCCA 'region'), and was president of my volunteer orchestra, the CPO. Returning to building and flying CL models has been great - another great opportunity to learn. I really enjoy checking in here. Life's wonderful, and there isn't nearly enough time to do everything I want to do. I'm cutting back a bit!

SK

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-04 AT 12:34 PM (CDT)
 
n

Hi Leon,

Hmm, I'm a counseling psychologist. I work for a private mental health organization; mostly with mentally ill adolescents. Probably why I get along so well with stunt flyers. I run an adolescent crisis services program that does assessment and evaluation of mentally ill, criminally involved kids. Lot of gang bangers, future serial killers and other fun people. It's not really that bad, but it seems like it some days. I also work with a research group that makes recommendations on treatment of adolescents.

Also work with a buddy in a private practice working with families with teenagers and doing some adoption work. Family assessment for adoptions and such. A little bit of everything.

That's doctor Randy to you

You know what they're thinking, Randy. Sometimes a wing's just a wing.

Howard,

Usually, in fact.

I've always found it fascinating how many diverse walks of life are attracted to CL model flying.
I've spent a lifetime in journalism, which means I don't know very much about anything, but a little about a lot of things.
I guess it follows that I've never specialized in models, either. I've done just about every racing and combat event, even a little carrier and speed, and currently concentrate mostly on providing comic relief for the serious fliers at stunt contests.
--jt

CPA for 22 years. Worked in public accounting, auditor for Blue Cross, manager for healthcare companies, controller for hospitals. Currently trying to find a new place to generate money for models, thank you federal government.

Randy, you and Tom Dixon have the same profession except his main work now is his model business.

Thanks Dock

Soon to be unemployed computer analyst/programmer.

I am the guy that designed, built, wrote the software and installed several of the systems around the country that takes your picture when you ride a Roller Coaster. Not all of these systems are created equal so if the picture is lousy it isn't one of my systems.

The biggest problem with this business is we start getting real busy in March and I will probably never be able to make VSC. The good side is, between December and March I can spend almost all of my time building.

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-04 AT 04:47 AM (CDT)
 
Oooo gonna run it down from the begininng eh?
Awright.

I was a Bag boy, golf course maintenance worker(7 years of off and on and varying levels here up to where I turned down an Assitant Superintendant position which I regret because I really miss the course), Food service employee, Design Draftman/Test Technician, Set Technician for an illustrious theater (World Famous in Topeka, Ks Theater), Customer Engineer on IBM 4800 series, SYS 3,34,36 AS400, ES9000's, and am presently a Laser Print Shop Manager. Some of these not necesarily in the order do to the different times I've worked in the fields. Never been a Rocket scientist, but I was consdering being a Rockit Scientist, but got out where my talent on the Sax could no longer cover my lack of certain fundamentals that a neglected beginning in music exceeded. I could shoot my 3rd grade piano teacher though by 9th grade I knew where the problems were but neglected to fix em. Still greater talents have overcome those problems, I had, distractions. A little Red-Headed one in most of the cases.

Whats the G. Dead Song squib, 'What a long, strange trip it's bin'?

Stunt1
Spent 26 years with Mobil Oil Company who I started to work for just out of High School, got my college degree while there (Going to night school). I spent the last 10 years in the Oil Trading Section of Mobil. Certainly got to party a lot. It was then that I went through my mid-life crisis.
I then spent the next 22 years in the High End HiFi Stereo/Video Business. One of the big three Stereo Shops in NY (Innovative Audio).
I started there as a customer and bought my first High End TT there and couldn't get away from music that sounded so great, especially in your own living room. Some of you might remember what those TT's are, and I still use mine to this day. There's nothing like the sound of a record, it's like a "Big Jim" ST 60 in a 4/2/4.
Had to retire a little after my 5th heart attack and much to early in life, doc said if I didn't de-stress my life I would probably be dead in a year. It was an easy decision to make and I'm enjoying the heck out of retirement. I've never looked back although I can still get any of you a great HiFi/Video System.
Every day is a great Gift from God and I'm really enjoying my "gift of life" from him.

Love and kisses, I remain yours in STUNT,

Bob Lampione

Thirty four years as an airline pilot. Now I instruct in Lear Jet simulators.

When'd you get typed in the Gooney Bird? I know you've been around for a while, but....

Bob, do you know Bob Carver? Did you know that he's a combat flyer and All American Sr. enthusiast?

Bob,

I understand. One of the most talented stunt fliers I've seen never makes contests. He's a crop duster. When we're flying, he's flying.

I started in aircraft maintenance in 1960 working on DC-4-6-7's and then into the DC-8's. Went into the Air Force in 63 and then United Airlines in 67. From 1969 thru today I have worked for World Airways for 20 years then to PSA which merged into USAir, and then in 1991 thru now at Air Borne Express (now ABX AIR). I retire TOMORROW! All this time I made time to build and fly C/L models which is still my No.1 hobby. I will continue this hobby thru my retirement.

I was employed for most of my working life in various technical and administration positions in the computer field (Management Information Systems as it was called then). My wife and I actively planned for early retirement and we now own & operate a home-based business breeding parrots. Feel free to visit our web site:

http://www.bestlittlehenhouse,com

Our per bird's name is Eggbert and he usually does the talking for me.

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-04 AT 04:41 PM (CDT)
 
Graduated H.S. in 1971. Got elected or invited to be in the armed forces very soon after. Spent a year and a half cruising the rivers in Viet Nam with our Navy lookin for Charlie and his friends. Went to college for awhile but was to restless to finish. Decided to see America through a windshield. Made it to 47 of the 48 and a big bunch of Canada. Now just drive locally most of the time. Leaving the "long hauls" for the younger guys. Proffessional driver for the last 30 years. Thats 18 wheelers to all of you. Helping to feed America. Hoping to retire soon and move to Montana. It may be cold but I can always build a bigger fire.

Bill

I have no claim to fame, I build more planes than I fly, collect more kits than I build. That about says it, right?

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-04 AT 07:03 AM (CDT)
 
What a strange cast of characters we are.

My original degree was in Communications. Spent twelve years in television production, then burned out. Spent the next three years traveling the world as a commercial oil field diver (mixed gas). Back to TV for another tour, then I decided I really needed to re-manufacture myself.

Got my masters degree in Computer Science, then went to NASA as a systems engineer. Yes, I do rocket science - mostly satellite packages.

I now work for the MITRE Corporation, doing reserach and development for the government. I support the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. My wife says I'm the only person she knows who could win the lottery and still want to keep working.

Ron King

I fix stuff for a living. Right now I repair / modify microchip manufacturing equipment, previous to that I was in the airline biz spinning wrenches on turbo-prop aircraft ( 10 years). Long ago I used to run and maintain concrete paving equipment ( still have a sore back from that one!) Been fixing stuff since I was a wee lad, I remember my dad using my skinny arms and nimble fingers to reach under the exhaust manifold on a big block chevy to start the spark plugs into the hole for him.

Actually, I am a psychologist. That's why I really enjoy reading the posts, and occasionallly posting myself.

No, I'm not a Clinical Psychologist. That's Nuts 'n Sluts material, as they call it, inside the profession.

My field is Industrial Psych. More specifically, Human Factors Engineering. Designing for human use.

I design tanks, and other, punier military vehicles, some with wheels, even. I see the results of my work, every day, on NBC Nightly News, Iraq wise.

And, somehow, I ended up running a group of Concept Developers, who sit in front of very expensive Sun machines, and CAD away (Pro-E) all day. Which is another story.

Starting at the first real job, Tool Maker,Manager for two International Business machine companies, Owner of Camera and electronic repair business,Building contractor,Real Estate sales.That covers 40+ years. I built a lot of photographic hardware for NASA and I worked for and traveled to many remote places for the SHOP, you government types may know what that is.
Ed Ruane

>
>My field is Industrial Psych. More specifically, Human
>Factors Engineering. Designing for human use.
>
>I design tanks, and other, punier military vehicles, some
>with wheels, even. I see the results of my work, every day,
>on NBC Nightly News, Iraq wise.

Currell,

Were you the guys who came up with painting shark's teeth on the front of airplanes and fighting vehicles, to intimidate the enemy?

Andy

>Were you the guys who came up with painting shark's teeth on
>the front of airplanes and fighting vehicles, to intimidate
>the enemy?
>
>
>Andy

Actually, as sort of a "hobby" within my regular job, I'v designed the logos that go on the side of a couple of prototype ehicles, incorporating flag colors, etc. I try to keep them simple. This led to doing a few displays that we have on the walls at work. I never imagined ever doing stuff like this. Funny how things turn out.

A long time ago, I took inspiration from some of the color schemes that were used on prototypes of the F-16. Screaming falcons, etc. I tried some of these themes on tanks, and quickly got shot down by a very conservative boss that we had at the time. Currell

Forest Firefighter and Smokey Bear's best buddy. I have worked for the Florida Division of Forestry in wildland fire suppression for the past 35 years with the last 21 years in supervision. But, retirement is just around the corner.

Jack of all trades, Master of none!!!
Actually, I am a retired Firefighter, working on retirement #2 as a Fire Safety Tech. for Texas A&M. ( does not imply that I am a diehard AGGIE )
DALE MCCORD

Corprate chef for a major institutional food service provider, we do universities,jails, nursing homes, we even have the contract for Hibernia oil platform (i think thats how its spelled).
Dwayne

Degree in Economics - which I never used. 28 years with the local Gas and Electric utility. On something like my 15th position starting in Personnel (we were more friendly than Human Resources) Last job was as a Supervising Buyer negotiating contracts. Presently supervising a bunch of IT type folks (long story how that happened) Also have a side deal as a SCUBA regulator tech servicing equipment.

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-04 AT 08:31 AM (CDT)
 
I am a computer geek. Doing Network / Server support for the largest Sports and Fitness company in the world. They do not pay me as much as they pay Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods or LaBron James. But I do have a little extra at the end of the month to keep my boys and I on the end of the lines.

Paul

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-04 AT 08:38 AM (CDT)
 
Went into the airforce after highschool as a camera repairman, but spent my hitch as a photographer in MN. worked at a photo studio in MN, then moved to NJ as a darkroom tech. went to computer school and worked as a computer operator in NY & NJ. Returned to MN to work in TV - Audio. worked as a fire, burglary alarm installer, installed sound systems. went to work for the city as a W & G service journeyman. I am now retired.

Tom Wilk

BS in Physics and Math, worked in Energy and Power Electronics Business for about 20 years. Write firmware and Software for Embedded systems. Have designed Wind Turbines (vibration, and aerodynamic performance), Variable Speed Drives, servos, PLC controllers, Electric Power Meters ect. Designed a lot of the stuff used on automotive process lines. Have a copuple of patents.

Spent a little time working on my A&P but then realized that it wasn't what I wanted to do. Worked in a paint shop doing fabric work on Cub's, engine changes on beech 18's, sprayed Imoron with out respirators, Lucky to be alive.

I am a Mechanical Engineer. I design special equipment, material handling systems, and assembly fixtures. I have been in the automotive assembly and manufacturing business for 12 years.

I am currently looking to land a development engineering position at a major golf component manufacturer. Wish me luck!

Might as well throw in my 2 cents.
Retired Process Eng from Goodyear. Spent the last 22 years designing Air Springs and the machinery that makes 'em. Spent 22 years befor that as a consulting (or insulting) eng. in the field of specialized machine design. Worked in SO MANY interesting areas that I can't list 'em all, including defense research. (I could tell ya but them I'd have to kill ya) Started buildin' and flyin' c/l in 1950 left it in '61. Retired last year and decided to return to one of the most enjoyable hobbies I ever had.. People like y'all made it that way!

Rog,

By the way,,, my son was a rockeet scienteest with NASA fer pertneer 10 yars...

Professor Emeritus. Ichthyologist/aquatic biologist--freshwater in the midwest, Belize, northern South America--Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana, and Peru. Learned to fly CL in 1953 so I discuss OTS rules based on the written rules rather than memories of how we used to do it. Presently building airplanes, xeriscaping and honeydos. Life is good!

Lead Mechanic at Delta Air Lines in the engine shop (APU shop right now). Started in 1980 as an sheet metal mechanic overhauling DC8, DC9, 727, 737, 767 and L1011's. I was involved with several large structural mods on DC8's and L1011's. Transfered to the JT8D engine shop in 1990 where I made lead. Then I got moved to the APU shop after 2001.
Butch

Heavy Highway Construction (25 Years)as foreman, engineer/estimator, project engineer, and contruction administrator. Translated that means I am involved in building the interstate highways, bridges, and airports in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and Arizona.

After work I am involved with Boy Scouting.

Control line is my great escape.

Caddy, Service Station Attendent, Usher in a Theater, Lifeguard, Twenty years in Navy, Thirteen years System engineer. Four years running my own graphics shop, Last five years programmer. Really looking forward to retirement. Will probably move to NC, buy a house, build a flying field and see if they will come.

JAZZ MUSICIAN, SAX/FLUTE.

Taught in Helsinki for 3 years, was given a MA status (self taught).

8 years in NYC playin' gigs.

A book published by VAPH (Central Government Press, Helsinki, called "Funtcional Improvisation Tecnique".

Muniz Ion: Functional Improvisation Technique
Helsinki 1991. 107 s. ISBN 951-37-0341-X
The book consists of a series of technical exercises useful to the jazz musicians.

Last album, "Um Amor Eterno" soon to be available as a gift for the SSF gang...

Atended theological seminary at the Assemblies of God.

Changing jobs, am going to work full time at a church, teacing, preaching, visiting, (Pastor Salomão wants to keep me busy) counseling, the works...

learning C++ on the macintosh platform, using Apple's Develloper's Tools, a great IDE!

Ion Muniz

I am a locomotive engineer for Union Pacific Railroad. I don't design or build locomotives, I just run um. At this time I am working out of Ft. Worth, Texas to Childress, Texas and back, and haul mostly coal and grain.

> I am a locomotive engineer for Union Pacific Railroad. I
>don't design or build locomotives, I just run um. At this
>time I am working out of Ft. Worth, Texas to Childress,
>Texas and back, and haul mostly coal and grain.

A REAL engineer! It took me 5-1/2 years to find out that I wouldn't even get to drive a train..

[photo not recovered: 3e69bb3870f12ad5.jpg]

"Don't MAKE Me come down there" - God

B.S. Physics 1980, University of Notre Dame. M.A. Astronomy 1985, Indiana University. Ph.D. Physics Boston University 1988. Astrophysicist at the University of Michigan. Previous work was particle experiments flown aboard high-altitude balloons to study cosmic rays, particularly antimatter (antiprotons, positrons), and helium isotopes. Seven successful balloon flights of three magnet spectrometers, two of which I developed from scratch (superconducting magnet and particle tracking chambers). Got to spend a lot of time in remote places like Lynn Lake Manitoba, Prince Albert Saskatchewan and Fort Sumner NM launching balloon payloads. Unfortunately, our High Energy Antimatter Telescope (HEAT) web page just died with the disconnection of all our old VAX computers.

Current work is the development of large-format infrared cameras for the Supernova Acceleration Probe (SNAP) to study the history of the Universe's expansion with time, and probe the nature of dark energy, which is currently causing the expansion of the Universe to *accelerate*. Take a look at http://snap.lbl.gov

So what do I really do? Instrument design and testing, lots of widgets to design in Autocad, get machined, assemble and test. Cryogenics. Lots of laboratory management and infrastructure duties as well. I teach undergrads occasionally, and mentor graduate students continuously. I am not a professor, and do not have tenure, so I have no job security in any normal sense. I'm not an engineer, but I play one in real life.

I'm 45 years old, and retirement is a long way off. Other interests are contest Free Flight, contest Spacemodels (rockets), and RC Soaring. Member of the US FAI Spacemodeling team for the 2000 and 2002 World Championships.

(http://www.spacemodeling.org/New/

http://www.spacemodeling.org/gcg/2000wsmc/wsmc200.html)

Flew CL as a kid and in college, and want to get back to it because it is a lot of fun. Hope to make some real progress this Summer, since there is now the John Kilsdonk Memorial CL circle maintained about 5 miles out my front door, on my way to-fro work. Used to be comfortable with inverted flight. We shall see...

Andy

So far my favorite comment here comes from Randy Powell, "I work for a private mental health organization; mostly with mentally ill adolescents. Probably why I get along so well with stunt flyers." hee hee hee

BA in Communications. Worked 20+ years for CBS affiliated TV stations in Iowa and Oregon as a news producer, writer, and photographer. Too much travel so I studied human resource management a few years ago. Now I'm Executive Director of a non-profit that operates an educational & government TV station. Less stress, fewer deadlines, little travel.

Jerry,

Well, I notice that many of us bare a striking resemblence to behaviorially disturbed adolescents (I'm not mentioning names, Dan). It's certainly why I work so well with them.

And Andy and I are pals!! Well, at least we belong to the same club.

>And Andy and I are pals!! Well, at least we belong to the
>same club.
>

Well Randy, you blew your cover. Here I was trying not to embarrass you!

Andy

No worries Andy, I've embarrassed myself quite adequately here lately anyway.

>No worries Andy, I've embarrassed myself quite adequately
>here lately anyway.
>
>Randy Ryan

If by "embarassing yourself" you mean those engines, I'd like to say that you gotta keep embarassing yourself!!

I'm a avid reader of your posts.

God bless you!

In Christ,

>No worries Andy, I've embarrassed myself quite adequately
>here lately anyway.
>

I should hasten to add, where all can hear, that indeed Randy and I *are* pals, and fellow Balsa Bugs. No accounting for his taste in friends. I'm certainly looking forward to flying together as often as possible. And he has a *big* back yard and tolerant neighbors too...

Andy

Andy,

My dad is a retired physiscist! He has an MD from Berkeley, CA, where the cyclotron was. Studied with Teller. Did a lot of research at the CBPF (Brazilian Center of Physics Research) on solid state, eleroparamagnetic ressonance.

Lots of liquid nitrogen...

I have, due to his prestige, the "unofficial" right to have the CBPF machines and the machinists make venturis and other small parts for me. I just go there, and after having to tell everybody how dad is I go to the workshop and get my stuff done.

He also was the director of the national observatory.

Ion (he gave mme this name) Muniz

Andy, the Dancing Wu-Lei Master. Wow!

>Andy, the Dancing Wu-Lei Master. Wow!
>
>

Randy Powell

I have no idea what this means, but I *like* it. If you can explain it to me, it might be worth printing on a T-Shirt!

Andy

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-04 AT 06:33 PM (CDT)
 
Andy,

The Dancing Wu-Li Masters. Gary Zukav (1984)

An excerpt from Booklist review---

At an Esalen Institute meeting in 1976, tai chi master Al Huang said that the Chinese word for physics is Wu Li, "patterns of organic energy." Journalist Gary Zukav and the others present developed the idea of physics as the dance of the Wu Li Masters--the teachers of physical essence. Zukav explains the concept further:

The Wu Li Master dances with his student. The Wu Li Master does not teach, but the student learns. The Wu Li Master always begins at the center, the heart of the matter.... This book deals not with knowledge, which is always past tense anyway, but with imagination, which is physics come alive, which is Wu Li.... Most people believe that physicists are explaining the world. Some physicists even believe that, but the Wu Li Masters know that they are only dancing with it.

Zukav's book comprises quantum theory, particle physics, and relativity. This book along with The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra and The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn were facinations of mine in college. So much so that I double majored in Political Science and Physics in college---possibly the strangest double major in the university's history.

Sorry for the diversion - I just assumed you'd heard of it. Silly, I suppose.

Excellent book!

[photo not recovered: 3e69bb3870f12ad5.jpg]

"Five is a sufficiently close approximation to infinity." -Robert Firth

20+ years life and health claims and risk appraisal administration. 5 years mortgage banking. Now semi retired and driving school bus, sub teaching, working at golf course. I am also taking correspondence courses learning to be either a rocket scientist or gynecologist.

Hothandle:

B.S. OSU 1969, Electrical Engineer, design pump stations, meter stations, tank farms, power lines, substations, power plants, etc. Work for Fluor Daniel Williams Brothers. Started flying UC in 1953 with a McCoy 19 and a Testors Jr. airplane. Started flying combat and Rat in 1956 with Randy Cuberly. Four years USAF as an electronic tech.

Jim P. Stay with Rocket Science!!

Walter Weatherford

I am also taking correspondence courses learning to
>be either a rocket scientist or gynecologist.

Plenty of study material available on the Internet for your second career choice!!

Andy

What a cross-section of humanity....with a common bond!

Let's see....
Electronics tech by trade with some physics background. Primarily involved in the design of radiation measurement equipment and calibration of radiation fields. I've had some work published. I sing in 2 church related choral groups, belong to 2 model flying clubs, and my wife and I do ballroom dancing.

Oh, I occasionally have some time to build model airplanes (right Alan......Alan?).

Fred

law enforcement for past twenty four years.
Empolyed by Data General Corp. in early 70's.
Employed by GM Training Center.

Started flying control line planes at age 6.

Semiconductor technology. Currently an applications engineer for semiconductor test equipment. The stuff that tests microchips in production, all and any of them. Software, hardware, diagnostics, maintenance. Quite a bit of phone tech support actually involves psychological counseling (that's one degree I don't have).

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-04 AT 01:38 PM (CDT)
 
8 years of servitude in the aerospace industry, then 35 glorious years as a toy/model aircraft/model rocket designer.

BS Aeronautics, MIT, MS Magnum cum Laude Business, West Coast University.

Really was a Rokit Scientist for a while, test firing the RL-10 liquid rocket engine down in Florida for Pratt and Whitney. Also worked for North American on the B-70, Douglas Aircraft on the DC-8,9 &10, Northrop on the T-38, Lockheed on the L-1011, and Generous Dynamics on the F-111.

Then I escaped!!!

2 Years in design at Estes Industries (Skyfire, Skydancer, Bomarc, Skydart, Cheechako, and about 9 others), 1 with Fox Motors, 11 years in the Preliminary Design Group at Mattel(He Man, Mad Scientist, Hot Wheels, Marvel, Air Slix, et.al.), 9 years in engineering at C*x, culminating in being Director of Enigneering and QC for 4 of those years. ( Me-109/Chipmunk, Cessna 150, P-39, Comanche, Sky Copter, Texan, Katydid, Scorpion, Black Widow, QRC, R/C 05 and 09, Killer Bee, Venom, Electric Bearcat plus others I can't recall at the moment)

Some free-lance time, and currently, the last 5 or so years, designing premiums, the toys that are given to kids when they drag their poor parents into a "QSR" (Quick Serve Restaurant) for a burger, fries, and death by cholesterol.

Sideline of design and writing, 20 or so articles and designs in the magazines, and a 5 year stint as columnist for Model Builder. Wrote a book on R/C Slope Soaring , got paid for it, but they never published it due to a change of policy at that publishing house. Currently, there are 4 of my designs being actively kitted and sold (both sizes of Toucan glider from Dreamcatcher, the ST-40 from Lanier, and the R/C trainer from Norvel)

Probably will continue working for another 5 years or so. As a friend said when I was talking about retiring, "How will you tell that you have retired?"

41 years in computer hardware repair. Went to Aviation High School in NYC. Have had 3 jobs since then. 1-NCR, 2- Scientific Data Systems/Xerox Data Systems/Xerox/Honeywell and 3- OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) for the past 20 yrs in Ohio. Started on real computers (main frames) and now supervise a group of in-house repair specialists working on apx 1400 desk top workstations. Was going to work a few more years but rumor has it I may be retired momentarily. That’s fine, building models full time will be fun. Plus we may get to move back east.

I'm a computer scientist. I work on compilers for Cray.
I've been reading and writing for 43 years,
programming for 34 years, and building planes for 5 years.

I should have started earlier.

Semi-pro curmudgeon.

>Semi-pro curmudgeon.
>
>Dan

Semi-pro is incorrect.

Don't sell yourself short Dan!

You are a full PRO-curmudgeom.

14+ years with Southwest Airlines as an A&P Mechanic. Everything from Line R.O.N MX To lead mechanic. Done the composite shop, line maintenance and I am now currentlty In MCI as a line mechnic on day shift Yehhhaaaaww!!!!!!
Before that Braniff II same as above.
I couldn't before spell "aileron" and now I am an A&P Mechanic. (for those of you here that want to be called technician) We must first be recognized as skilled labor. Which we are not!
Steven Adler
Fixer and Healer of Boeing 737's

Ron B.
F4Fguy

Actor(stage)over 100 productions,I still maintain my Actor's Equity card.Then found I had to make a living.For 39yrs I worked in automotive research,designing,developing and testing aluminum engines and components,and other aluminum applications to automobiles and aircraft.Started as a designer and retired as director of I.C.engine testing and development.

Been building and flying model airplanes of one kind or another since(literally)before I can remember.My mother used to tell people that I built my first one from a strawberry box when I was four years old.That would be 1938.

Structures engineer currently at the Lazy Bee Ranch (that's Boeing for those who don't know it by the other title). Structures engineers make sure the airplanes you fly in will not fall apart in the air by making sure the "structure" that supports the flight loads is adequately strong (but not too strong!). Currently I work in the durability and damage tolerance camp. This assures the customer that the plane will be strong enough, long enough. We have to account for the expected usage over the design life of the aircraft.

I have worked on the following programs:

F-18
757
B-2
C-17
F-22

I have been fortunate in this business to be on a number of going production programs. Yes, the 757 is nearing the end of it's production run, the B-2 is finished. The F-18 is still going strong as is the C-17, and the F-22 is ramping up now! Not everyone in this business has worked on good production programs, and there have been numerous failed programs where people have lost their jobs. I feel fortunate being in the position I am now. Hopefully I'll have this job until I retire! (in the not too distant future I hope!!!)

When I was a kid I used tell my ma that I wanted to be a piano player in a whore house but that never happened.

>Structures engineer currently at the Lazy Bee Ranch (that's
>Boeing for those who don't know it by the other title).
>Structures engineers make sure the airplanes you fly in will
>not fall apart in the air by making sure the "structure"
>that supports the flight loads is adequately strong (but not
>too strong!).

Also make them ##### near impossible to work on. I have the scars on the back of my hands to prove it and my DNA flying all around this great country!
Steven Adler

That's just because you got the Mechanic requirements backwards. Instead of 6'4" tall with 2.5' foot arms you were supposed to be 2.5' tall with 6'4" inch arms.

After HS went to Business School for Accounting. Bookkeeper for Plbg Co. until they went broke. Joined AirForce and worked in Communication Intelligence, Cryptography and Weather Analysis for Intelligence (USAFSS) 4 years and then to College. Taught Government and English (9yrs)until I got my Masters Degree in Counseling.
School Counseling(20yrs) before becoming Psychologist and working in Prison program for the agressive mentally ill.(PAMIO) at Bill Clements unit Amarillo. Also had private practice doing most of my work at night while working at Prison. Retired from 29 years in School System and 9 years at Prison. Finally quit my private practice 3yrs later and now I'm fully retired and don't know how I ever found time to work. I have three hobbies. Maintaining and riding my Harley RoadKing Classic and building and flying Model Aircraft. I started fun flying and racing, after age slowed my reflexes, I experimented with CL Combat. Still enjoy Speed Limit, but never was competitive enough to make it serious enough to win. I still love to fly the planes,(Slow Combat). Now I'm building and flying for fun and dabble with the Stunt pattern occasionally.(Beginner).
Self-taught computers, DOS PC's and Apple II's up to present PC's. I've built several from scratch and making old into faster upgrades. I'll be 67 next month and now I piddle a lot!

This is one of the most interesting threads I have seen. Our hobby consists of some very accomplished professionals. I'll throw in my two cents worth.

Past: R&D technician for Texas Instruments, hobby shop owner, flight test engineer for Ling Temco Vought on the Corsair II, power plant construction engineer for Bechtel, Director of Engineering and R&D for a company that specializes in robotic rehabilitation techniques of buried pipelines, gave birth to a number of patents along the way, and for 25 years was a full time dedicated parent.

Now: Registered Professional Civil Engineer and manager of an engineering office, a full time proud dad and granddad, and practicing hard to make a run at the Senior Golf Tour (in my dreams).

Dee Rice

A quick run-down. Started by grinding my way through USC to be a musician. That worked for a while, but the pay was lousy. So, back to school to become an Electronic Engineer.

Engineering-stuff can be fun. Back in 1955, I designed the 10-channel R/C equipment for Bob Dunham and ORBIT R/C Inc., using a new 10-channel reed bank.

Retired from engineering at age 65, but still play the fiddle a lot.

I'm thinking of beginning a third career as a political satirist. Not too difficult these days.

As a kid raced hydroplanes and racing runabouts after model planes in the pacific northwest when Joe Taggert and Lou fagel duked it out in the Gold Cup races in Seattle. Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture in new town planning. Army Security Agency (viet nam era) data processing of cryptographic material. Urban design planner and land use planner for county governments developing land use plans, zoning ordinances, running citizen committees and all that political stuff. Housing development manager for county housing authrority and federal grant manager for multiple contracts. Much volunteer work in my church as a district secretary-treasurer training other clerks and managing the financial and business affairs of ten congregations and up to six facilities. Did volunteer work in Salt Lake City on two major construction projects and a long range urban design policy plan for all downtown properties in SLC. Great experience.

In private business dabbled in real estate, created a cable television company and ran it for 18 years and sold it one day before "Black Monday" in 2000. Owned several other businesses, Now sold, and now retired.

Built an experiemental Lancair 360 airframe which is used to travel to model contests in the western to midwest US. This was a great experience and an extremely satisfying challenge. I recommend it to anyone.

Also dabbling in investments and securities and finally settled down to making a living at it without day trading. That was a college education in itself. Take my advice. Don't do it.

Looking back; I think we can all appreciate what we have individually and collectively accomplished in a lifetime of constructive and productive employment. We have all made a contribution and when we look back it is quite impressive. Sort of makes you feel good about yourself. Doesn't it?

Keep dreaming and doing. We all have more to accomplish.

Bob Smiley
A Lancair 360 builder/pilot trying to be a modeler

surfboard shaper,yacht design and construction

I've been a software guy since the early 1980s. Non-degreed, started as a computer operator (PDP-11, RSTS in 1979), then systems programmer, systems analyst, software engineer, technical marketing director, writer (have a few books out there related to programmable logic). I founded a software company in 1999 (Accolade Design Automation), and am currently doing startup #2, which translates to insane hours and zero income.

Sanding balsa is cheap therapy.

Dave

Toolmaker for a consumer electronics company. Mainly do plastic injection moulds and aluminum die-casting dies.
Pat MacKenzie

Dave,

>>Sanding balsa is cheap therapy.>>

Isn't that the truth. After a tough day at work, it's awfully nice to come home and build toy planes. Beats paying myself a $200/hr for therapy.

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-04 AT 09:14 PM (CDT)
 
I see a lot of computer oriented careers listed. It makes sense i an on-line world.

Me, I worked several jobs of no consequence through High School. I joined the Navy Reserve prior to graduation, mostly for a chance to go to the Naval Acadamy, or R.O.C., but I busted out prior to recieving an appointment to the Acadamy. Kinda stupid, but there were some good reasons, at least at the time.

I spent 2 years active duty, serving on a Destroyer. Spent some time too close to North Vietnam and China, but we managed to survive the experience.

After the Navy, I went back to one of the jobs I held previously. Got a chance to work as a Professional Model Maker, It was great work that I enjoyed a lot.

I landed a job as a Draftsman for a company that manufactured Material Handling Equipment. Mostly for the military, Space, or Airline industries.

I left that job to move to Seattle where I started a new occupation, as a Drywall Finisher. Loved it then, and still do. It's the work, create, with your hands, thing. I wound up in Alaska, first to work commercial fishing for Salmon out of Kodiak, in the summer of '69. That winter I moved there to work at my finishing trade. worked summers fishing, the rest of the year building houses.

The last year there, I went to work with the Alaska dept of Corrections, first as a guard, but moved into counseling.

On to Wisconsin, where I resumed my construction work, Later while there I worked in sales, as a Rep for a construction materials manufacturer out of Chicago. I started my own Drywall business, did some chartering for Salmon Fishing on Lake Michigan.

When I went through a divorce, I moved to Salt Lake City and went back to school to finally get a degree. I earned an Associates in Computer Aided Drafting and Design. More to be able to do good drawings of my model airplanes, than to work in the profession.

I still work as a Drywall finisher. but now specialize in Decorative finishes for high end homes. Current project that we started today is for a 4 million dollar home in Park City.

I hope to retire some time in the future. I have plans to convert the 200 plus sets of model plans I have into Cad drawings, and perhaps set up a plans business for retirement income. If that doesn't work, then I'll have a lot of nice plans to look at..

I'm wondering why everything is spinning around?

Started in High School with an interest in Radio/TV Electronics. Was a bench tech doing TV repair work through high school and a couple of years after as well. Mad Max came to town with $179 19" Color TV's and the repair industry died fast. These days, if breaks out of warranty, you chuck it. Nobody has parts anyways. (unless it's a popular or Hi dollar item like big screens) Got sucked into a family business running a cabinet shop. Sold that bussiness, ran a couple more shops after that.

Got back into electronics (sort of) on the ground floor with computers when the hot computer was a 4.77Mhz PC with a green monitor (for you kids, that is GREEN, the text color, not environmentally friendly Green mode). Spent a lot of time upgrading IBM PC's with dual 360K floppies and 256K Ram to a full height MFM 5Meg hard drive and 640K Ram. Whoo hoo! hot stuff! Remember when you needed EXPANDED memory to run Lotus 123? Unfortunately, I do...
Have been certified for Novell and Microsoft network products since the mid 80's. Worked for EverNet for a while, and put Tampa Shipyard on the map with the first NetFrame multi CPU Computer in the southeast. Built hundreds of custom servers and PC's for a Gov Defense Mapping agency. Recently taken over by the Brit's, through an american holding company. Gee, and this skirts the issue of a Defense Contractor being owned out of country? I don't get it...Anyways, it ended with a lot of lost American jobs, and I lost a great customer when they closed the doors... The sad part is they were TURNING A GREAT PROFIT and NOBODY CARED!

I'm currently a VAR (value added reseller) own my own business, doing turn key systems, networking & support for vertical markets like the legal industry. Who knows what's next!

I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering but work as an industrial engineer for a transportation/logistics company.

I spent four years in the USAF as an Autopilot/Compass systems technician, 13 years teaching aviation mechanics at Spartan School of Aeronautics, and retired from the CSD/Generator shop at American Airlines one year ago. along the way I worked in General Aviation, 3 years in construction, and spent a year in the RVN as a civilian helicopter inspector working for a company called NHA. (We always thought it stood for Never Happen Again!)

In other incarnations, I was an Air Force photog-darkroom tech, B.A. in Communications, Photography teacher while in grad school, Newspaper reporter/photog., Been a claims adjuster for the last 30+years. Retirement is creeping up on me, and and although I generally like what I do, will not miss child sexual abuse claims. Relatively newly returned to modeling, I have numerous plans, engines, and a kit or two awaiting better weather, so I can use the CA outside, away from the family. Now what am I gonna do with the next 30 years?

Spent the last 24 years in the military. Eight years enlisted in the Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller and 16 years in the Navy as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. Currently a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) and First Officer (Executive Officer) of the Navy Manpower Analysis Center. I retire later this year (01 Oct). I have no wife, no kids, no bills, and no headaches. When I retire, I plan to spend my time building, flying, and crashing model airplanes.

I must admit that I am totally amazed by the number of highly educated members of this forum. The amount of college degrees here is staggering. I feel honored to share a hobby with all of you.

Bill

Started out in the Navy as an In-flight Electronics Tech flying in the P-3c anti-submarine aircraft. Then transfered to Aircrewman and electronics tech on Search and Rescue helicopters (UH-1n) and Beechcraft Super King Aires (Navy C-12). Then worked for Boeing as a flight line electrician and Q/A on the 737, 747, 757 and 767. Also worked for Mcdonnel Douglas on the MD-11 and C-17 as a flight line electrician. Now I work for Bonneville Powwer as a Lineman on high voltage transmission lines.

Currently retired after 38 yrs. in the paper making/converting industry, various technical/mgt. positions. I know all about "Pulp Fiction".

greedy

I am a social worker in the private sector, I deal with at-risk and disadvantaged youth and families.

I was in the U.S.A.F. for 10 years as a Comm/Nav tech. Worked on T-33,T-37,T-38,T-39,F4E,RF4C,OV10,C135,C137,C140,C9 and too many different transit planes to remember. I have now gone from planes to trains, and work in communications for the transit system in Washington D.C. for the last 20 years. Who knows what's next....

Glenn,

>>I am a social worker in the private sector, I deal with at-risk and disadvantaged youth and families.<<

Mental Health or direct social work? I once worked for Casey, but that's been quite awhile ago.

Lead singer / second guitar with R&R band in the early 60s. Got out of music because I wasn't into the drug thing that was going on then. Collection manager for small loan company, construction worker (carpenter), Life insurance salesman, vacuum cleaner salesman, Owner commercial cleaning business (6 years) washing buildings, oil field rigs, dozers, airplanes,18 wheelers etc. Owner Ashford Construction (15 years) remodels, room additions, custom homes. Project field superintendent for commercial/industrial construction (various companies) Owen Corning-Ford Motor Company - US Army C.O.E. Built one theater for George Lucas in Austin, TX. Worked as General Construction manager for non-profit company assisting low income families in buying homes. Wore lots of hats here. Grant writer, Loan Closer, Accountant etc. (The non-profit world is a whole 'nother ball game) As far as I know, the city of Oklahoma City is still using the accounting system I designed to keep track of your tax dollars.

Retired now and building model planes for museums and collectors. Also have built/sold several Stunt ships for guys in the Southwest area. Single (again) and have full time to devote to my first love which is Classic Stunt planes. Continious member of AMA since '56. Back in CL for the past three years and loving it. Balsa dust and sniffing Testors and Ambroid kept me from kicking the cat or punching holes in the wall for many years.

For the past 13 years I have been working as plant engineer we make car parts for Ford, Chrysler, GM and others. Before that Design engineer, tool and die maker, machinist, maintenance, electricial, electronic technician, Service Engineer for Pacific Press & Shear Corp. I am not sure if I am a specialist or generalist. A specialist learns more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing. A generalist learns less and less about more and more until they know nothing about everything.

I've spent the last 20 years working in a public library. Was first hired as a bookmobile driver because my previous job was driving a bus. Never expected bus driving to lead to a "career" in a library. Bookmobile's long gone. I'm still here.

Preacher.
--Ray

20 years as commercial photographer,
Recording Studio manager, Director of Marketing
for International Real Estate firm
and for the last two years graphics for
portable sign company.

Still looking for my true calling- International Playboy.

If anyone is keeping score, it must be noted that while H. Rush has checked in at least twice, he has not furnished his current job description.

That's because nobody--including, maybe especially, Howard and the man to whom he reports--understands what his job really is.

No joke...Well, maybe a little one.

LAST EDITED ON Feb-14-04 AT 07:21 PM (CDT)
 
>If anyone is keeping score, it must be noted that while H.
>Rush has checked in at least twice, he has not furnished his
>current job description.
>
>That's because nobody--including, maybe especially, Howard
>and the man to whom he reports--understands what his job
>really is.
>
>No joke...Well, maybe a little one.
>
>Dan

Yeah, I noticed that. Also noticed that Da Dan hasn't revealed any of his employment history. C'mon, fess up. Steve

I build Custom Harley Davidson Motorcycles for guys with too much money.
You can check them out at www.thundercycle.com

We just got finished filming the "Biker Build Off" for the Discovery Channel. (Thunder Cycles won by the way) It TV show should air in June.

It's a living....

Back in highschool, I wrote Tetris just so I could play it.
Suddenly, I realized that I like programming so I went and got a degree in computer science. For the past 7 years I've been writing software for financial and insurance companies. If you have mutual funds, chances are, your monthly statements are done by my program. Right now I develop software for the hedge fund industry. Modeling is my therapy.

The correct term I use to describe my life is "six Saturdays and one Sunday"
I retired at age 57 from a job that used silly words like WAN, LAN, Routers, server farms and such. It took five months to get that poison out of my system and now I just relax.
When the mood strikes, I work on one of four model airplane projects ...or not. I have not flown a model since October 2003 and I live about two miles from the flying site here in Tucson. My wife has been gently hinting that I get back into my fine art studies and shortly I will ...or not. The sun is too beautiful, the walks are pleasurable and the scent of truely clean air lulls me back to the joy of six Saturdays and one Sunday.

I are an engineer. I've been working in "awl and gas" for the past 15 years. Before that petrochemicals, food processing, steel and aircraft.

I actually was a rocket scientist. I did my thesis on orbital mechanics then worked on the Minuteman, Peacekeeper and Trident missile programs. I'm currently a program manager at Ball Aerospace on electronics projects. I will always be grateful for the start that model airplanes gave me in my career.

Mark, did you participate in the 777-300 ground maneuver camera system?

No, is that a project Ball Aerospace was involved in?

Yes, about 5 years ago. They are still being delivered, as far as I know. That airplane has the longest wheelbase of any transport airplane. Ball installed some video cameras in the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer, straight back from the outboard edge of the main landing gear wheels. They help aviators to keep the wheels on the pavement while they taxi. It was a pretty cool project.

Hi Howard,

We share office space with some of the folks in the camera group so I asked one of them about it. I guess it was a pretty neat project, but Ball ended up seeling that product line to another company.

Regards,

Awesome collection of talent here.

Let's see . . . . Applications Engineer, Model Shop owner, 15 years of Aerospace Contract Pricing and another 15 years as Computer Geek.

Model builder for 50+ years, with no particular success, but with a tremendous amount of fun. Now seeking more fun . . .

Way back in my yute, I raced outboards(utility & hydro, gas and alcohol), a bit of drag racing, and about 5 minutes of flat track with my Triumph until I found out how crazy those people were. I got the handle "Bottomzup" from an announcer referring to my position in the cockpit of a cabover design I used in "B" Hydro. In those days you raced on your knees. I actually preferred puttin' on a Panhead down deserted country roads packin' my "flame" mostly. In high school, I was voted most likely to not see forty. Discovered control line before that, about '54, and have been foolin' with it ever since.

I made my "living" as a musician for 30-some years just makin' it from one gig to the next but when, much to everyone's amazement, I lived way passed forty, I decided it was time to find out what I wanted to be when I grew up. By 1988, I'd had enough of "starving artist." I went back to school to see if I was ready to actually show up, I was, and one thing led to another. I'm currently a network administrator for the Computer Education Program of a Community College. Being in education will not make me rich, that's for sure, but it is a very rewarding activity. I sometimes say that computers make me crazy but that's really not true. It was too late for that by the time I discovered them.

I have loved model airplanes since the first time I saw one. I am more of a participant than a competitor but going to a contest and hanging out with the stunt crowd is absolutely my favorite thing next to, well, you know what. Stunt has all my favorite things: craftmanship, art, music, performance, comaraderie.

I am not now, have never been, nor do I ever hope to be a "big gun." Just a big fan of the art and it's masters. Thanks for letting me participate.

I'm a Technical Crew Chief in Aircraft Maintenance for American Airlines for the last 18 years.

As little as I can get by with.

Jake

LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-04 AT 10:47 PM (CDT)
 
BS Industrial Management, Georgia Tech 1959
MA Public Administration, George Washington Univ.1964
Engineering Design and Production Liaison F7U-3M Cutlass and F8U Crusader Projects Chance Vought Aircraft. 1954-1955

1956 Airframe Draftsman C-130 Development Project Lockheed Georgia Company.

1959 Navy Management Intern Program.
1960 Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Assistant Weapons System Planning Officer. 1962 Navy Airframe Production Branch, Aircraft Industrial Specialist.

1964 Industrial Engineer, US Postal Data Center, Atlanta, GA
1968 Management Analyst (Project Control) US Postal Source Data System. 1971 ADP Facilities Liaison Officer for US Customs Service, Automated Merchandise Processing System.

1983 Chief, Support Services Branch, National Science Foundation with responsibilty for utilization 8 LC-130 Ski Aircraft and research facilities in Antarctica, Greenland, and the U.S. and 8 research vessels owned by NSF and operated by universities. Also responsible for utilization of 4 research aircraft at the National Center for Atmospheric research.

President, Users and Screeners Association Federal Excess Property 1999 and 2000 usa-fepp.org.

2003. Whoopee USS Outside! I retired from federal service.

I have been fortunate to have extremely challenging and interesting work throughout my 46 year career. The frustrating thing has been that I have also had a challenging, super enjoyable, and time consuming hobby to balance with my career and my role as husband father and grandfather. Where were the C/L ARFs when I needed them?

Hey! it is a wonderful life and this SSW Forum is great!

I started my working life at RAE Bedford ( in England ) as a Gopher working with the Fairy Delta 2 and an English Electric Lighting, later the BAC221 as research Plane for Concorde, for those who do not know BAC221 had an exact scale replica of the Concord's Ogee Delta wing.
Later got a Physics degree.
Then went on to work on large computer Mainframes, worked many strange shifts..... I have worked 33 hours at a time to fix problems.......
Emigrated to Australia in 1982.
Now I work as the Engineer in a firm that produces Micro-fiche, yes it is still going.... bit of a challenge to keep 25 year-old machines running.
Like many of you I am a big-time tinkerer with machines of all sorts..... when I was younger I had British Motor-cycles.... if you are not prepared to fix them up you do not get to ride......
I also did a bit of Side-car racing back in 1970...... I did the easy bit... I was the passenger ( the semantics is wrong here... I worked my butt off to keep that thing on the road..... still had a spectacular crash at Lydenn.. )
What else ??? As part of my work at RAE I flew in Meteor, Dove and Auster, for my 50th birthday I awarded myself a flight in a Harvard, MAGIC........

I started at Pratt & Whitney in Florida working on RL-10 rocket engine testing. Was there at the same time as DesignMan. Then worked 37 years at GE Aircraft engines mostly in the flight test area. Retired now and back into control line. Flew combat back when it started but never learned the stunt pattern. So here I am at age 64 working on the beginner pattern.
Steve

Fabrication Producibility Engineer for Raytheon. I get to try to figure out how to make what the young bushy haired wild eyed mechanical engineers design. I find it a real shame that most of the ME's no longer know what a crescent wrench is. Worked for a number of smaller companies till I got tired of them folding under me, the father builds the company and the children destroy it. I then got hired at Texas Instruments Defense and at least they didn't fold we were just sold. Nice to see some of the programs you work on in the evening news blowing up stuff.
Amazing what the magic of looking at a 2D plan and turning it into a 3d object and loving that magic will take you.

Sidecar racing is probably the most difficult and dangerous form of motorcycle racing that exists. If the "passenger" isn't on his toes and very good, the team is BLEEPED, no matter how good the rider (or "driver") might be.

John

Warehouseman for the local school district.

Am former Air Force pilot in KC-135, but now enjoy flying for fun. Am a 25-year man in Parts & Service Sales Marketing in heavy construction equipment industry (Cat, Komatsu, etc.) now unemployed, 54, and in need of a permanent job. Used to work for the Cat dealer in Whittier, CA too - nice area and neat people there.

Joe

Geez, what an incredible resume this bunch has! What would the world have been like if this group hadn't had toy airplanes to keep them sane and working? A different place methinks!

Me? High school and votech, 3 fast food jobs, 1 independent shop and 2 dealer jobs as auto mecha...uhh technician working on imported cars. Last 23 yrs. as service manager for the 2 local dealers that sold British cars. Austin, MG & Triumph before they went away; presently Jaguar and Land Rover. Many, many hours spent in the good 'ol days chasing Lucas (Why do Englishmen drink warm beer?) problems.

Started with a Scientific "Super Sabre" with an OK Cub .049B in 1958, been through the whole gamut up through 1/3 scale r/c, now all the way back to strictly scratch designed/built Cox powered r/c and u/c and loving every minute of it!

Reactivating Granulated Activated Carbon (water filtration, going some way to make sure what you pass is good enough for you to consume again..!what a pleasant thought..) enough said.

Good flying

Amazing bunch...read all 130 something posts with jaw agape. Steven, you wrote Tetris? COOL! Zilla, I need some VFDs. Bruce, I work at Delta too, should come up and fly with me sometime. Certainly no lack of help when I start hearing voices...

Here goes.

Worked for dad in boat marina (in NE!), pump gas, cashier, forklift, parts counter, fix boats.

Lots of HS jobs, fixed cars, TV/stereo repair/antenna installer, line cook, prep cook, calligraphy, photographer

US Naval Academy, 1988, graduated in the very top (ofthebottomtenpercent).

Ship driver, then aviation, flew S-3s, then A-4s. 11 years got out (recently reaffiliated with reserves, currently LCDR (also)).

Short hitch with American Eagle (saab 340), american airlines, but mostly Delta (4.5 years). I currently break B-737s, not on purpose though, promise.

Due to unstable nature of airline business (laid off for 6 months recently, assume it'll happen again), been cabinet making and remodeling. Been designing and building hair dressing stations a lot lately. Wierd world, huh? Also just got hired to fix a guys vintage GMC motorhome, since there's NO ONE in the area that knows a lick about them.

Like most here, I'll break something just to get a chance to fix it. Neat thread.

Tools

Hmmm, pressman in a printing shop, Navy electronics tech (submarines), 30 year retirement from IBM (as Mainframe computer tech, then instructor, finally information developer), Tech Writing consultant, retirement.

Freshman in high school BEN

I started modeling at about 10 years old.Some line control and plastics.Then moved on to R/C planes and cars in the teens.The motor bike bug hit hard and I started to race cross country ,Hare Scrambles and Ice race.I did this into my late twentys.During this time I became a licenced automotive Technician (mechanic).I actually started working for my Dad at a Ford dealership at the age of 11 cleaning the shop floor emptying garbage cans ect and helping the techs after school.After graduation it was of to college for the start of a appreticeship.In my 3rd year of training I started work in the performance industry.I worked in a performance shop in Kelowna B.C.We mostly worked on Drag boats and Drag cars.I did allot of engine builing and electrical work.I did take a brake for a year and decided to try somthing different.I got my class 1 licence and started trucking.I hauled b train loads of Lumber from a small town called Lillooet to the docks in Vancouver everyday through the Fraser Canyon. On the week ends I low bedded logging eqipment.One year was lots!I have been working for a Dodge dealer for many -many years now.I am still a Tech and specialize in body electrical and drivability problems on the new Dodge and Chryslers products.It is a good job with lots of training avaliable.
The model bug came back hard in my late twentys and I got back into R/C in a big way.The last 4 years have been my reintro to U/C, I am having a great time.I went to my first contest this year and gained allot of knowledge.(Thanks Bruce ,Chris ,Will ect).I look forward to meeting some of you in the coming years at the Western contests.I hope to in 2005 get to the Northwest Regionals.
I would like to Thank Ted,Howard,Brett,Doug,Leonard,Bill,Christ,Paul,Joe,ect ect for there info ,help,experience and products through SSW that they bring to help us in this great Hobby.Thanks Dennis

LAST EDITED ON Feb-14-04 AT 02:01 PM (CDT)
 
Well, I guess I qualify as a "Missile Scientist". I have been interested in airplanes of all kinds since I was a wee lad. Used to go to Bobe's Hobby Shop in Pensacola, Fla EVERY Saturday and stayed just about all day. My mother (a single mom) always said she knew where I was and what I was doing. Too bad we can't say that nearly as much nowdays.... Got started flying control line and got up to starting the Stunt Pattern and then laid it down when I went back to school. Picked C/L back up several years ago when Fred Carnes (did the series on I beamers a while back in FM) called up a bunch of us and said "Let's go fly C/L!" So I built a Ringmaster (Fox .35 of course!) and ended up with a garage full of stuff over the last few years.

On the job front, after a few false starts as an auto mechanic, retail sales at a hobby shop and Radio Shack, and a year or so as an equipment assembly electrician, I got a degree in Electrical Engineering at a little shy of 30. Did a few months as a CT scan and X-Ray repairman for GE Medical Systems but decided that 70 and 80 hour weeks were not for me (especially when some friends of mine were working for the USAF as engineers at Eglin AFB, and actually having a life!). Got a job at Eglin and have been there 20 years & worked on a number of missile systems including:
AIM-120 AMRAAM including the A, B and C models
AIM-9X Evolved Sidewinder
AGM-142 "Popeye" (carried on B-52s!)

Latest job for the past few years is Chief Engineer for the Miniature Air Launched Decoy, a 200 pound miniature jet aircraft. Neat job, but will be moving on soon to gather more "diversity" whatever that means. Nothing is as sure as change......

With all the travel I have to do, I have purchased an ARF Nobler and am on the list for a Brodak ARF Oriental. I am gradually learning the Pattern a few mistakes and broken planes at a time (thank goodness a Ukey is real tough!). I have no plans to ever compete (did enough of that in R/C Sailplanes for 15 years including competing at sevaral NATS), but I WILL complete the Pattern in a presentable fashion one of these days just to say I did.

Bunch of neat stories here and a very good thread. And thanks once again Leonard, for such a super forum to share ides and experiences. The SSW is the biggest reason I have been able to make the progress I have.

later!
Mel D>

Defense trial lawyer for past 8 years. Spent a decade as a journalist for the Tulsa World prior to that. I hope to someday own a small company making something tangible, rather than the use or argument and words.

12 years USMC, mos 1341,1349. After that 20 some years with a Caterpillar dealer helping people carve up the earth.
Shop Foreman and Quality Control with a side intrest in failure analysis (why things broke) have been the main focus the last few years.
Rob Johnson
Orange,CA.