Bob Moore

When did you first become interested in Radio Control?

Bob – I witnessed my first flight of radio control aircraft during WWII along the Galveston Seawall. I lived less than 2 miles from the seawall and had ridden my bicycle down to the beach. The army was flying RC drones and shooting at them with machine guns. The drones were launched by catapult and when hit the engine would quit and a parachute would be deployed.

   Well when they shut down the base, the army was going to dump the drones into the Gulf of Mexico. My uncle happened to work at the base and managed to bring one of those drones home. I still have a prop that came off one of those drones.

When did you first fly RC?

Bob – In 1960 I purchased a kraft transmitter kit for $19.95, and a single channel transistor receiver, a Bonner S/N escapement. My first RC plane was a sterling Minnie Mambo costing $3.95. The engine was a cox .049 costing $3.95. The escapement was driven by rubber using a winderto get power from the rubber to work this unit. The transmitter had one button on it to send out a signal. One push of the button would give you right and the next push would give you left. The transmitter took two 67.5 volt dry cell batteries and one 37.5 volt battery.

    In 1962 I obtained a used 10 channel kraft transmitter and receiver. Top of the line at that time.

How about the early days of the club, were you involved with our club in the beginning?

Bob – The Port Arthur Radio Club was formed in May of 1962 with Buddy Tomlinson as president. I served as president the following year.

Did you ever compete?

Bob – In the mid 60’s I began to attempt some pattern flying. In 1965 Buddy Brammer and I were flying class 1 in contests. Class 1 planes had only rudder and motor control. They did not have steerable nose wheel or tail wheel steering. I designed a class 1 model and with Buddy and Add Evans’ help we made this plane into a great competition model. Buddy won many contests with that model. In april 1967 the model was featured in model airplane news. Buddy drew the final plans.

Have you been at it ever since?

Bob –   No, in 1967 I quit flying models for a while and didn’t start back until 1974. Even then I only flew part-time until 1980. I guess most of my enjoyment comes from building. My first love is scale models, but if the truth be known I like anything that flys!