Staff Spotlight: The Hobby Pilot

Have you ever dreamed of taking flight? For the many who didn’t go to pilot school, that’s where hobby planes come in. Meet Adam, Digital Marketing Manager at BHFCU.

 

Growing up on Mighty Mouse and Superman, Adam has wanted to fly something for as long as he can remember. He started small with paper airplanes, working his way through rubber band-powered planes and up to hand-powered spinning helicopters (which remain a staple in his household). Then, one day at Who’s Hobby House, a remote-controlled helicopter changed it all.

 

“In my backyard, I learned that taking off is easy because it’s optional. But, landing, that’s more difficult because you don’t have a choice after you’ve taken flight,” Adam recalled. “I destroyed many sets of rotor blades on that old helicopter and only had it flying a handful of times, but once I had a taste of flight, there was no turning back.”

 

At the School of Mines, Adam joined a heavy-lifting team. While it didn’t require any hours at the gym, it included many nights and weekends spent in the CAMP lab. Their task, to build a plane that could take off from a short runway while carrying a large payload of lead weights. This project further fueled his need to become the pilot he’d dreamt of being since childhood.

 

 

 

 

 

“Many years later at a flying field, I met a guy with a training system who let me fly his plane,” shared Adam. “I never lost control that day, and with his encouragement, I bought my first plane and have been adding to my collection ever since.”

Over the years, Adam’s collection has grown. While not all are sky worthy anymore, he’s amassed over a dozen planes and a handful of helicopters. (Unless his wife’s reading this. Then it’s WAY less.) For the days he wants something exciting, there’s aerobatics, and when he just wants an easy flight, he’s got his trusty, durable planes that can handle whatever the day brings. He’s still got his eye on a couple of new ones. If you see a UMX Draco or Lazy Bee flying through the skies near Rapid City, you’ll know Adam is a happy camper.

 

Adam enjoys the solitude flying alone brings, knowing there’s no pressure. But on occasion, he likes to pass along the itch to fly with the next generation, taking out his old, reliable planes with his daughter. The plan worked. She recently got her first plane! 

 

“Flying with her takes me right back to that excited kid in the hobby shop ready to spend his hard-earned money,” Adam shared with a smile.