Since I live just a few minutes away from our Bayview Air Park, I drop by often during the day. One afternoon last month, I saw an older gentleman sitting on a type of wheeled walker with Eric Klepsch standing beside him holding a transmitter. I asked Eric’s dad, Chris, what’s happening?
Well, the gentleman’s man is John Amos and at 82 years of age, he wanted to learn to fly radio control models before he got too old!
Apparently, John does not drive anymore, lives in an apartment; so Eric picks him up with his Apprentice Trainer, then drives him to our field. A commitment well beyond most of our instructors expectations.
Eric has dedicated an enormous amount of time helping, training, and test flying a lot of our models. In fact, he rarely has time to fly his own models because of his willingness to help others. Chris said they have three models to test fly, but Eric becomes too busy helping other members. Eric said with the help of Chris and son Hugo, he has trained close to twenty members in our club. He currently has two students. Eric is no stranger to instructing. He has been an instructor in several clubs from Vancouver’s big RCFCBC Club to clubs in Brampton, Campbellville and Oakville.
In Eric’s words——-“it’s always very satisfying to help others experience the joy of R/C modelling. I’m giving back as aviation began for me with models, leading all the way to a top Captain with Air Canada. Models teach aerodynamics better than books. I can’t say which type of flying I enjoy better.”
So I thank Eric and Chris for the help they have given me and other club members.
Cheers, Ted Pritlove