I would like to nominate Max
Blose to the Academy of Model Aeronautics Hall of Fame. I
believe he has shown his passion for the hobby through his
lifelong desire and work to not only fly R/C but to help as
many people along the way that he could. Through the support
and help he has given to the many clubs in the Central Texas
area I don’t think you can find a better candidate. I also
know that I would not have turned out to be the person I am
without my Dad and the lessons that were taught at young age
and the support he gave me when I started flying R/C planes
at the age of 12.
Sincerely
Todd A. Blose AMA 5405
Max Alan Blose AMA 114
Max Blose started building and flying small stick planes in
1945 at the age of 10. He started a small club of 6 members
in the basement of his parent’s home in Richmond Indiana,
for the fellowship of building and flying planes.
In 1948, he became interested in
flying control line models; both stunt and speed, and
competed most in u-control stunt.
In 1954, Max joined the U.S. Army;
assigned to the 495th Missile Battery, stationed at Fort
Bliss, TX. For 2 years, while at Fort Bliss he developed and
tested the ‘Nikie Ajax’ Guided missiles.
After the Army, he married and
moved to Dublin TX. where he was a Field engineer on German
Klischograph and Hell Scanners for graphic arts, greeting
cards, newspapers, (R/C Modeler) etc.
In 1959, Max started flying R/C
aircraft with single channel escapement. He built his first
2 radios, a 400 cycle tone on 6 meters, then later an analog
proportional radio. During this time he also flew
competition in pattern A, B, etc.
In 1961, Max and his Family moved
to Hamilton TX., he continued to fly and promote r/c flying
at the local airport. Max has an extensive background in
electronics, so he was always looking for things to design
and build other than airplanes. He would come up with things
like field strength meters, wind meters and even air
compressor's.
Magazine articles authored by Max
Blose include;
-
R/C Modeler Annual, 1966: A
onetime issue from RCM. The article was, “Transistor
Field Strength Meter for Radio control".
-
R/C Modeler, 1969: Pattern
Airplane “Tarman”, with full-page color picture of his
wife Sally and plans were available from RCM.
-
R/C Modeler, 1972: How to make
an Air compressor from available parts.
In 1970, Max became a Contest
Director and joined a small club in Waco and drove the 130
mile round trip once a month for the club meetings. He would
make the trip whenever they held an event and most of the
time would CD the contests.
In 1973, Max founded ‘MALCO’ with Leon York and produced r/c
kits called Der-Flug a 40 size trainer, A-Tak that was a .40
size pattern type plane and the “Malco Eagle” 115/132 inch
sailplane.
In 1974, Max realized that it would be hard to make a living
in kit manufacturing; He went to work as a Product Manager
for ‘Marathon Battery Company’ in charge of nickel-cadmium
sealed cells and batteries, gaining even further experience
that would help in Model Aeronautics.
Max and his family moved to Waco in 1975, to be closer to
work and the club he had been involved with, for the past 5
years. After moving to Waco he took on the job of the Club’s
Newsletter Editor/Publisher and held this post for the next
27 years, not missing even a single month of publication.
In 1985, Max started ‘B&P Associates’ for the service,
repair, and building of Nickel Cadmium battery packs for
Radio Controlled Model Planes, X-Ray, Standby Batteries, and
Full Scale Aircraft Batteries. At his leadership, B&P
manufactured model kits such as “Perfection”, “Associate”,
and "Association".
In 1987, Max developed a self-contained starter with an
attached battery. This Starter Model immediately became
popular with a great demand for its production. It remains
popular amongst Modelers and is widely used in the Pattern
community.
In 1991, He was appointed AMA District VIII Associate Vice
President, following in the footsteps of Max's good friend
Gil Horstman, who had transferred to Washington state. He
faithfully held this position for 18 tireless years, serving
the Central Texas Area, District VIII of the AMA; until
stepping down in 2007. During his tenure as AVP for District
VIII, he served under the leadership of no less than four
District VIII Vice Presidents.
In 1993, he bought the ‘Waco Hobby Stop’, with the vision to
try and revitalize it, for the benefit of the club in this
area. Traditionally, hobby shops could not stay in business.
However, with revenue from ‘B&P Associates’ would keep the
‘Waco Hobby Stop’ viable. The Waco Hobby Stop remains open
and under the leadership of Max to this day and is
patronized by Modelers from several Central Texas Cities,
Towns and Clubs.
After Max had his hobby shop doing well, he would close the
shop on Wednesday's, in order for him to hold ‘training
days’ at the flying field. Always wanting to help new
pilots, he spent hours helping new people get into the hobby
and learn to fly. For a total of 18 years over the span of
many, Max held the position of President of ‘Heart of Texas
Miniature Aircraft Club’ (HOTMAC). During this tenure, he
was continuously active in the building of a majority of the
HOTMAC flying field that is present today in Waco.
Max was Contest Director at all pattern events held in Waco
until 1989, when his son Todd took over. Max continued being
the CD on several other events over the years at the Heart
of Texas Miniature Aircraft Club. He was instrumental in
securing the ‘Greater Southwest Jet Rally’ to be hosted
annually by his club, the HOTMAC of Waco. This Jet Rally has
grown to become one of the premier events of the Jet
Community.
In 1995, the club field lease was in jeopardy; Max was
instrumental, in having the lease transferred to the city of
Waco. In doing so, it allowed the Club (HOTMAC) to retain
the flying field and pay less for the yearly lease.
In 2005, Max, with a small group of former HOTMAC members,
started a new R/C Club, the ‘Texas Model Aeronautics
Foundation (TMAF)’. The TMAF was started to ensure that
anyone could learn to fly. Max also wanted to make sure that
the Foundation would be involved with area schools, because
he always believes that the kids will keep the hobby going
and anyone that wanted to learn, should be given the
opportunity to learn! Under the leadership of Max and this
small group, they were able to locate their club to an area
that once served as an Army Airfield that was graciously
leased to them by the City of Valley Mills, Texas. Max has
envisioned the TMAF to be a premier Model Aeronautical
facility.
In 2016 Max decided to retire and finally close down the
Waco Hobby stop. This was a tuff decision since he supplied
planes, cars and parts to not just the town of Waco but also
surrounding towns and cities that did not have a hobby shop.
He now is spending even more time flying and helping
maintain the flying filed and finally taking vacations with
his Wife of 59 years Sally Blose.
Max over the years has received many awards for his
contribution to the AMA and Model Aeronautics.
- 1978 AMA ‘Superior Service
Award’
- 1986 Dedication Award from HOTMAC for years served as
President
- 1988 Appreciation Award from HOTMAC for years of service as
Newsletter editor.
- 1988 through 1991 ‘Generous Support’ award from R/C report
- 1991 AMA ‘Superior Service Award’
- 1994 AMA ‘Aero Honor Society Newsletter Award’
- 1996 AMA ‘Celebration of Eagles’
- 1998 AMA ‘Superior Service Award’
- 2005 AMA ‘Grand Event Award Make and Take’
- 2007 AMA ‘Distinguished Service Award’
- In 2017 Texas Model Aeronautics Foundation Club members
named the TMAF Flying Field after Max as a show of
appreciation for his lifelong efforts to the R/C hobby and
the AMA.
The bottom line is that Max Blose has spent the majority of
his life instructing, building, exchanging ideas, and above
all the promoting of Model Aviation and every aspect of it.
I couldn’t imagine Model Aeronautics without the great
influence and experience that Max has imparted on all of us
and this great hobby of Model Aeronautics.
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