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 one time 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 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 Manger 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 1995, 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.
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’
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
