MA Columnist Dave Robelen
(Added 4/19/07)

David Robelen, author of Model Aviation's "Micro-Flying" column passed away on Saturday, April 7, 2007.

Dave started his NASA career in October 1958 on the day NACA (National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics) ended and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) began.

He graduated from the NASA Apprentice school and served as a machinist and instrument maker in the organization that would become the Fabrication Division. He transferred from the Instrument Construction Section into the Operations Support Division in 1976 and worked in the Dynamics and Stability Branch at the 30- x 60-Foot Full-Scale Wind Tunnel where his knowledge and skills in model aviation were very important.

Dave received many Tech-Brief Awards and at least one patent on work he had done for NASA. He retired from NASA in March 1995 and he and his family moved to Farmville, Virginia, where they bought a small farm.

Dave was a longtime aeromodeler and has published many construction articles for national magazines. He authored a by-monthly column for Model Aviation and moderated an electronic bulletin board.

Dave had been the Chairman of the AMA Electric Contest Board since 2002. He was the first person to be admitted into the National Indoor Remote-Control Aircraft Council Hall of Fame and was one of the most respected indoor and micro RC modelers. He will be missed by his many friends and family.