It is with deep sorrow that I have to inform everyone of Eric’s passing. Eric as many of you may have known suffered from Crohns disease since a teenager. Eric was not feeling well over the weekend and was seen by his Dr on Monday who informed him that he had pneumonia and needed to be hospitalized. Eric hated hospitals since he spent most of his teenage years in them and had to endure multiple surgeries over the years since. He refused to go and was found unconscious and unresponsive by his wife last evening. Eric succumbed to many health issues he was battling at the end of his life; he just found out he had another major illness and we were getting together one day soon so he could tell me what was going on.; as he didn’t want to bring everyone down at Liberty Bell.
Eric was a master modeler and expert flyer, and an example of his last plane his Ultra Bandit “Rivets” is on BV’s website. Eric and I just spent the 4 days of the Liberty Bell Jet Rally together and unfortunately did not get more than one flight on his UB do to engine issues we could not solve at the rally.
Eric was my friend of over 25 years, my boss at GPA for16 years, one of my groomsman and the owner of GPA Hobbies for over 20 years. He is survived by his wife Susan, daughter Elizabeth and hundreds of friends from the hobby.
I will post funeral info and family contact info ASAP

my thoughts and condolences are with his family.

I never met Eric, but I remember pictures from what seems like forever ago with him and his Viper painted in white with the faded stripes and letters in blue yellow and red. I always thought that was one of the best schemes ever on the Viper.
I'm sorry to hear of his passing, my thoughts go out to his family.

Sorry for your loss Ron, my condolence to his family. Joe C!!!

very sad news i remember eric from the early days of ducted fans
my thoughts and condolences are with his family
vinny

Ron, This is uncomprehandable I can't believed this is hapenning. I know Eric for 25 years and he admired me of his work. I found out the bad news thru facebook Ron.
And still can't belivedit. I know he wasn't in a good health for a long time but this is too much. Let us know the arrangement and stuff.


Eddie Lozano

We'll missed you Eric

Yet another HUGE loss for the community [sm=cry_smile.gif].... Our prayers are with the family. God Speed Eric!

After spending a lot of time with Eric at LBJR, I can't believe this news. Cindy and I offer our sympathy to Susan, Elizabeth, and all of Eric's family and friends.

My condolences go out to his family and friends.

Man sorry to here that ,Eric was afriend of mine for over 25 years... Ron you and the gang need anyhelp with anythinglet me no thanks Bob Drury .410-320-5151

Ron, I am deeply sorry to hear of Eric's passing. I met Eric at Jets over Kentucky two years ago and we spent hours talking about the hobby and mutual friends.
He had planned to attend again this year but I knew his health would be the controlling factor. Eric loved Phantoms and I remember seeing his Sundowner color scheme at Toledo years ago. We talked about his Performance Phantom that he had published in Flying Models years ago. His precision flying style was a pleasure to watch.

My thoughts go out to his wife, daughter and family.

Ron, I just received a call and was told the sad news. As you know I spent alot of time with Eric on Friday at JBJR and took quite a bit of video with his Ultra Bandit and the maiden of it. Eric taught me alot about RC aircraft building over the last 30 years. He will be greatly missed. Please give my condolences to his family. - Bill

Ron:

The loss of Eric is truly a sad day for those who knew him and those who will never get the chance to know him.
Liberty Bell was sort of a reunion for Eric and I as we journeyed through the past remembering my days with Doug's Hobbies and he as the most friendly competitor you could ask for. Always the businessman, he focused on other areas to venture into so he could keep his love of the hobby and his hobby business alive and well.

My prayers for Susan, Elizabeth and all who knew him or were touched by his presence. He has "Gone West" with a smile . . . .I will treasure our Liberty Bell conversations forever.

With Sympathy,
Eric Clapp

I did not know Eric well, but he was obviously a great builder and flyer and clearly had many friends in the hobby. My condolences to his family and friends as well.

Wow, my prayers go out to Eric &amp; his family. I was supposed to get together with him just last week in Baltimore to eat crabs and return one of his old school Vipers that I bought from him back in the early 90's. He wanted it to do a photo shoot with his current jets. I wish I could have made the trip. What a great guy. He will be missed.<div>
</div><div>Reg</div>

A very big loss for everyone! Eric and I became friends back in the day when we both flew F3A Pattern. We became friends at the F3A Team Selection Championship one year that was held in Washingston State. A great guy and very good friend. We will all miss him! My thoughts and prayers are for his family.

Lewis Patton

WOW, sad news indeed!!

Thoughts & prayers go out to his family.

My wife and I spent the morning with Eric's wife Susan. Susan is of course overwhelmed with the loss of her husband but is taking solice in the fact he is no longer suffering any pain and is at peace. His daughter Elizibeth is flying home tomorrow from Texas. The funeral will be more than likely on Monday with a viewing Sunday evening since they have also to wait for the medical examiners report for a cause of death since Eric died at the hospital ER less than 24 hours of getting there for treatment. I will post the details ASAP. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers for his family.

My Condolences go out to his family and friends. I did not know him all that well but he always was a very pleasant person to talk to. The percision flights of his Bandit at Deck a few years back will always be etched in my mind. His new Ultra was simply stunning. I am very saddened by this news.

Chris

Dear friends:

I´m sorry too. My condolences to the family.

Regards for ever, like this picture.


_______________________________
Carlos Márquez, from Spain.

My condolences to the family.......

I was fortunate to meet him and spend some time with a few weeks ago at Liberty Bell Jet Rally.. He was very passionate about the hobby and will be missed.

A very big loss.....



Mark

Thank you Chris for the nice words. Eric was always worried about well he flew in front of people. He was beating himself up pretty bad for the off field landing at LBJR just 2 weeks ago with the UB. It would have meant a lot to him that you rememberd his flights at Deck. All I remember is me telling him watch the fuel as we only have eight mintues at WOT. He never paid attention to me about fuel as his spotter all those years, we landed dead stick many times as he was just having way too much fun flying to worry about fuel. I spent Friday night at LBJR with him getting him setup in the hotel so he could fix it and we just couldn't get the engine to run on Sunday even with a lot of help from BV's staff. He and I had dinner on the way home with Harold that evening and were making plans for how I could escape from my nurse ( my wife) and get to Hamburg for the rally in Oct. He was helping me deal with my own fears regading my upcoming surgery over dinner as no surgery is foolproof. Eric set a very high bar for himself as a modeler and flyer. I'm glad he came and spent the 4 days with us as we never got enough time to go flying together lately. We are planning to donate his BVM F-4 to the Naval Accademy which is just as magnificant as his UB "Rivits". He never got to fly it as he was building a second one to go and practice on. Thanks again for the nice words

Please except our condolences. Like Mark said, he was a Master modler and a very nice guy.....

Larry

Eric's Performance Phantom in Flying Models was my 1st jet. Loved that airplane. Never met the guy but read about him in magazines and such. RIP Eric.

This is truly sad news. My condolences go out to Eric's family and close friends.
I met Eric in 1984 when I was learning how to fly at DCRC and PGRC. Eric was always helpful, and his excellent modeling skills were inspiring.
The first ducted fan that I saw flying was Eric's Viper. I was hooked on jets ever since.
An article about modeling appeared in Time Magazine in September of 1988. Eric was one of the featured subjects, and there was a picture of Eric holding his Viper (this was the one painted in red, white, and blue like his more recent composite Bandit).

Here is the link to the article

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...8459-1,00.html

He will be missed by all.


Mike Danchak