Amateur UAV pioneer Maynard Hill passes away

Gary Mortimer passes on sad news:

The Washington Post reports the death of Maynard Hill an inspiration to so many in the sUAS world. Our condolences to his family

Maynard Hill, a designer of model airplanes who secured a spot in aviation history in 2003 when one of his creations flew 1,882 miles across the Atlantic Ocean on less than a gallon of fuel, died June 7 of prostate cancer at his home in Silver Spring. He was 85.

A balsa-and-glue virtuoso, Mr. Hill was a legend in the model-aircraft world even before his first-of-its-kind transatlantic feat. Beginning in the 1960s, he set a total of 25 world records for speed, duration and altitude, flying his radio-controlled aircraft as high as 26,990 feet, as long as 38 hours and as fast as 151 miles per hour.

Read the full article here

Comments

IKE June 11, 2011 at 8:36am

My condolences to his family and friends, his achievements were and are unbelievable. He leaves a great legacy.
Benjamin Trapnell June 11, 2011 at 8:33am

In many ways, the UAS community in general owes a great deal to this giant, and many others who pushed the boundaries of radio-controlled aeromodeling. I remember some of Maynard's experiments with electrostatic stabilization systems and his numerous altitude records set at a time when the rudimentary nature of proportional R/C promised a much greater capability of scientist and hobbyists alike. Comparing it to westward expansion and Manifest destiny, it was a wonderful era for our hobby. The road we find ourselves traveling today reeks of an onerous regulatory environment frosted by the excrement of a risk-averse society that is blind to the nature of, and very need for, discovery. Abraham Lincoln wrote, " If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." Though his words were directed at those who would risk the destruction of the Union, I can't help but feel they are indicative of such times as these. In a way, it is good that a true pioneer such as Maynard did not live to see the potential destruction of a part of his life he loved so much. To his family and friends, I offer my heartfelt condolences.
T3

Krzysztof Bosak June 10, 2011 at 4:39pm

That was a real pioneer flight across the Atlantic. RIP.
T3

William Premerlani June 10, 2011 at 6:35am

Maynard is often in my thoughts. He inspired me.

Maynard had a great sense of humor. He was fond of quoting what his wife said during their trip up to Nova Scotia for his launch of TAMs across the Atlantic. She said, "It seems like a far way to go to just throw six little airplanes into the ocean."
Ritchie June 10, 2011 at 3:38am

I read about his record and kept reading for about 2 hours with all of his little bits of extra information. Such knowledge, such enthusiasm, such a shame.

Hope we can push the boundaries like he did.