Written by EH (2013); Reformatted by JS (09/2013)
Eric Henderson
Eric began RC flying 40 years ago. It was “learned-and-earned” Soaring off the rolling slopes and white cliffs of England just as proportional radios became both practical and affordable. Eric came to America in 1982 and achieved citizenship in1986; he has lived in Boston, Massachusetts; Moorestown, New Jersey; the Washington D.C. Metro area; and now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada—where there are more flying days per year.
He joined the AMA in 1983, and is currently a contest director/AMA Leader. He has been a District II AMA associate vice president, the president of 13 model clubs, treasurer, secretary, and newsletter-editor of many others. He flew in aerobatic contests for 25 years, including 15 Nationals. He was the NSRCA (National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics) Precision Aerobatics AMA SIG District I vice president for two years, before being elected as the NSRCA president for four years.
Eric began writing for model magazines in 1975 and has had several glider and power airplane plans published, along with a large number of product reviews including, radios, engines, gliders, and trainer/sport/aerobatic airplanes. He has written columns and reviews for Model Aviation (the “Precision Aerobatics” column and currently “The Engine Shop” column), and Park Pilot (the “Indoor Flying” column and currently the “Electric
Eric’s “The Engine Shop” column appears bi-monthly in the
February, April, June, August, October, and December issues of Model Aviation. His email address is ehengineman@gmail.com.
Ducted Fan” column). He was also an active contributor to AMA’s free online magazine for beginners, Sport Aviator.
Eric describes himself as an RC fanatic who loves to fly. This is best illustrated by his flying at least once a month consecutively for 25 years through December 2010! His second passion is helping others to enjoy this hobby, both at the field and through his writing.
Eric Henderson 1948-2016
Eric Henderson, a 33-year AMA member who wrote for Model Aviation and Park Pilot magazines, passed away July 16, 2016.
Eric was an AMA Leader Member and contest director (CD) who began writing for various publications in 1977. He wrote the "Precision Aerobatics" and "The Engine Shop" columns in Model Aviation, and for Park Pilot he authored the "Jets" column.
Eric wrote several feature articles for both magazines, and had many product reviews published in Radio Control Model Engineering, Radio Modeler, Radio Control Modeler, Flying Models, and online publications and forums such as AMA’s Sport Aviator and RCUniverse. At one time, Eric owned Moorestown Radio Control Hobbies in New Jersey, and recently was a consultant to the robotics program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His aeromodeling skills and knowledge led him to be a lead animatronics designer, builder, and operator for Mantel Studios in the production of the 2011 film, Mr. Popper’s Penguins.
Eric was born December 16, 1948, in Lynemouth, England, to Arthur and Florence Henderson and had an older sister, Margaret. He earned his nickname, "Evil,” from his rugby days - playing 20 years on school teams and semiprofessionally for the Stevenage Rugby Club. Eric coached youth soccer for 14 years (coaching each of his kids at least once), and coached an over-30 women's team for two years.
His aeromodeling experience began with flying Control Line as a child. He also enjoyed RC cars and boats. In addition to being a CD, Eric served as an instructor pilot, AMA District II associate vice president (AVP), and AMA District X AVP. For National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics, he was the District I vice president in 1997 and 1998, president from 1999 to 2002, and vice president again in 2005. Eric was also an active advocate for fair drone regulations. Eric enjoyed participating in fun-flys, RC Aerobatics contests, national and international Slope Soaring contests, the AMA Nats, F3F competition, Slope Speed Racing, and International Miniature Aerobatic Club contests. He also served as president of 22 and treasurer of six aeromodeling clubs including the Lazy Loopers Flying Club, Central Massachusetts Radio Control Modelers, New Jersey Pine Barons, Crosswinds RC Club, Las Vegas Radio Control Club, and Vegas Aces. He founded the Alton Model Flying Club in England.
Eric passed away in Henderson, Nevada, following a long battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He is survived by his wife, Mary Anne; children, Phillip Robert, Charlotte Byrnes, Victoria Sanders, and Katherine Ware; stepson, Aaron Haynes; 10 grandchildren; a niece, Pauline Lutman; and countless friends.
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