Written by KDH (11/2019), transcribed and reformatted by JS (03/2020)
http://www.RC-Television.org
YouTube Channel •
http://www.Youtube.com/NightFlyyer
Former USMC Positions IMADET Liaison/Sgt/Major
- Avionics, RF4B Jets, and CH-53 helicopters
- El Toro, California
- Retired after 33 years of service
Civilian Positions Sales and Manufacturing Manager
- Global Chemical Corp.
- California
- Retired
R & D Engineer
- Kyosho Corporation
- Helicopter Division, Japan, and Hobbico, USA
R/C Flight Instructor
- Helicopters, gliders and fixed wings
Test Pilot/Trouble Shooter
- Hobby Central Inc. (hobby shop)
- Lake Forest, California
R/C Experience •
Academy of Model Aeronautics Leader Member and Contest Director, AMA #L-8221
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65 years of flying experience, flying RC Planes, Helicopters, and drones.
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Placed in the top four at the National Multiwing Championships (4 years in a row) in Omaha, Nebraska in the 1970s.
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Flying Astron X wings and Aeromasters in Precision Pattern.
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I started the first AMA-recognized Toys For Tots model RC airshow at MCAS Tustin, California for charity. Awarded the Outstanding Service Award by the AMA for this event.
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Was instrumental in development of the Pointer R/C “Bomb Sniffing” Glider for USMC military use.
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Instrumental in perfecting video-controlled R/C flying (now called FPV).
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Invented the first 2-channel electric tail rotorless helicopter for Kyosho Corporation in Japan.
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The Hyperfly model is on display at the San Diego Aerospace Museum in the History of Model Aviation display and the National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, Indiana.
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Worked at Kraft Radio Control Systems until they closed, as a technician/engineer on the Signature Series line.
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Ran my own Radio Control radio repair business for 5 years (International Radio Control Service Center), plus serviced Joe Bridi’s Pro Line radio products branch.
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I was Avionics Chief for the RF4B Phantom jets while in the USMC in Squadrons VMCJ-3, VMCJ-1 (in Vietnam), and VMFP-3 at El Toro, California.
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I also was aboard the USS Midway aircraft carrier with RF4B photo-recon Phantoms in 1976.
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I started with U-Control models.
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I won my first Pattern trophy flying a Veco Thunderbird in 1962.
Founder of these California R/C Clubs •
The Skynauts of Saddleback Valley •
The Capistrano Aero Dumpmasters
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The Phantoms R/C Special Effects Team
(I am a life member of all of them, although now dissolved due to loss of flying sites and now retired out of state.)
Some of my published articles •
“How to Add Transmitter Half Rates Yourself,” Model Aviation, December 1979
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“Hyperfly Tail Rotorless Helicopter Beginnings,” R/C Rotory Modeler, October 1985
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“Tried Tape for Skinning?,” Model Aviation, May 1980
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“Product Test Report on the Kavan Shark Helicopter,” Radio Helicopter, Issue 12, 1989, England
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“Kavan Shark 40 Product Review,” Model Airplane News, July 1989
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“Heli Flight Orientation,” Model Airplane News, February 1990
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“Add Boost to Electric Helis with Landing Battery,” Radio Helicopter, Issue 20, February 1990, England
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“Night R/C Flying,” Model Airplane News, February 1991
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“Radio Control Night Flying, Believe it or not,” Radio Control Modeler, October 1982
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“Night Flying Helicopters,” Radio Helicopter, Issue 19, England
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“Multiwing Championships, Omaha Nebraska,” Model Airplane News, October 1973
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“The 12 Volt Portable Charging Rack,” Model Aviation, May 2012
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“The First Successful R/C Counter Rotating Flying Machine Invented by Dave Herbert,” Model Airplane News, April 1991
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“Kyosho Concept 30 SX Aerobatic Helicopter Review,” Model Airplane News, August 1991
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“Hooked on Towing Gliders with Power Planes,” Model Airplane News, August 1991
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“Concept SX Helicopter Product Review,” R/C Rotory Modeler, 1991
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“Night Flying Primer,” Model Builder, November 1992 •
“Forward-Swept Wing Inversion 40 Test Review,” R/C Report, March 1993
Accomplishments •
Received the Outstanding Service Award from the AMA in 1981.
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Was senior F-16 advisor and pilot of the F-16 RC models in the movie Blue Thunder.
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Was a beta tester of flight characteristics of the concept .30 in the original Real Flight computer simulator for Knife Edge Software and Great Planes. (See the credits on their very first disc.)
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Taught hundreds of people to successfully fly helicopters and planes in the last 50 years, my passion.
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Credited with developing the first ETRM (Electric Tail Rotor Motors as I first coined the initialism) helicopter, proving it could work for Kyosho Corporation in Japan. This is the link to the original video that shows it flying on the first ETRM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV6puxORzmw. Now ETRM helis are now everywhere, starting with the Piccolo, Heli.
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Articles were published and video tapes were sent to Ishimasha Ltd., and Radio Helicopter magazine in England. (Ishimasa manufactured the first production electric heli, called the Skylark EH-1) See my YouTube video on it. They are now part of the Kyosho Corporation.
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I am known as the “father of RC night flying.” I flew the first helicopter night flights using an American RC Mantis, and was filmed by the producer of Sun Television. You can see it fly in my Video Gas Night flying helicopters. This is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEdOlCevVHg.
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7 years later, after flying all kinds of airplanes in total darkness, I wrote the first ever night flying articles, spurring many people to begin night flying, which was totally unheard of then. Now it’s very common.
Reflection
My first live night demonstration was at the Multiwing Nationals in Omaha, Nebraska. All the top fliers were there. I had flown in from California. I called a few days early and asked if I could do some night flying the night before the contest.
I was working at Kraft at the time.
No one ever heard of such a silly idea, but they said yes. When I flew in that night, the local TV news station was there, as well as all the top Pattern fliers. I knew I had to pull it off. Everyone was skeptical.
Well, after my first flight, everybody - including Dean Copeland from Byron Industries - was lined up wanting to try it.
It was one of the coolest nights of flying I ever had and was even on the news at 11. Now the rest is history.
All supporting videos, including the Night Flying videos are on YouTube. Here is just one, The History of Night Flying, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc6zCz8XZh4. My mission today is to produce product reviews, RC history, and general entertainment videos on my YouTube channel for all to enjoy and get involved in the hobby.
As of today, November 12, 2019, my videos have been viewed over 68 million times. I have over 56,000 subscribers and have produced over 1,118 videos.
I have had people make very touching comments under my videos that keep me going, especially after the fire destroyed all my models and home.
For example, “I was in a dark place with drugs, till I found your channel, and became inspired to get into RC and I got Clean. Thank you Dave, you saved my life!”
Another wrote: “When my Brother died, I was depressed until I found your channel. He liked RC and I was more of a sportsman, but after watching your videos, I have accepted his passing and fly for him. I hope you continue to make videos and inspire people like me. Thank you nightflyyer.”
I want people to succeed when learning to fly all models so always give them all of my tips. K. David Herbert AMA L8221- LM/CD Leader Member, Scientific Div.
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