http://www.modelaviation.com/node/829#sthash.cuKdJZS7.ozaKrRyY.gbplI read this with tears in my eyes. The first time I met Mike Olson was about 1963, we rode our bikes to the FM Skylarks contest. I climbed a tree at the Fargo field, Mike saw me up there and said, "kid get get out of that tree, you'll fall on my airplanes". The planes that I was over, were his matched set of Chipmunks, with the Troll pilots.
Our family vacation of 1966 we went from Fargo to California, dad's budget for a three week vacation was $800. On this trip we went to Knots Berry Farm. There my Dad bought me a felt "hillbilly hat". I would wear this hat when dropping in on the model field. Wearing the hat, on my Schwinn, leaning against a tree, (probably the same one I climbed a few yew years previously). Seymore Olson called me, and asked "what's your name?", "Greg McCoy". With the name "McCoy"and wearing that hat, I was tagged with "Zeke McCoy"
As the article says, Mike taught a summer school class for model planes, I was in that class. My first plane was a Baby Flightstreak. The first week of class was building, and the second week was flying. He taught us how to build, and to cover. The Flightstreak was painted clear dope with powdered pigment, that Mike said we could get at a paint store. As a kid asking for paint tint, it was a free sample, Mike knew what he was doing.
After getting established in modeling and attending the summer school class for a few years I was able to assist with the younger kids.
Mike sacrificed a few model and engines to teach that class. A kid planted a Johnson .35 into the asphalt, Mike handled it with grace.
A word of advice he told us, "never trust anyone else to hook up your lines".
I lived about a mile from the Skylarks field. On summer nights I would hear the Dynajets. I would tell Mom, "I'm going flying". So I would tuck the Ringmaster under my arm, the Sig pit-box on the handlebars of my Schwinn, ride to the field for a great summer night.
I remember Mike as being systematic, after all he was a science teacher. The first time I saw a barometer was in his field kit. He kept notes. Some fuels he needed to keep on ice.
His girls, they had a handle in their hand before they could walk.