First off I'd like to thank Don for his amazing words of praise about my Formula S parts. It's always nice to have supreme craftsmen like Don look positively on one's work.
Don, you asked me to relate other stories about Jim, and I'll try to do that as time goes by. For now, I thought you all might like to read the tribute that I spoke at Jim's memorial service. This is truly something that came from my heart and I'd like to share it with you all.
Here goes...
Jim Kostecky was not only a close friend to me, but he was also a man who in a large way influenced the path my life would take in both vocation and avocation.
Jim was a true renaissance man. Many of you here know full well of his exceptional talents as a teacher and artist. What you may not know is that Jim was also world renown and revered model airplane expert. This is the avenue through which I came to know him.
As a young man who was deeply interested in model airplane flying, the name Jim Kostecky was one I knew well. He was a highly respected designer of competition aerobatic models, and many of his designs appeared in the national modeling magazines.
I remember reading one of his articles in particular dozens of times over. His technical knowledge and astute observations on how to compete successfully were absolute gems of wisdom to me.
His articles were both instructional and entertaining because his natural gift for humor would show through his writing, making technical subjects fun to read about. Again, his gifts as a teacher were evident here.
I would like to read to you the opening and closing paragraphs of my favorite Jim Kostecky article. The subject matter of this article was a construction feature about a model with which Jim finished a close second place at the United States National Model Airplane competition in 1968. I think these words truly reveal the kind of human being Jim really was.
(excerpt from the Formula S article)
"I'd like to say that this design is the culmination of three years of intensive research by myself and four aerospace engineers at Cornell Aeronautical Laboratories. After extensive wind tunnel tests all of our theories have come to fruition in this the ultimate precision aerobatics design! Boy, would I like to say this! Fortunately my mother taught me never to lie..."
His self-deprecating humor made him seem warm, friendly and approachable. I had the chance to finally meet Jim at the Nationals in 1969.
Sometimes when you meet a celebrity in a particular field, that person tuns out to be significantly different than the one you had envisioned. And, in many cases you can come away disappointed that he or she did not live up to your expectations.
Jim was exactly the person that I had envisioned from reading his articles. He was friendly, enthusiastic, and instantly set me at ease by talking with me as simply one modeler to another. I instantly counted him among my most treasured friends.
And, I'm here today speaking to you about Jim because he has remained one of my closest friends through all the years since that day we met.
His advice, good council and ready ear through the years have helped me to be a better modeler and a better competitor. I know that I'm a better human being for having known him I will miss him dearly.
I'd like to close my comments by reading the last paragraph of that same Jim Kostecky article:
"There is much more to this event than whipping a plane together and flying it. The benefits far outweigh the liabilities when one evaluates the technical knowledge he has gained, the insights into his fellow human beings, the warm experiences shared with other modelers from all over the country, and the lessons of sportsmanship one derives in the end. This is what makes model aviation so valuable. It's not the hunk of metal and wood a young boy or a grown man can win by making a model perform but what he can learn from it to inspire him to greater accomplishments technically and to the better understanding of his fellow beings through competing and working with them."
Guys, this was one of the greatest honors of my life to have been able to speak to the very many who attended Jim's memorial service. Most of them were teachers who taught with Jim or artist's who collaborated with him. They really knew little about his involvement in the modeling world. I think they all came away with even more respect and admiration for this gifted and kind man... if that's possible.
Bob Hunt
Topic: JIM KOSTECKY-TODAY'S STUNT GRUNT (Read 4563 times)