I AM THE AMA
Jack Sheeks Longtime CL modeler and prolific designer
by Jay Smith
Jay Smith: How did you get involved with model aviation?
Jack Sheeks: Believe it or not, the neighborhood bully got me started. When I was about 10 years old, after many altercations, I finally won one. After that, he took me into his home and showed me his yellow airplane. I said I would love to have it.
He would not sell or give it to me, but he would teach me how to build one. Thanks to Vern Schoolcraft, I have been building model airplanes for more than 70 years.
Jay: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career?
Jack: Modeling has been a part of nearly my whole life. When I was young, my first workbench was [at] my mother’s sewing machine. That got me into more than a little trouble. While in the Navy during the Korean War, I built models on the ship in the battery locker.
After an honorable discharge from the Navy, I married, started a family, and became an Indianapolis policeman. While I was a motorcycle policeman, one morning on the way to work, I saw a model airplane contest in progress. When I got to work, I talked my sergeant into assigning me to that area as traffic control.
I met Bill Malloy, another policeman who owned a hobby shop and had club meetings in his garage. I attended, liked it, and joined. At one of the contests, Charlie Lickliter brought a Stuka Stunter. I criticized his straight wing and he said that a bent wing would not fly correctly. I said it would and he said, “Prove it.” That led to my designing,
Jay: What disciplines of modeling do you currently participate in?
Jack: I compete in Control Line (CL) Scale because I am too old to fly Stunt [CL Precision Aerobatics]. My club has a chair that I sit on while my airplane pulls me around the circle and together my chair and I can still do pretty well. I still enjoy building all kinds of models from small rubber band ones to good-size scale aircraft.
Jay: What are your other hobbies?
Jack: I enjoy playing golf, but I no longer play as well as I used to. My wife and I love football and spend hours watching games. We watch whoever is playing, but of course, our favorite team is the Indianapolis Colts. I try to attend at least one game every year.
Jay: Who (or what) has influenced you most?
Jack: The modelers in the first club I joined were the most influential. They were Bernie Ash, Charlie Lickliter, Charlie Mackey, Bob Randall, and a little later, Jimmy Vornholt.
They were all excellent builders and fliers and they made competitions really stiff, but they were also willing to share their knowledge and were great instructors. I learned to fly the Old-Time Stunt pattern and they taught me the new pattern.
Jay: What advice would you give someone looking to design a CL model?
Jack: First of all, watch closely the top 10 or so CL competitors. When you get a chance, measure the moment arms on their airplanes. Use those moment arms and draw your own design around them.
Also, talk to modelers with good planes. Pick their brains. Modelers love to help other modelers.
