I AM THE AMA
Andrew Griffith Model Aviation contributor
by Jay Smith
Jay Smith: How did you get involved with model aviation?
Andrew Griffith: I couldn’t get enough of airplanes when I was a kid. Black Sheep Squadron was my favorite show (I can still binge watch it!). I grew up near the Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Pennsylvania and went to every air show and open house. I would have my parents take me to sit by the fence at the end of the runway to watch flight operations on weekends.
I met the guys from the local RC club at one of the air shows and that got me interested in modeling. I built my first model, an RC glider, in eighth grade, and one of my parents would take me to the club field on weekends. I built rockets as well, but there was an unfortunate incident with my neighbor’s garden …
JS: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career?
AG: It was central to my career choice. I knew I wanted to work in aviation and ended up serving in the Navy, working with a number of aircraft, but most of my time was devoted to flying on a P-3 Orion [surveillance aircraft].
I was far ahead of anyone in my electronics classes because I understood how radio and other electronics systems worked—a direct result of my involvement in the hobby. I envy the kids graduating now who have a UAV career path open to them.
JS: What disciplines of modeling do you currently participate in?
AG: I love almost anything that flies and is radio controlled. Gliders, aerotowing, helicopters, jets, Scale warbirds, float-flying—I love it all!
JS: What are your other hobbies?
AG: I’m into Jeeps and have owned several. My latest is a 2012 Wrangler Rubicon that I love taking off-road and to the beach. Hockey is also a big part of my life, watching NHL games and working games for a local minor league pro team.
JS: Who (or what) has influenced you most?
AG: Review wise? Dick Pettit and Gordon Banks have had the most influence on my writing style, and Mark Fadely and David Hart have influenced my photography. For flying, my dad kicked around with Faye Peoples. Faye built his own RC helicopters before nearly anyone was having success with them.
Henry Haffke spent a lot of time teaching me about aerodynamics, model building, and the pleasures of glider flying.
JS: What do you enjoy most about writing reviews for publications?
AG: The best part of product reviews is the variety of new products I get to work with. What I strive for in my writing is to come across as though I’m talking to my buddy at the flying field and am excited about a new purchase—talking about what I like and what I don’t like.
I’m often asked, “But what did you really think?” The answer is always the same: “Read the review; that is what I really thought.”
