John Hoover
Goldberg Vital People Award and AMA Hall of Fame Recipient, Owner of Aspect Laser
John Hoover (center) received the Carl & Beth Goldberg Vital People Award from (L-R) Tim Jesky and Joe Hass in 2014.
Model Aviation: How did you become involved with model aviation?
John Hoover: I became involved primarily through my father. He flew Free Flight (FF) in the late 1930s, mostly Towline Gliders, and that early passion for soaring stayed with him his entire life. When RC became practical in the late 1960s, he embraced it, especially RC sailplanes. He went on to complete the League of Silent Flight Level V, which was a significant achievement and reflected both his skill and dedication.
Earlier, in the 1950s, my father competed in FF alongside Carl Goldberg at the Plymouth Brothers flying event, and even had the opportunity to spend an entire day with him. Although my dad is no longer around, I later received the Carl & Beth Goldberg Vital People Award and was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame—honors that I believe would have made Pop very proud. In many ways, it feels like my own modeling career has come full circle.
MA: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career?
JH: That’s a good question, and one that made me stop and reflect. When I really think about it, almost every job I’ve had has been connected to model aviation in some way. I worked for 24 years at Rider’s Hobby Shop, followed by 15 years owning and operating my own shop, Flightline Hobby.
Even outside of retail, the connections continued. I worked as an Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanic, and my boss there was also an RC modeler. My current position as a project coordinator at M1 Concourse came about in part because the owner has a strong love for airplanes as well.
Looking back, it’s clear that model aviation has quietly shaped my career path in ways that I didn’t fully realize at the time. The hobby—and the people connected to it—have been very good to me.
MA: What disciplines of modeling do you currently participate in?
JH: I’ve always enjoyed a wide range of aircraft rather than focusing on a single category or discipline. I especially love small airplanes, probably from all of the Cox TD .049 airplanes I built in the early days. Over the years, I’ve designed models ranging from 12-inch wingspans all the way up to 90 inches. I’ve been fortunate to have flown just about everything—gas, glow, Q-500 (Pylon Racing), turbines, electrics, Slopers—you name it.
I’ve long believed that this hobby means many different things to many different people, and that’s one of its greatest strengths. Whether someone enjoys cutting foam board at the kitchen table or building entirely from vacuum-bagged, high-tech carbon fiber, it all deserves respect. At the end of the day, we’re all fliers; just approaching the same passion from different directions.
MA: What other hobbies do you have?
JH: I’ve pretty much stayed focused on flying, designing, and building models, and that alone has been more than enough to keep me engaged. Outside of aviation, I do enjoy bicycles—I ride both mountain bikes and thin-tire road bikes whenever I get the chance.
I’ve noticed that some friends, for example, try to balance golf and RC flying. It seems like they never quite get good at either. For me, model aviation has always been enough. It’s provided more challenge, satisfaction, and enjoyment than I could ask for in other hobbies. Lately, I have started to enjoy writing about the hobby. I have a book titled Flying from the Hilltop coming out later this year.
MA: Who or what has influenced you the most?
JH: Like many modelers, my first and strongest influence was my father. Beyond that, I was influenced by what I read. The early Frank Zaic Yearbooks left a lasting impression on me, especially in how they approached design, structure, and the broader thinking behind model aviation.
I also always enjoyed reading “The Sunday Flyer” articles by Ken Willard, which were both informative and fun, and, later on, the design articles by Andy Lennon. All of these influences helped shape the way I think about aircraft design and structural modeling, and they continue to inform my approach today.
MA: What advice would you give someone who wants to start a business in the model aviation hobby?
JH: I’d say, absolutely—go for it. Choose an area of the hobby that you’re genuinely passionate about, and then take the time to make a solid plan. I started Aspect Aviation LLC back in 1995, which now operates as Aspect Laser (aspectlaser.com), because I truly enjoy the design and production of flying kits and the things that support them.
Today, there are more online resources available than ever before, which makes planning and research much easier—but passion still matters most. A good plan will help guide you, but it’s your enthusiasm for what you’re doing that will carry you through the hard parts.
Thanks to Joe Hass and AMA for the opportunity to talk about my love of this hobby—and as always, good flights!
