Author: Bruce Nelson


Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/08
Page Numbers: 158

MODEL AVIATION
SNOHOMISH Radio Aero Club (SRAC)
lost one of its oldest members on April 14,
2011. Herschel Carter, a 50-plus-year
member of AMA and SRAC, was one of the
original owners of the SRAC flying field.
He was flying regularly until he had a
heart attack shortly before Thanksgiving
2010. He loved to chat by telephone with his
friends at SRAC while he was confined in the
hospital and at home following his illness.
Paul Cole, a contemporary member of
SRAC and Herschel’s good friend, hosted a
memorial fly-in at the SRAC field at the
request of Cynthia Carter, Herschel’s wife.
Paul asked for and eagerly received the
assistance of fellow SRAC members and
friends of Herschel: Rad Russell, Chris
Christensen, Jeff Jensen, Chris Robinson, and
Bill Zirbel.
A short time of sharing about Herschel’s
love of flying his models, including stories of
flying with single-channel escapements with
tube receivers at Arlington Airport, and
stories of him dragging his kids to SRAC
field to get them excited about his passion
was followed by the memorial flight.
The six pilots put their airplanes into the
air with ashes to spread over the field. Led by
Paul Cole, each pilot flew by and then made
an inverted pass. Everyone at the memorial
service considered it a great tribute to the
memory of this friend and fellow SRAC
member.
After landing their models the pilots
joined family and other SRAC members in a
lunch hosted by Paul Cole. This event
dramatically demonstrates the camaraderie
found among aircraft modelers and SRAC
members.
District XI
Bruce Nelson, District XI Vice President; nelsondxi@hotmail.com
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Bruce Nelson
Vice President
807 E. Vicksburg St.,
Spokane WA 99208
Phone: (509) 467 8348
nelsondxi@hotmail.com
Associate Vice
Presidents
Rick Allison, Issaquah WA;
joanrick@comcast.net
Darrell Anderson, Great Falls MT;
d.l.anderson@bresnan.net
Bryan Batch, Spokane WA
bbhobbies@qwest.net
Al Culver, Wilder ID;
al.culver@hotmail.com
Bruce Harlow, Myrtle Creek OR;
bruceharlowjr@yahoo.com
Jerry Holcomb, Vancouver WA;
jholcomb@pacifier.com
Gene LaFond, Wenatchee WA;
rcplanker@nwi.net
Reeves Lippincott, Wasilla AK;
reeves@mtaonline.net
Mike Mosbrooker, Oak Harbor
WA; mosbrsr@comcast.net
Claude Tanner, Boise ID;
ctan366@msn.com
Frequency Coordinator
Phil Tallman, Medical Lake WA;
(509) 299-5102;
phil.tallman@starband.net
District RC Coordinator
W.T. (Bill) Smith, Seattle WA;
wmtrnr2@comcast.net
Website: www.amadistrict11.org
District XI Volunteers
The pilots begin taxiing out to the runway. Carter begins his final flight.
Carter’s daughter pours his ashes. The pilots are ready for takeoff.
During an inverted pass
the ashes are dropped.
Pilot Rad Russell. Pilot Bill Zirbel.
Paul Cole giving his presentation. Pilots Chris Christensen and Jeff Jensen.
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