Carl Lindsey

Carl Eugene Lindsey, 92, passed away September 6, 2016.  Visitation will be from 5-7 PM Monday at Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf with funeral services on Tuesday at 10 AM at the Chapel.  Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com.  Memorial Contributions may be left to KETCH, 1006 E. Waterman, Wichita, KS, 67211.  Carl was born July 19, 1924, the son of Everett R. and Birdsell (Jones) Lindsey.   He served our country in the United States Navy during WWII.  He married Margaret Elaine Shepherd in 1957.    Carl has been an active designer, builder, flyer of model airplanes for 63 years.  He built his first model in 1938 and entered his first contest in 1939 flying an original design. He won his first trophy in 1940 at the Missouri State Championships. When in High School, Carl worked for Country Club Aero Supply Co.  This was the company that manufactured the Jimmy Allen and Captain Midnight model airplane kits. The planes were keyed to the radio serials sponsored by Skelly Oil Co.  In 1941 Carl won a contest that had a great influence on his life. First prize was a scholarship to the National School of Aeronautics. After graduating, he pursued a career in aviation where he worked as a mechanic, draftsman, and engineer for North American Aviation Rearwin Aircraft, Commonwealth Aircraft, TWA, Bendix Aviation Corp and Honeywell.  In the early 1950's while Carl was studying and teaching at KU, he had his first opportunity to guide a model airplane by radio control.  A staff member at KU had built a 9-foot Custom Cavalier, It was covered with a bed sheet. The engine, radio and escapement were all homemade. The Citizen Radio Service had been approved for radio control of model airplanes so Carl immediately switched from free-flight models to free-flight models whose flight was occasionally controlled by radio.  His first RC model was a Trexler Beam with a homemade receiver, a simple escapement, and a Cameron 19 engine. The transmitter was a single tube CW type (on-off switching).  The receiver was a very wide band super - regen that would respond to almost any RF signal or electrical noise.  Eventually the homemade radio was replaced with a commercially available "citizenship” radio. The performance and reliability improved greatly and Carl won a first place at a KCRC contest held in Liberty, MO.  In 1960 Carl and his wife Margaret founded the C & M Products Co. to manufacture and supply products for the radio control hobby. Their products were distributed by ACE R/C, ROYAL and AMERICA'S HOBBY CENTER. Carl developed a plastic fuel tank with a rubber stopper, cap and flexible fuel pick-up tube that became very popular. In fact it was the demise of the company. Orders finally overwhelmed his resources so he sold the product line to ACE R/.C.  Carl has advanced degrees; one of which is an MS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Missouri. He pursued a career in education for more than twenty years and received his specialist degree from Pittsburg State University. He was a Professor of Engineering at UMKC and was a founding staff member at JCCC and was a Director of Science & Technology .  He was Director of Engineering and Technology Division of the college. The division had tradition programs and also a flight training program for private, instrument, and commercial pilot. The division had seven single engine planes and a Cessna 310 twin engine plane. Carl recalls many interesting incidents flying RC.  Once his Beam stopped flying and was suspended in mid-air.  It had made a perfect landing on some power lines. Another was when he was chasing a run-away plane and ran off a cliff. The resulting injuries is what is now slowing him down and preventing him from flying as often as he would like to fly . He has had knee replacement’s (both knees) and a hip replacement. Carl was Assistant Art Editor for GRID LEAKS magazine (Bill Winters was editor) and prepared model plans (boat and airplane) for the magazine and also AIR TRAILS magazine.  In 1957 Carl and Bud Atkinson were flying at a dairy farm in Blue Springs and the KCRC was flying in Liberty, MO. One day when going through the park (Lake Jacomo) he stopped to look at a field next to an old farm house. He asked Bud to go with him and check it out. Carl flew his Beam and Bud flew his Smog Hog. They liked the spot. Carl went to see William Landhal (director of parks) and proposed a flying site in the park.  He liked it and approved. Carl and Bud proposed that the KCRC join them. They did and we have been flying at Lake JACOMO ever since (43 years). In 1966 the Park Dept. acquired a 40 acre corn field west of the flying field (where we presently fly). Realizing that this would be a better place to fly Carl proposed to William Landhal that the flying field be moved over. He immediately agreed to the move. Now the sun was at our backs most of the day.  Carl is flying a 32 year old powered glider, which is also used as an equipment test bed and trainer; a Sig J3 Cub, a Corbin Super Ace, and HK-1's.  As he has said, the RC hobby/sport has much to offer and sure is better than golf.  Preceding him in death was his parents, his wife, Margaret E. "Marge" 47 years, son, Jerald Lindsey, daughter, Lynda Goodman and sister, Lucille Hansen.   Survivors include his son Carl E. Lindsey Jr. (Sheri), son-in-law-, Calvin Goodman (Deb), grandchildren, Mendi Sommerla, Carl Lindsey III (Nichole), Billy Lindsey, Heather Cash (Jason), 5 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

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