Welcome to Torrey Pines GullsKeith Finkenbiner – Co-Modeler of the Year – 2008
Keith Finkenbiner built his first “rise-off-ground” (ROG) free flight model planes in 1940 at around age 8 in Toledo, Ohio. In 1941, his uncle and cousins who lived with his family went into the service and left all their modeling things with him. Keith migrated through Brown Jr. motors, free flight, and then control line. Whenever kits were released for model aircraft or U-control, Keith would build them. He basically built them all. The best was P40 Olson & Rice with 60 gas engine. He noted, “They also sent me many of the consolidated model kits to build during the war. I grew up in Toledo, Ohio and belonged to the Model Manglers Club which became the Toledo Weak Signals. Eight club members started the original Weak Signals symposiums at a local golf course in the dead of winter to break the boredom and see what other modelers were doing. I helped direct many of these early shows.”
In 1950-54, when the Korean War broke out, Keith enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Williams AFB Chandler, Arizona with the 3525-3526 Pilot Training Group. There he trained pilots for instrument flying using Link Trainers, then an A-T6 Texan then T-33 Shooting Star jets. Keith built his first RC radio transmitter in 1956. Back then RC transmitters were hard to find and building them from kits or from scratch was the way to go. In 1958 Keith’s neighbor was also into RC. Keith joined the Weak Signals RC Club in Toledo, Ohio. Weak Signals started a conference on RC that continues to this day. Keith started in RC Pattern Flying but switched to gliders when his son showed some interest. His son didn't care for motors. (Smart kid!) After the war Keith returned to Toledo and attended college. His professional career started as a chemist for Union Carbide, with work in polymer chemistry taking him all over the United States
Keith moved to New Jersey in Sept 1967 and continued flying RC. In November 1973 as RC soaring really “took off,” Keith moved again to Naperville, IL. There he joined the popular S.O.A.R. club serving as Vice President and President. He helped run the very popular SOAR NATS that predated the establishment of RC soaring Nationals via the AMA. Competition flying in both Power and Sailplanes became his main interest. He flew with the first FAI team for the United States in 1974 at Lakehurst, NJ. Placing third overall. He served as team manager for the USA for the F3B world championships in England and the F5B and F5D world championships in Australia. I have attended every team selection for F5B and F5D in the United States. In January 1979 he moved once again to Wilmington, DE. He continued soaring, this time as a part of the East Coast Soaring League. He flew in the first AMA-sponsored World Championship at Lakehurst NJ (Lakehurst Naval Air Station) in 1982 or 1983.
Fortunately for us, in June of 1982 he moved to Fremont, CA and joined the South Bay Soaring Society. At least he was now in California. Three years later in July 1985 he moved to Carlsbad, CA flying with the North County Clouds and then the Torrey Pines Gulls. A regular through many thermal duration competitions from the 1970s through to the 2000s, Keith attained League of Silent Flight (LSF) Level V #108 – finalizing this on June 13, 2002. He was honored as the TPG Co-Modeler of the Year in 2008 for all of his effort to help the North County Clouds merge with the Torrey Pines Gulls.
Between 2008- 2018, Keith helped in the development and maintenance of the new Encinitas Inactive Landfill flying field by making barricades to protect the methane piping, helped the club purchase the cargo container, adding shelving, grinding, painting the cargo container with approval of the San Diego County Landfill Section. He also purchased a riding mower and trailer. The trailer and mower then could transport the mower to other fields. Keith was initially responsible for yearly inspections at the Encinitas Field with the County of San Diego. He received the Modeler of the Year again in 2020 for these many efforts.
Keith served as a Contest Director for thermal duration competition at Encinitas filling that role many, many times. Keith was the SC2 (Southern California Soaring Clubs, 10 clubs) representing TPG and CD’d the SC2 contest every year in October at the Poway or Encinitas fields. He was also an active member of CVRC (Central Valley RC Soaring Club) located in Visalia, CA, often serving as an announcer for the rounds and pilots at the famous Fall Festival.
Keith was a tireless “behind the scenes” worker for TPG for decades especially with regards to competition and field maintenance. He retired from RC soaring, and after a thermal duration contest in February 2020. He kindly offered to sell his collection of RC models through the TPG as a fundraiser for the club. His kind contribution to the club helped the TPG survive a challenging period through the coronavirus pandemic and was definitely appreciated. Keith Finkenbiner unfortunately passed away in June of 2022 and is missed by theTPG and the broader RC soaring community across the nation.
