Airplanes, real and model - are more than hobby for Lane

By Patti Jares

Dave Lane with his clipped-wing Monocoupe that weighs 15 pounds and travels 100 mph

Staff Writer

Dave and Ruby Lane are “plenty busy,” and many of their activities revolve around Dave’s “second love” - airplanes.

Dave’s passion is building and flying model airplanes.

“After my wife, that’s my first love,” he exclaimed with a laugh.

At this, Ruby laughed.

“After 53 years of marriage, he’s trained well enough to put me first!” she teased. “And he does build beautiful airplanes.”

But the truth is, Ruby enjoys Dave’s hobbies nearly as much as he does.

Dave and Ruby are members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) both local and national clubs.

In addition, they travel to Nevada every September to judge the Reno Air Races, a popular race that involves five types of one-man planes that race around “Pylons” - markers made of telephone poles. Dave and Ruby each stand at a pylon and watch the planes fly by to ensure the pilot stays outside the imaginary circle.

The judges are a fairly select group, and except for a few “newbees,” Dave and Ruby return each year to friends they have known for “many, many years.”

“It’s noisy, hot, windy and dusty,” said Dave, who is assistant Chief Pylon Judge. “And we love it.”

The two signed up together initially, and have gone together every year.

“They know that where I go, she goes,” grinned Dave. “They get one, they get both.”

“Just like the Clintons,” laughed Ruby.

But Dave’s specialty is his ability to build light, fast model airplanes with wingspans reaching nine feet. The planes are replicas of authentic airplanes, and they are built to scale with every detail accurate.

Dave’s workshop is filled with trophies he has accumulated over the years. He modestly calls them “dust collectors,” but they are proof that his planes have time and again proven to be the fastest and most spectacular. His planes were so successful that Dave manufactured kits for sale nationally.

Dave began building model airplanes at the age of 6, and “never quit.” Even his career involved planes. Dave worked for Hughes Aircraft in California, in the Commercial Systems Division for Communication Satellites, as a program management analyst.

As a hobby, Dave owned and flew his own plane, which he used to fly himself and Ruby to Wickenburg occasionally to visit her parents in Congress.

Residing in Hawthorne, Calif., in the South Bay area, Dave and Ruby became increasingly uncomfortable in the quickly growing Southern California location.

After the sixth year of visits, they decided to relocate to Wickenburg.

“We decided this is where we wanted to come,” said Dave, who was tired of the urban sprawl. So the couple bought a Laundromat and hobby shop in the Bashas’ area on July 1, 1981 - “in the middle of the summer,” added Ruby.

In 1989 Radio Shack moved into the shop and co-existed with the hobby shop until Dave and Ruby retired in 2000, selling the shop and Laundromat.

These days, Dave continues to be active in the community. A three-time past-president of the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce, Dave is currently a Chamber member and through the Chamber is chairman of Wickenburg’s annual Fly-in, held at the airport. He also served on the Wickenburg Town Council from 2002-2006, and has been a member of the Airport Commission since 1996. In addition, he has been a member of the Lion’s Club since 1981, and is president of the Classy Classics Car Club.

He and Ruby are members of Wickenburg’s First Presbyterian Church where he serves as a deacon.

Ruby volunteers at the Chamber of Commerce, and is involved in special events such as the Bluegrass Festival, where she volunteers along with Dave. She has been a Lioness since 1981, and when she and Dave sold their local businesses she used her newfound time to become an avid quilter. Ruby is active in their church, where she is a “Steven Minister, assisting the pastor in “walking along” those who are having difficult times.

“It gives them someone outside their family and close friends to talk to,” explained Ruby, “and it’s a confidential program.”

Dave and Ruby have two daughters and five grandchildren who still reside in California.

In addition to building and competing in flying model airplanes, Dave was chosen to judge an elite contest, the Tournament of Champions (TOC) in Las Vegas, which he did for several years. The competition was started by Bill Bennett, owner of Circus Circus. It was an invitational meet where 20 top United States flyers and 20 worldwide flyers came to compete.

“Everybody there was at least a one-time world or one-time national winner,” said Dave. “It was a joy to judge.”

The couple admits they are busy, but enjoy their time together.

“We’ve been together 24/7 and we’re still married,” joked Dave.

“If I had as many things going on as he does” added Ruby, “We’d be in real trouble.”

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