Rocketry Planet

ARLINGTON, Virginia USA — Competition Model Rockets founder, Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) volunteer, team member and manager and U.S. Army Retired Lt. Colonel Howard R. Kuhn was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on October 26, 2010 following his death from an extended illness.

A glimpse of a bygone day: Kuhn at the height of his career within the hobby of model rocketry. Photo: Craig Kuhn.

In attendance were three NAR Presidents, a Canadian Association of Rocketry (CAR) President, four NAR Contest Board Chairmen, eight past NAR National Champions, three United States FAI Team Managers and three FAI Gold Medalists. From left to right are: Jim Barrowman, Alexander Mituriev, Dr. Bob Kreutz, Bob Biedron, John Langford, Guppy Youngren, Trip Barber, Fritz Gnass, Taras Tataryn, Mark Bundick, Bill Stine, Terry Lee, Ed Pearson, Peter Cook and Kuhn's son, Craig Kuhn. Photo: John Langford/Alan WIlliams.

SLIDESHOW: A photo slideshow of the activities at Kuhn's full honors military burial at Arlington National Cemetery this past October 25th. Photos: Craig Kuhn,

Kuhn died on June 23, 2010, just days prior to the start of the 2010 Great Lakes Cup, an FAI open international event that brought together sports fliers from across three continents to the United States at the Oswego, Illinois, meet.

As chairman of the FAI's International Aeromodelling Commission (Commission Internationale d’Aero-Modelisme or CIAM), Kuhn served in that position for 17 years, between 1979 and 1995.  While G. Harry Stine is considered to have invented model rocketry (known world wide as space modelling), it is Kuhn who spread the sport all over the world.

Part of Great Depression generation, Kuhn, who was born in 1921, entered into the service of his country when he fought in World War II. A surveying engineer by trade, Kuhn eventually retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1968 as a Lt. Colonel.

"Howard professionally served in the USA, Japan, Turkey, Italy, Germany and South America and understood the unique mentality of many nations," said Stuart Lodge, editor of The Journal of FAI Space Modelling. "Consequently, he was able to communicate very easily with people from any country and became very much respected as the head of space modelling and much beloved by his associates."

Kuhn is credited with introducing many innovations to model rocketry competition, such as the piston launcher, vacuum-formed plastic nose cones and capsules used for egg lofting competitions as well as a boost glider called the Manta featured in an American Aircraft Modeler article from May of 1969, all during the period following his military retirement when he opened Competition Model Rockets, a company he operated until the late 80's.

Kuhn took a Bronze medal at the 1st World Space Modelling Championships 1972, held in Vrsac, Serbia (the former Yugoslavia) and Bronze in class S5-Scale Altitude, at the 2nd World Space Modelling Championships in 1974, held in Dubnica-nad-Vahom, Slovakia (the former Czechloslovakia). For his achievements in space modelling, Kuhn became the second holder of FAI’s Aeromodelling Gold Medal and the first space modeller decorated with this medal in 1989.

Kuhn passed away on June 23, 2010 at 7:05AM in Ashland, Virginia and would later be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

"Howard's United States Army did him proud with the full-honors military funeral by the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (the Old Guard) at Arlington National Military Cemetery, and Ed Pearson spoke for us all with his eulogy and by reading the great words sent by Howard's long-time friend Srdjan Pelagic," said National Association of Rocketry (NAR) President Trip Barber to those in attendance at Arlington National Cemetary for the event.

"It was a privilege to be there to salute a friend and fellow rocketeer who so greatly influenced our own lives and experience in the hobby and who made such a difference with his leadership in this activity across the world for so many years. Howard's passing is a great loss for all spacemodelers in the world and he shall stay in our memory for ever," Barber added.

In attendance were three NAR Presidents, a Canadian Association of Rocketry (CAR) President, four NAR Contest Board Chairmen, eight past NAR National Champions, three United States FAI Team Managers and three FAI Gold Medalists.  The assemblage later congregated for a group photo, a living legacy to Kuhn's life.

"Howard's impact on lives cannot be easily measured," said past NAR President Mark Bundick. "I recalled my conversation with Barbara Stine upon Harry's passing where I reflected that Harry changed my life. So it was with Howard. His legacy to the sport and hobby that we loved could not be more clearly defined than by looking at the picture ... and seeing the commitment his actions reflected, the people across continents with whom he connected, and the lives that he changed."

"I was proud to be part of the picture and humbled to be in such distinguished company," Bundick added.

Kuhn was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on October 26, 2010 at 11:00AM following a service held at the Old Chapel at nearby Fort Myer.

Howard Kuhn was 89 years old.

Reader comments:

#1 Re: Article: Hobby legend laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetary

Greatness has left his mark on our hobby. And protected our freedom. I am surprised nobody has posted anything to agknowledge him. Yet.

Jadepond on 11-07-2010 03:49 PM

#2 Re: Article: Hobby legend laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetary

Quote:

Greatness has left his mark on our hobby. And protected our freedom. I am surprised nobody has posted anything to agknowledge him. Yet.

I would not be angry about it. I did not know until just now, and I am sure others will comment as well.

I do not claim to know much of his personal accomplishments, but after reading the article it is clear that he accomplished much. People like this will always be missed.

markkoelsch on 11-07-2010 04:08 PM

#3 Re: Article: Hobby legend laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetary

There have been plenty of tribute postings on other forums.

And I flew my Manta At NARAM-52.

shreadvector on 11-07-2010 09:12 PM

#4 Re: Article: Hobby legend laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetary

I remember arriving at NARAM 18 in Center Valley late in the week hours on Sunday morning after a straight through drive from Tampa. We had to sit in the hall of the dorm for a while and Howard was out there for some reason or another. I got to listen in on some great rocketry war stories. I met him again at a couple of other NARAMs and he was a great guy, very friendly. I also remember when I was in high school and first reading Model Rocketry Magazine and seeing articles in it mentioning him. Or course one of those was the classic Manta design story. I bought a lot of supplies from him when he ran CMR back in the old days. Howard was a true gentleman and supporter of the hobby.

Bob Koenn

rkoenn on 11-08-2010 02:14 PM

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