Message from Mike Langlois Family
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:29 am
We unfortunately have sad news to share with the pylon racing community.
After seven years of battling melanoma, Mike Langlois passed away on June 12, peacefully in hospice care. Mike loved aviation in all forms. His father cultivated his passion from a young age with trips to local airports to watch the planes and Saturday mornings spent with other modelers at the local hobby shop. The passion for aviation and modeling grew as Mike entered his teenage years and became more involved in competitions. During his teenage years he became focused on Control Line and obsessed with going the fastest. During this time, he made many lifelong friends and had some great mentors to help guide him in his efforts.
After becoming the first person to pilot a control line aircraft over 200 mph he had accomplished his main goal. Mike set aside his models to focus on new goals and earn a Mechanical Engineering degree from NC State. I am sure there was a lot of days dreaming about planes, engines, and air foils during his classes in Raleigh. Thankfully during his time in college Mike was introduced to Mabel, and they were married by senior year. The next step for my father after getting established in a career and beginning a family, was to gravitate back to modeling. The new goal was to compete in RC pylon racing while raising his two sons. At that time, he really focused on building to the best quality planes he could, along with going fast and winning races. My early childhood is filled with memories in his hobby workshop in our home and time at airports where races where held. He spent countless hours building formula one planes with the hopes to win best in show. Thankfully in 1988 his efforts paid off and he won best in show at the 1988 Nationals Race. After a decade of competitive RC pylon racing, Mike took a break from modeling in 1993.
He was starting to fulfill his next goal and opened his machine shop supporting the aviation industry. With help from his friend Henry Nelson, he taught himself to program and run CNC machines. With the help of his family, employees, and customers, Aero Precision grew rapidly. Once the shop became established Mike set new goals and earned his private pilot’s license around 1996. Achieving the goal of being able to fly and own a plane was a major source of happiness for him for rest of his life. His interest in RC Pylon racing was reignited by the mid 2000’s. This time, he was going “all in”, using the skills and resources he had acquired by that time to support RC Pylon Racing. He was able to convert an old farm into the OLD JULIAN AIRPORT used for hosting races, supported and eventually took over production of the N-40 engine, and went racing at as many locations as possible. Mike rekindled old friendships and made many new friends in the later part of his life in the RC pylon community. During this time, he really enjoyed racing and the fellowship with others that loved aviation.
Throughout his entire life Mike loved aviation and it was the common thread that impacted every aspect of his life. He was a hard worker that enjoyed solving problems. Mike was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. We are all so thankful for the time he shared with family and his time with his grandchildren. Mike was fortunate to have four grandchildren that he loved more deeply than I can describe with words.
Mike made a positive impact on many people and will be greatly missed. He would want all of you to keep modeling, flying, racing, and supporting the next generation of aviation enthusiast. Mikes wishes were to not have a funeral or memorial. We will honor his wishes in this matter. Also, we hope to see you all at OJA for the NMPRA champ race this October.
We will continue to support this community and the N-40 product.
Please share pictures you have of Mike from the races in this thread.
Sincerely,
The Langlois Family
Mike Langlois 6-5-1957 / 6-12-2022
After seven years of battling melanoma, Mike Langlois passed away on June 12, peacefully in hospice care. Mike loved aviation in all forms. His father cultivated his passion from a young age with trips to local airports to watch the planes and Saturday mornings spent with other modelers at the local hobby shop. The passion for aviation and modeling grew as Mike entered his teenage years and became more involved in competitions. During his teenage years he became focused on Control Line and obsessed with going the fastest. During this time, he made many lifelong friends and had some great mentors to help guide him in his efforts.
After becoming the first person to pilot a control line aircraft over 200 mph he had accomplished his main goal. Mike set aside his models to focus on new goals and earn a Mechanical Engineering degree from NC State. I am sure there was a lot of days dreaming about planes, engines, and air foils during his classes in Raleigh. Thankfully during his time in college Mike was introduced to Mabel, and they were married by senior year. The next step for my father after getting established in a career and beginning a family, was to gravitate back to modeling. The new goal was to compete in RC pylon racing while raising his two sons. At that time, he really focused on building to the best quality planes he could, along with going fast and winning races. My early childhood is filled with memories in his hobby workshop in our home and time at airports where races where held. He spent countless hours building formula one planes with the hopes to win best in show. Thankfully in 1988 his efforts paid off and he won best in show at the 1988 Nationals Race. After a decade of competitive RC pylon racing, Mike took a break from modeling in 1993.
He was starting to fulfill his next goal and opened his machine shop supporting the aviation industry. With help from his friend Henry Nelson, he taught himself to program and run CNC machines. With the help of his family, employees, and customers, Aero Precision grew rapidly. Once the shop became established Mike set new goals and earned his private pilot’s license around 1996. Achieving the goal of being able to fly and own a plane was a major source of happiness for him for rest of his life. His interest in RC Pylon racing was reignited by the mid 2000’s. This time, he was going “all in”, using the skills and resources he had acquired by that time to support RC Pylon Racing. He was able to convert an old farm into the OLD JULIAN AIRPORT used for hosting races, supported and eventually took over production of the N-40 engine, and went racing at as many locations as possible. Mike rekindled old friendships and made many new friends in the later part of his life in the RC pylon community. During this time, he really enjoyed racing and the fellowship with others that loved aviation.
Throughout his entire life Mike loved aviation and it was the common thread that impacted every aspect of his life. He was a hard worker that enjoyed solving problems. Mike was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. We are all so thankful for the time he shared with family and his time with his grandchildren. Mike was fortunate to have four grandchildren that he loved more deeply than I can describe with words.
Mike made a positive impact on many people and will be greatly missed. He would want all of you to keep modeling, flying, racing, and supporting the next generation of aviation enthusiast. Mikes wishes were to not have a funeral or memorial. We will honor his wishes in this matter. Also, we hope to see you all at OJA for the NMPRA champ race this October.
We will continue to support this community and the N-40 product.
Please share pictures you have of Mike from the races in this thread.
Sincerely,
The Langlois Family
Mike Langlois 6-5-1957 / 6-12-2022