C. David Gierke, 81, like many youngsters of his generation, started building model airplanes early—rubber-band-powered stick models—at the age of seven. A neighbor gave him his first engine, a used sparker converted to glow, and he learned to fly Control-Line in 1952. Dave joined AMA in 1956, entered his first control-line contest, and suffered his first R/C flyaway (deBolt Trainer) that same year.

Concentrating on Control-Line speed and stunt, Dave wrote his first magazine article in 1967 (American Modeler), chronicling his Novi stunt design. Over the next decade Dave designed, built and competed with a multitude of new models in both Control-Line and Radio Control—many published in various model magazines; some of these include:

• “Novi” (Control-Line stunt). American Modeler; Oct. 1967.
• “Novi 3” (Control-Line stunt). Flying Models; Feb. 1968.
• “Novi 4” (Control-Line stunt). Flying Models; May 1970.
• “All-American Eagle” (Control-Line stunt [2 parts]). M.A.N.; July/August 1968.
• “Dee-Kay Special” (R/C Pylon—Formula 2). Flying Models; June 1971.
• “XP-40Q” (R/C Pylon—Formula 2/FAI). Flying Models; March 1972.
• “Blue Flame” (R/C Pylon—Open). Flying Models; April 1973.
• “Miss San Bernardino” (R/C Pylon—Formula 1). RC Sportsman; October 1975.
• “Brazen Raven” (R/C Pattern). Flying Models; May 1971.
• “Northern Eagle” (R/C Pattern). Flying Models; Sept. 1973.
• “Eclipse” (R/C Pattern). RC Sportsman; June 1975.

Always interested in the technical aspects of the hobby-sport, Dave developed experimental apparatus and techniques that he used to help understand and improve the performance of miniature glow-ignition engines; many of these he described in technical articles for the magazines, including:

• “Dynamometer-For Engine Performance Analysis.” (3 parts). Flying Models; June, July, August 1973.
• “Two-Stroke Oils: Their Analysis.” M.A.N.; May 1974.
• “Super Tank.” (Positive-expulsion, bubbleless design). Model Aviation; Aug. 1977.
• “Super Tank II.” M.A.N.; June 1997.
• “The Effects of Atmospheric Conditions on Engine Performance.” Model Aviation; January 1976.
• “Breaking-in Lapped and Ringed Piston Engines.” M.A.N.; September 1994.
• “Voodoo Mechanics: Engines, Energy and Physics.” M.A.N.; July 1995.
• “Hey! Keep the Noise Down! Reduce dB With Available Silencers.” M.A.N.; Dec. ’95.
• “Muffler Operation.” M.A.N.; June 2000.
• “Control-Port Technology.” (Sidebar to: “K&B .40 ABC article), M.A.N.; March 1997.
• “The Power Factor.” M.A.N.; September 1999.
• “Vanquish the Varnish—Engine Cleaning.” M.A.N.; May 2000.
• “Cool It! Temperature Tuning.” M.A.N.; April 2002.
• “Airframes and Prop Selection.” M.A.N.; July 1999.
• “Balancing Propellers—the Right Way.” M.A.N.; July 2002.
• “Timing is Everything.” Radio Control Boat Modeler; December 2002.
• “Tune Your Engine for Maximum Power.” Fly R/C; October 2003.
• “A Better Mousetrap: Lapped or Ringed Pistons—Which is Better?” Flying Models; March 2004.
• “Glow Plugs Exposed.” (2 parts), M.A.N.; August/September 2004.
• “Methanol and Glow Fuel.” M.A.N.; July 2009.
• “Nitromethane and Glow Fuel.” M.A.N.; September 2009.
• “Oil In Glow Fuel.” M.A.N.; October 2009.
• “Fuel Facts.” (How smart manufacturers formulate their fuel according to engine type and size.) M.A.N.; January 2010.

Note: In 1996, Dave began comparing in-air data collection (engine rpm and air speed) via telemetry, with engine dynamometer tests (torque & BHP vs. RPM) to determine the best propeller for maximizing specific airframe performance for racing.

In 1992, Dave became a contributing editor for Model Airplane News magazine; his column, “RPM” (Real Performance Measurement) provided answers to problems associated with the design, operation and maintenance of our engines. During his tenure at M.A.N., Dave wrote the following engine books:

• Two-Stroke Glow Engines for RC Aircraft (1994). *
• Two-Stroke Glow Engines, Vol. 2, Beyond the Basics (2007). *
• Radio Control Airplane Engine Guide (2005).
• RC Pilot’s Handbook; Ch. 11, “Maximizing Engine Performance.” (1994).
• Ultimate RC Flight Guide; Ch. 6, “Getting the Most from Your Engine.” (2002
• To Caress the Air: Augustus Herring and the Dawn of Flight; two volumes (c2018). His enduring interest led Dave to spend 40 years researching, writing and publishing the true story of a little-known American engineer, Augustus Moore Herring, an aviation pioneer who contributed significantly to the development of manned powered flight in the late 1800s and early 1900s. www.davegierkebooks.com

Always the perfectionist, Dave won the high appearance point’s award (CL stunt) at two AMA Nationals, and 13 times at the Toledo Weak Signals Expo with his models. As an educator, Gierke credits model airplanes for helping to motivate his high school students to many science and engineering achievements over his 34-year career.

• U.S. Patent: Heavy fuel, cold weather engine starting system for DARPA (2002).
• New York State Teacher of the Year (1978).
• AMA Model Aviation HOF (2003).
• PAMPA HOF (Precision Aerobatics Model Pilot’s Association) (2023).
• NMPRA HOF (National Miniature Pylon Racing Association) (2023).

Dave's Blue Flame Open Model

Dave Ready To Start Miss San Bernardino Formula 1 Model

Dave With XP40-Q Formula 2 Model

Dave Displaying His NMPRA Hall Of Fame Award