Cirrus Aircraft vice president
JAY SMITH: How did you become involved with model aviation?
JIM ALMAN: My dad. He won his early flying lessons by building a Piper Cub model, was a lifelong full-scale pilot who flew until he was 84 years old, and a lifelong modeler as well. We built and flew Free Flight (FF), Control Line (CL), and mostly RC aircraft when I was growing up. We continued throughout our adult lives. Quite often, we flew the Bonanza, and then went to the AMA field [in Miami, Florida] and flew model aircraft. I guess we just couldn’t get enough aviation. Although he was not my instructor for my pilot’s license, he sure did teach me a lot.
JS: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career?
JA: I’m passionate about all things aviation. Whether flying full-scale, flying model aircraft, or building things that fly, I am always happy around aviation. I have a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Boston University, which aligns with my aviation interests.
It also afforded me the opportunity to be a part of the Daedalus Human-Powered Aircraft team. Most of the team were modelers and some of the best engineers with whom I have ever worked. Both of my sons are engineers, and I fly full-scale and model aircraft with them when I can.
JS: What disciplines of modeling do you currently participate in?
JA: I mostly fly electric sport RC these days. I really enjoy rubber-powered FF. I like FF because it is a more interesting engineering problem to solve. Everything from propeller selection to sizing the rubber motors to trimming all interest me. I still have a few CL models as well, but I don’t fly them as often.
I build everything that I fly—sometimes kits and sometimes from plans. On occasion, I will design and build something, but I like to spend time with my wife and family and I do other activities.
JS: What other hobbies do you have?
JA: I have been sailing and racing sailboats since I was 9 years old. I am still active today. I sail One-Design, which means that all of the boats are the same. I prefer that. I am a former intercollegiate sailor as well.
We currently do some cruising sailing in the Apostle Islands [Lake Superior]. We also do a lot of hiking in the warm months and snowshoeing in the winter. We built wooden kayaks, and I still drive the car that I took my driving test in when I was 16. It is a restored 1970 Mustang convertible, but that’s another story!
JS: Who or what has influenced you the most?
JA: My dad, an aeronautical engineer and U.S. Navy fighter pilot in the 1950s and ’60s, influenced me the most. He was an AirTest and Evaluation Squadron test pilot for a while, and I counted 27 different types of Navy aircraft in his Navy logbook. He started in propeller-driven aircraft and finished in jets. He always used checklists, as I do today.
I remember the last time we flew together in his Bonanza and him pulling out the checklists. He was a great flying mentor! I also learned from him that not all model aircraft fly as desired. Sometimes you must climb a tree!
JS: What impact did aeromodeling have on you becoming the vice president at Cirrus Aircraft?
JA: I think that aviation has defined me as a person. I have multiengine and instrument ratings, and I currently fly Cirrus aircraft. Model aviation has taught me a lot, such as the effects of wing washout, center-of-gravity effects on performance, aircraft trim, etc.
Before I could fly myself, I was able to fly model aircraft, further fueling the interest. I like to see model aviation and pilot certificates in engineering applicants. It shows a high level of interest in aviation that is such a part of my life. I think that Cirrus Aircraft recognized my passion for all things aviation.
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