At Hangar 9, designing and manufacturing premium models isn't just something
we do. It's something we love. And we want our passion for the hobby to run
off onto everything we produce. That passion translates into first-class products
that are affordable, reliable and fun.
Dave Ribbe: Vice President - Product Development
David Ribbe is a lifelong aviation enthusiast with over 20 years of experience
in the RC industry. He began modeling at age 10 and designed his first model at
17. Since then he has designed more than 30 models including everything from electric
park flyers to jets. He's also a veteran modeling competitor with many first place
finishes including Grand Champion at the 2005 US Scale Masters and Top Gun Champion
for 2007. A native of Orlando, Florida, David now leads the Hangar 9 product
development team in his role as Vice President of Product Development
for Horizon Hobby.
David Eichstedt: Director of Aircraft Development
David Eichstedt joined Horizon from the aerospace industry, with a background in
engineering, program management and business development. These skills are now
being applied in his role as Director of Aircraft Development. He has been an avid
modeler since his childhood, with his primary interest being scale aircraft. David
has a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and
an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Mike McConville: Senior Design and Production Manager
A Cincinnati, Ohio native with over 18 years experience in the Hobby industry,
Mike moved to Champaign, Illinois in 1996 to design and develop airplanes for
Horizon Hobby. He has designed more than 50 aircraft, including the 3D ShowTime
performers that bear his nickname. Mike won his first U.S. Pattern Nationals in
1981 when he was just 16 years old, and since then has dominated at nearly every level
of competition: 8-time TOC competitor and 2-time finalist, an IMAC U.S. Nationals
champion, 6-time F3A U.S. Team Trial competitor, Giant Scale Pylon Racing World
Champion, and a winner of more than 200 pattern and IMAC events. Though his
competition has been primarily in aerobatics and racing, Mike has a love for all
aspects of model aviation and enjoys flying all types of models both fixed wing
and helicopters.
Peter Bergstrom: Category Development Manager
Pete Bergstrom became interested in RC at the age of 11 after discovering a copy
of Model Airplane News at the school library and reading an article on Control Line
Stunt. He has participated in and won several races include the Q500, Formula One,
Q40 and Giant Scale racing. In 1987 he purchased a small hobby shop, worked as an
outside Sales Rep for Hobby Dynamics, and then ran two franchise Hobby stores. He
has been/is a club officer and served on club boards and gives back to his
favorite event–Pylon Racing–by being the head official at the NATS each year,
serving as the Start for Q500 and Q40 racing throughout the week.
Quique Somenzini: Director of Advanced Aircraft Technology
Quique is recognized by many as the father of the 3D revolution. Born in Rio Curato,
Argentina, he began flying RC at age 9. At the age of 12, he became the youngest pilot ever
to compete at the F3A worlds. Since then, he has gone on to win numerous U.S. National and World
honors: 4-time TOC Champion, 21-time Argentina F3A National Champion, 6-time South American
F3A Champion, XFC Champion, Free style world champion, 2 times Tucson Shoot Out free style champion,
3 times Don Lowe Masters Champion, 4-time F3A U.S. National Champion, 3 times ETOC runner up,
2007-2008 F3A World Champion. Quique has poured all this expertise over 30 aircraft designs,
five of which include E-flite's Yak 54, Byp Yak, Pitts Model 12 15e, and Divo 3D, Brio 10.