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.
Matt Andren: Product Developer
Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Matt has always had an interest in
aviation. He began flying sailplanes in 1993 at the age of thirteen. That summer
Matt broke the AMA national thermal duration records for junior class A, B, and
C. Since then Matt has flown every type of RC plane-from micro indoor flyers to
jets. He enjoys designing and scratch-building airplanes. He has been with Horizon
Hobby since 2005 and specializes in electric aircraft.