Team Bios

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.

Electric Conversion Chart Hangar 9 and Carden Join Forces