Bill Stine named new General Manager for Estes

[georgegassaway]

Estes Introduces New General Manager

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rel...neral-manager-300679316.html?tc=eml_cleartime

PENROSE, Colo., July 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Estes Industries, the leading manufacturer of innovative hobby products for the model rocket industry, announced today that Bill Stine is appointed Vice President and General Manager, effective July 11, 2018.

Bill Stine is a rocketry expert with more than 40 years of experience designing, manufacturing, and marketing model rockets. Bill has held several key leadership roles throughout his hobby industry career. Bill is the founder and former President of Quest Aerospace and served in executive roles at RCS Rocket Motor Components, Model Rectifier Corporation (MRC), and Enertek.

Estes Industries New General Manager Bill Stine
"I am very excited to be working here with Ellis and the Estes team. Ellis and I share a common vision of who Estes is and where we would like to see it go," said Bill Stine.

Bill Stine (NAR#24) is the son of G. Harry Stine who is known worldwide as the 'Father of Model Rocketry' and founder of National Association of Rocketry. Bill is also the author of the 7th Edition of The Handbook of Model Rocketry.

"It's wonderful to have the Stine name associated with our company again after 60 years. Bill's father worked so closely with Vern Estes to start this industry and now Bill will work with us to carry Estes forward into the next 60 years," said Ellis Langford, President of Estes Industries.

Bill Stine's appointment follows the retirement of Division Vice President and General Manager, James Mauss.

For further information contact Tina McGovern at [email protected].

SOURCE Estes Industries LLC

Related Links
https://www.estesrockets.com

 

[dshmel]

Wow !

 

[dlrflyer1967]

Almost speechless.....

 

[Flyfalcons]

 

[georgegassaway]

FYI - a photo from the 2010 FAI World Space Modeling Championships. Left to right:

John Langford (US Team manager, new owner of Estes)

Bill Stine (US Junior Team manager, new GM at Estes)

Ellis Langford (Assistant manager or coach, now President of Estes and part of the ownership)

Mary Roberts (Marketing manager for Estes, her first time attending a WSMC)

Christopher Kidwell (many time US team member, NAR competitor. Chris used his software developer skills to create "Contest Manager" for scoring contests and reporting results)

 

[K'Tesh]

Congrats to Bill Stine, the Langford Family, and the Estes Industries Family... I think great things are afoot.

 

[cwbullet]

Looks like a good move.

 

[Bat-mite]

Things are definitely looking up for the LPR world!

 

[shreadvector]

 

[mikec]

One wonders what effect this will have on the Quest/Aerotech effort.

 

[shreadvector]

One wonders what effect this will have on the Quest/Aerotech effort.

I suspect they will keep working as hard as they have been. Bill has been gone a while and they have been working on new product (which many of us were "beta testing" even if we did not think we were). By NARAM there will be 18mm A, B, C and D Q-Jets which will fit and work great.

Think of it like Apple and Samsung. (Not Blackberry....)

 

[dlrflyer1967]

I hope it was without acrimony, certainly don’t need an Estes-Aerotech war. Also hope Estes kit quality wont be lowered to Quest level...

 

[BEC]

This last point is a bit of a concern to me as well, as much as I appreciate Bill Stine's involvement.

Estes kits have recently got rid of those soft blue motor mount tubes and shock cords are being supplied with a more reasonable (in other words longer) length, to name two subtle but important changes. We are also seeing waterslide decals again. I'd hate to see them slide backward here....

 

[dr wogz]

This last point is a bit of a concern to me as well, as much as I appreciate Bill Stine's involvement.

Estes kits have recently got rid of those soft blue motor mount tubes and shock cords are being supplied with a more reasonable (in other words longer) length, to name two subtle but important changes. We are also seeing waterslide decals again. I'd hate to see them slide backward here....

As I've once said before.. were these changes done by Estes? Or was Estes pushed into make these changes (by a major customer / client)?

 

[SaintJohn]

This last point is a bit of a concern to me as well, as much as I appreciate Bill Stine's involvement.

Estes kits have recently got rid of those soft blue motor mount tubes and shock cords are being supplied with a more reasonable (in other words longer) length, to name two subtle but important changes. We are also seeing waterslide decals again. I'd hate to see them slide backward here....

All signs are pointing it a positive direction. When HobbiCo went belly up I was nervous about Estes' future. However, hearing that the Langford faimily and bought the company I became really hopeful for the future. I had the chance to talk to Ellis Langford at the banquet during NSL, he seems really committed to making things better than they already are. I doubt that we're going to see at backwards sliding!

 

[lowga]

Really excited to see a rocketeer of Bill's stature added to the management at Estes. I'm expecting some really great things.

On my wish list:

1.) Reissues of the Maxi Kits (Honest John!)
2.) Reissue of the Estes Aerospace Club package (with the Viper!)
3.) Upscale in MPR (29mm) of the Viper!
4.) Waterscale decals, better quality kits, more kits in the "Pro" line targeted at adult rocketeers.

This is great news!

 

[JStarStar]

Although not really directly related to his duties at Estes, I wonder if Bill is thinking of a Golden Anniversary Edition of the HBOMR?

 

[RoyAtl]

If so, he already missed it by three years! It was first published in September of 1965.

(that was supposed to quote the message above it... don't know what happened. And where's the delete button?)

 

[JStarStar]

I know (I have a complete set of all 7 editions) but I first read it in 1968-69, so the golden edition is still in reach. Maybe Golden-Plus?

 

[Ez2cDave]

ELLIS LANGFORD and BILL STINE . . . Interview on "The Rocketry Show" . . .

hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/1/6/6/16652bf7de7bf5c2/TRS-5_74.mp3

 

[BEC]

And in that podcast Bill says that he's thought about an eighth edition of the HBOMR but right now he doesn't have time . No kidding.