Memories of a Daughter

It all started one summer day in June, when Mr. and Mrs. Kirn gave birth to their fourth son. It was out on a large, wheat farm in Solomon, Kansas, in 1930. 

Now, being the youngest of the boys, he got stuck with the worst of chores. I can imagine the thrill when the day came that his older brother, Bill, introduced him to model airplanes. I can see Dale climbing up the hay loft after chores and letting loose a rubberband powered airplane and watch it soar over the whole barnyard...maybe harassing the chickens some. To grow up during the Depression wasn't easy, and I think the models kept him busy and out of trouble. 

There was a story my Dad told me how his dad wasn't particularly happy with this airplane stuff. Dale had saved some of his money to buy his first real engine and his dad couldn't believe he could waste his money on such things. What his father didn't realize was that he had an intuitive, young boy on his hands that would change the control line model airplane industry upside down.

Years had gone by and he eventually married Carolyn Zeleny, an attractive, young, city girl from Salina, Kansas. Of all places they met at a church barn dance. They lived in Kansas for a few years and had a baby girl in Hiawatha. Soon they moved to Southern California.

While in California, they had four more children, one boy and three more girls. Now, I am sure what was going on in my dad's head when he had all those girls. Would they learn to fly as he? He could easily see his son wanting to, but the girls? Only time would tell, but the waiting was well worth it.

I am the fourth child out of the five. My name is Teresa Shadle and I live in Lusby, Maryland now. Even though I am thousands of miles from Southern California, my fondest memories are still there.

My earliest memory of being around the airplanes was our garage. Dad was always outside puttering with stuff. He had a lot of machinery, parts, lights, paints, boxes...and the smell, that undeniable, unforgettable, engine fuel smell. I remember waking up on Saturday mornings to the sound of the jet engines or just a .049 engine he was working on. When most people lit firecrackers on New Year's Eve, Dad and Joe would set off the jet engines and rile up the whole neighborhood. It was lots of laughs.

As I grew up some, I eventually ventured out of the garage and the cats that shared it with him. The cats weren't his, and he would let them know that the garage was still his.

There were times when Sandy and I would tag along with Dad and Joe when Joe flew jets. We had a special mission on those days...to chase, run, or skate after those dollies. We thought it was the most important job of the whole day. But seeing my brother fly one day, I realized that I could do it too and I enjoyed being around the noise and excitement of the sport.

Dad taught us all to fly and boy was he ever good at what he did. He was so patient and never yelled at you. He sort of built a confidence in you that you didn't think you had. And when you finally soloed, he would hand you your golden flight wings and congratulate you. What a feeling. Now what other family do you know that the dad gave flight wings too? Huh?

After my oldest sister, Mary won first place in 1/2A Speed with the Spullet. I decided that I wanted to compete also. It was that same year in 1984 that Mary, Kathy, Joe and I all entered the Nationals held in Lincoln, Nebraska. I only had about two months to prepare. I went from 78 miles an hour to over 90 miles an hour in six weeks. When I arrived at the Nationals, I did win first in my category in 1/2A Speed. I believe I went 98.4 miles an hour. If it wasn't windy that day, I am sure that I could have easily have reached over 100 miles an hour. But I was satisfied with the outcome. Not only did I win, but also my brother and sisters all won first in their categories! I couldn't believe it and then again, I could, because I was a Kirn. I give all the credit to my dad because all I did was fly the plane. He was the one who built the plane and made the engine work.

Soon after that event, we got a call from Channel 2 News. Someone from the Nationals knew we all won and thought it would be a fun story to run, to see a family of fliers. That was really strange to see your own dad on TV. But it was fun.

As the years went by, my dad has won many achievements and even got into the AMA Hall of Fame. But, I have never seen him become boastful or prideful in any way. He is the most humble man I know. I have never seen anyone angry at him nor seen him give harsh words in anger.

I remember my dad having a witty sense of humor. He would say a one liner and really knock you off your feet. My dad was very organized and took pictures of everything. I got my organizational skills from him and never am late for anything. He couldn't stand being late and neither can I. I also think I am most like him in a physical way. Both of us are the fourth born have lots of fillings in our teeth and have had many surgeries. He always had the models to help him recuperate and give keep him busy. He also taught me never to give up. Find the solution and do it. He was and still is a very determined person. While in California, they had four more children, one boy and three more girls. Now I am sure what was going on in my dad's head when he had all those girls. Would they learn to fly as he? He could easily see his son wanting to but the girls? Only time would tell but the waiting was well worth it.

I am the fourth child out of the five. My name is Teresa Shadle and I live in Lusby, Maryland now. Even though I am thousands of miles from Southern California, my fondest memories are still there.

I remember my dad having a witty sense of humor. He would say a one liner and really knock you off your feet. There were the funny sayings he'd say too like " Never turn the radio on louder when you hear a strange noise in the car" or " When you get married, marry your best friend."

Well, I took him up on that advise and did marry my best friend. Tom and I married back in 1988. We too, have five children, two girls and three boys. Just this year they have been old enough to appreciate the art of flying. They range from 11yrs to 6yrs old.

I knew my parents would be visiting us in Sept. so during the summer I talked to dad about bringing some PT trainers with him to show the kids. Instead, he did something better. He called up Ted Stanzel and had him send a case of Space shuttle trigger jets and a case of battery operated Flash 500's. These were the toys I grew up with. It was something else to see them really take to it. At the same time, I saw a spark in Dad's face. To teach them the basics and be out there playing with them brought back my childhood memories of him. I saw Mary, Kathy, Joe, Sandy and I out there...just as my kids were playing with him. I then realized what a legacy Dad had passed on to us.

Having a family, I realized that importance and a sense of family pride if you want to call it that. But the fact that the mere mention of Dale Kirn's name and have heads turn is a strange but good feeling. His grandchildren tell people that their grandpa is famous and proceed to tell them that he is the best control line airplane flier there is. I just didn't want to lose a generation of control line fliers, to keep it in the family and have my own kids pass the torch. He still is, and ever will be, the greatest dad there is.