Carl Goldberg Products
Champaign, Illinois maker of RC airplane kits and ARF models.
Carl Goldberg Products, based in Champaign, Illinois, produces radio-controlled airplane kits and Almost Ready to Fly models. Founded in 1955 by Carl Goldberg (1912–1985), the company makes RC aircraft and components. Great Planes Model Manufacturing bought the business on August 24, 2007. The model pictured—a Yakovlev Yak‑54—came out in December 2007, during the sale negotiations, and is considered either the last product under the old ownership or the first under the new one. On January 10, 2018, parent company Hobbico announced a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing; by June 2018, it had switched to Chapter 7 and entered liquidation. Notable models include the Bucker Jungmann and the Staudacher S‑300 GS. The Academy of Model Aeronautics gives out the Carl Goldberg Vital People Award, named after the founder, to honor contributions to model aviation.
- Founded
- 1955
- Founder
- Carl Goldberg (1912–1985)
- Headquarters
- Champaign, Illinois
- Acquired by
- Great Planes Model Manufacturing on August 24, 2007
- Parent company bankruptcy
- Hobbico filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on January 10, 2018; Chapter 7 liquidation in June 2018
Lore & Background
Carl Goldberg Products was founded in 1955 by Carl Goldberg, who led the company until his death in 1985. The company produced radio-controlled airplane kits and Almost Ready to Fly models from its Champaign, Illinois base. On August 24, 2007, the company was purchased by Great Planes Model Manufacturing. A model of a Yakovlev Yak-54, shown in production during the negotiations, was released in December 2007 and is considered to be either the last model produced under the previous owner or the first under the new one. The parent company Hobbico filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 10, 2018, and subsequently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in June 2018, entering liquidation.
Reader's Guide
Carl Goldberg Products holds a place in the history of radio-controlled model aviation as a long-standing manufacturer of kits and ARF models. The company's acquisition by Great Planes Model Manufacturing in 2007 marked a transition, with the Yak-54 model straddling the change of ownership. The later bankruptcy and liquidation of parent company Hobbico in 2018 ended the company's operations. The Academy of Model Aeronautics established the 'Carl Goldberg Vital People Award' to recognize contributions to model aviation, reflecting the founder's legacy. The company's products, such as the Bucker Jugmann and the Staudacher S-300 GS, were part of its catalog. The Yak-54 model, a high-performance fully aerobatic park flyer, exemplifies the type of aircraft the company produced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Carl Goldberg Products?
Carl Goldberg Products is a Champaign, Illinois-based company that designs and sells radio-controlled airplane kits and Almost Ready to Fly models. It was established in 1955 by Carl Goldberg, who passed away in 1985.
What does Carl Goldberg Products make?
The company produces RC aircraft kits, ARF models, and related components for hobbyists. Their lineup has included aerobatic planes such as the Yakovlev Yak-54.
When was Carl Goldberg Products founded and by whom?
Carl Goldberg (1912–1985) started the company in 1955 in Champaign, Illinois. It has operated as a dedicated RC aircraft manufacturer ever since.
What happened to Carl Goldberg Products ownership?
Great Planes Model Manufacturing purchased the business on August 24, 2007. Later, parent company Hobbico filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on January 10, 2018, and by June 2018 had transitioned to Chapter 7 liquidation.
Why is the Yak-54 model significant to Carl Goldberg Products history?
The Yakovlev Yak-54 was released in December 2007, right in the middle of the sale negotiations to Great Planes. Fans debate whether it counts as the final product under the original ownership or the first under the new one.
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