Written by Jay Smith
As featured on page 69 in the September 2012 issue of Model Aviation.
As featured in the Model Aviation tablet app.
Cliff Whitney has been involved with the hobby for virtually his entire life. His father was a U Control pilot and like a good majority of people, Cliff learned to fly CL on a PT-19 Cox trainer when he was around 10.
Gliders really drew his interest and by 13 he was hooked on RC sailplanes. So much so that he learned to fly full-size gliders while still in high school. Shortly thereafter, he added a powered rating so he could pilot a larger variety of aircraft.
Working for Wolf camera would necessitate relocation which found Cliff living in both North Carolina and Tennessee.
In 1980, he started Whitney’s Glider Supply, then later Sequatchie Valley Soaring Supply. While the main focus was on full-scale sailplanes, he also sold a small amount of RC (gliders). With his career taking off with Wolf and his partner also lacking the time to put into the business, the glider shop was closed.
In 2005, Cliff came out of retirement and opened Atlanta Hobby. Partly for something to do and also to help pay for his own interests in RC, it was housed in a hanger at the airport and was primarily internet based.
Being involved in Soaring Cliff was a member of the North Atlanta Soaring Association (NASA) and invited them to fly on his property. This one gathering changed everything as Cliff was introduced to three-meter sailplanes and Zagi flying wings.
Shortly after, he began selling Zagi aircraft and became the largest flying wing dealer with wings from several manufacturers, including his own Zing Wing children’s toy.
The increase in inventory necessitated a larger facility and Atlanta Hobby moved into a 3,000 foot warehouse.
After finding success selling Zagi aircraft, Cliff looked to bring other imported specialty products into inventory. Airplanes like the Wind Rider Elle Bee and Precision Aerobatics line of aircraft.
In January of 2007, Cliff launched Mercury Adhesives. His goal was to have glue manufactured in the USA. He worked directly with the largest manufacturer of CA to fine-tune the product to meet the needs of the hobby industry.
His business model was simple, have the glue made in Georgia to ensure freshness, only sell to dealers, and offer an unlimited, unconditional replacement warranty.
Mercury Adhesives has been successful and offers several types of CA, thread locker, and epoxy that is sold at 4,000 dealer outlets around the world and through Horizon Hobby.
Cliff has learned a lot about CA over the past five years so I took the opportunity to ask him a little about optimum storage.
“In the hobby business I work more than I did in the corporate world. It is exciting to own your own business. I am fortunate to be able to influence the lives of the people working with me. They are my partners and we eat and breathe this business.”
“When the hobby business took off, I was in the right place at the right time and it launched me out of retirement. I am happy to go to work each day and my wife calls me each night and says comes home.
It is Christmas every day when the bay doors open and the trucks back up to deliver new products.”
For an opportunity to win one of 10 $75 gift certificates from Atlanta Hobby, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/atlantahobby and answer the questions. Entries will be accepted through September 30, 2012. The winners will be selected on or before October 2. One entry per person is allowed. Those that are lost, late, misdirected, garbled, or incomplete for any reason will be ineligible. This contest is open to legal residents of the 50 states and District of Columbia and US military members with APO/FPO addresses. AMA employees are not eligible to win. The winners will be selected by Atlanta Hobby in a random drawing from among all eligible entries. The winners will be notified by telephone or email and his or her name and state of residence will be published in a future issue of MA and posted on www.ModelAviation.com Take the survey. Visit