JAY SMITH: How did you become involved with model aviation?
LUCIEN MILLER: From the time I was a little kid, my dad used to take me to Detroit Metro Airport to watch airplanes take off and land. The family would make a picnic out of it on the side of the road.
Later, he took my brothers and me to the local flying field to watch RC model airplanes fly. When I was 14, a friend of my dad’s, Kenny Muir, invited me to come out and watch him and some friends of his fly. He helped me get my first airplane, a Carl Goldberg 1/2A Skylane kit, and taught me how to fly it. I have been flying off and on ever since then.
JS: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career?
LM: Model aviation has been a huge part of my life and has been my source of income for more than half of my adult life. I started my first RC company, L&M Industries, when I was 23 years old, selling a product called No-Heat Trim Solvent. I later developed the Ball Bearing Servo Conversion Kit and sold that, along with several other products.
In the 1990s, I added a series of RC Combat kits to our product line. In 1998, I got out of the RC business for a while, but in 2006, I started Innov8tive Designs to distribute and sell the Scorpion line of motors and speed controllers.
I am in my 19th year now with Innov8tive Designs, and the product line has grown to include Tempest- and Cobra-brand power systems, as well as our premier brand of BadAss Power Systems, which I designed myself. In that time, we have grown to be the country’s largest supplier of brushless electric power systems.
JS: What other hobbies do you have?
LM: My second big hobby is 3D printing. I got started in that approximately eight years ago with an ANET A6 printer that I built myself. I have expanded to the point where I have roughly a dozen 3D printers now, both UV resin and filament fused-deposition modeling styles.
We have incorporated 3D printing into the business and use 3D printers to make our line of motor mounts and dummy engine kits.
My third hobby is playing guitar. I started that when I was nine years old and have played off and on for most of my life. I have been in a couple of bands throughout the years and really enjoy playing for people.
JS: Who or what has influenced you the most?
LM: There were two men in my life from whom I learned a lot. The first was my high-school physics teacher, Darol Straub. He was an amazing teacher who captivated students with his teaching style and hands-on approach to learning. Sadly, he passed away a few weeks ago, but he has left a legacy of thousands of students who will remember him for the rest of their lives.
The second, and most important influence of my life, would be my father, Lucien "Buzz" Miller IV. My dad taught me so much growing up—woodworking, electrical, plumbing, how to fix and maintain cars, and a host of other handy skills. Most importantly, he instilled in me a solid work ethic that has allowed me to be successful.
JS: Do you anticipate any advancements in brushless motors and ESCs in the near future?
LM: Brushless motors and ESCs are well developed, and there is little room for improvement on those items. The key area where there is still room for improvement is in battery technology. A new battery chemistry or manufacturing technique that could double the current storage capacity of batteries would be a real game changer and would revolutionize the hobby.
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