Charles Luther Hayes

Charles L. Hayes

August 16, 1931-March 8, 2022

Charles L. Hayes was born on August 16th, 1931 in Chickasha, Oklahoma

and passed away peacefully on March 8th, 2022 at age 90 in his home in Carlsbad, California.

Charles spent his early life on a farm in Delano, California where he developed a passion for airplanes. That passion led him initially into building and racing model airplanes. Charles worked as a machinist and eventually it was racing model airplanes that drove him on his career path. Charles began designing and manufacturing controllers for model airplanes, and later his joysticks became the first ones used by Apple and IBM for computers. Later he would design many flight simulation products for the retail market. Charles’ motto was “always do what you love,” and there was nothing he loved more than creating new products.

Besides being a brilliant entrepreneur, Charles was a master craftsman,

building several full-size airplanes that were as beautiful as they were technically advanced, always with the latest electronics.

Although Charles wasn’t able to finish high School, what he lacked in education he made up for in his work ethic- working 7 days a week for a good portion of his life.

Charles L. Hayes is survived by his childhood sweetheart Ruth F. Hayes,

his daughter Fran Meyers, his son-in-law Scott Meyers and daughters Brenda Christmas and Cindy Stearns- also by his beloved sister Loreta Zaninovich and his nine grandchildren.

Services will be held March 28th, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at El Camino Memorial, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, California 92121.