I liked it better when he changed the look to copy Jerry Worth's Apterix.

I still think that is the coolest classic plane there is. But that's just me.

I agree I like the redo better than the original.  I remember at the time it was new I really did not care that much for it, but it is growing on me..!

I still think that is the coolest classic plane there is. But that's just me.

Same here.  I just love the asthetics and I am dying to build one with the same sort of profile.  Since it has a thin airfoil, I redesigned it with an SV-11 wing.  Hopefully someday.

Where has Bill gone, by the way?  I've heard he ran into financial trouble.  I've also heard he devoted a lot of time to his business and hasn't had time to fly.  I've also heard he has basically disapeared and nobody knows where he is.

Thanks for these shots and for bringing up Billy's name and planes.

I talked for many hours with Bill about the USA-1.  He recovered the wing and cut the rudder down to create the *second* version from his first one, so both sets of pictures were possibly (probably) the same airframe. That first one was built in late '68 and he had a dated photo that was taken in Nov. '68, IIRC.  He built a total of three USA-1s he said, and he was still using the USA-1 wing until his second version of the Geo XL!  The two large Junars he built used USA-1 wings, and he really got use to that wing.

I was going to build a piped USA-1 as a mule to test for Billy (not that I can fly good enough) but he turned to the geo bolt wing and his P-47s before I could get it done.  I did find out that it is very truthful when he said that you HAVE to keep a USA-1 in the mid 50oz. range to have it fly properly.  Mine was 54 oz, RTF and it is still my most favorite airplane I have ever had.  I am going to have to build another one before long.    I used a T&L ST G51 in mine and Bill suggested to try a PA .51 or .61.  I have one of each for usage and will go that route next time.

After his Mother passed and the house was sold, Bill lost his work shop.  That really hampered things, for sure.

Mongo

I hope to see Bill back again when he gets things squared away. My personal feeling is, a well built USA-1 at about 54oz with a piped PA 40 would be a killer plane for PA. It would get scowls in classic due to the pipe, but would be a wonderful plane.

I have always like Bill's airplanes.  From his Vulcan to the Ares, Super Ares, USA-1, Junar, Juno, Geo XL, and his P-47s; I have always like the looks of those planes in particular and I want to build basically each one of the names I just listed.  Say there is an idea.  Design a stuntship incorporating a little bit of each plane into it.

I would also like to see Bill back flying again.

When I was a young kid in Elkhart, Indiana, Bill became a hero of mine when the famous picture of him holding his "Ares" appeared in American Modeler's 1959 Nats coverage. I had never seen such a beautiful model, especially built by someone only three years older than I. I even built an Ambroid kit of the old Consolidated "Whipsaw" and painted it to "resemble" Bill's plane. I never forgot that "Ares" model, and it was part of the reason I came back to this hobby, when I learned that people were still flying CL. What I didn't realize was that for the last 23 years I had been living within half an hour of Bill Werwage. Bill had earned quite a reputation for single-minded devotion to CLPA, but I was surprised to learn that we had come close to encountering him from time to time in musical circles, as wife Gusti and he had sung and played a few of the same venues. The best thing though was to learn his friendliness at the field, when I'd go out to fly at mid-day during the week and find him practicing or testing ideas, engines, etc. One day I remember well was when he was preparing for the 2004 World Championships (which he won), having some trim problems with his modern USA-1 piped model, which he ultimately had to put away in favor of his trusty P-47. In the midst of what must have been a frustratiing time, he came over and spent 20-30 minutes trying to solve my SkyRay/Fox .35 fuel pickup problem. I surely hope he will be back flying, but perhaps the horse riding business is too demanding now. I think that he's a great guy, and the best flights I have ever seen were done by him at our grass circles, especially one the night the local journalist was out there interviewing and watching. Bill made a special effort to come out with his P-47 (Jerry Phelps, too). He has also judged our Cleveland Area Stunt Championships on occasion.

SK

Serge
Outstanding photos.....and it was be fantastic to have you pick someone for "GRUNT" for the day that just maybe you might also have some more of the great photos to attach.
Thanks Serge'
You write with such clarity....and with great detail which would really help goggle the memories of other friends, peers or anyother person that has made such a difference to our "hobby-
sport"
(why is it that personally...this has always "bunched my britches in a bind" when I hear that expression...HOBBY SPORT and still after all these years...I continue to wonder why we use that OXY-MORON HOBBY-SPORT TITLE?
Some how it  just isn't what this R&R thang' (rocks and bricks tied on strings and swung around our heads) as many of my beloved brothers in R/C have razzed me so many times over the decade with such glee and delight insist in calling us. )


Kidnapping my own post??!! This is one place where perhaps kiddnapping is appropriate' and just maybe...the Stunt Grunt theme isn't correct.
I would prefer maybe another word....somethin' like LOUNGE-TANK TALK Where just about any thing remotely that is on our "hobby-fever induced and damaged minds?

JUST GO FOR IT...and this also GOES FOR YOU LURKNG GANG OF CLPEEE-A ERS' Jump in here with your favorite mentor, peer' or friend of modeling.
(As you know...these folks that you think need not know a heckity damned thing about control line or even stunt models.

I found my VSC 14 and WC prints. Here are some more for this thread. 'sorry (as usual) about the poor scans and files. I need a better scanner and program.

1) Bill Werwage holds up new "62 Ares"
2) Bill with Bill Rutherford's Rabe Mustang near dusk.
3) With Bob McDonald , and Warren Tiahart at Rodeway Concours
4) Preparing P-47 at NCCL field Summer, 2004 before WC's
5) Same - ready to release from Stooge.
6) Watching WC Flights, 2004
7) After winning WC, Muncie, 2004

Never nuff photos of the beautiful USA-1
Again, thanks to Les McDonald ....here is his  Bill's 1973 FAI USA-1 scanned slide.
First scan at default setting
next scan with Arc Media Impressions program that came with the Epson V300 scanner

out of all the aircraft kitted someone should do a laser kit of this one.

AMEN!!!  Also they should kit Dave Gierke's Novi III, with an anhedral tail.  Both are very cool and I would be the first one to get one of those kits if they were kitted.

I still think that is the coolest classic plane there is. But that's just me.

Nope.... its most of us! Naturally I like the modified second version best. Sharp as a knife edge gets!

Here is Bob McDonald's USA-1.  Whenever I see pictures of this airplane, I want to build the plane more and more.  I have a set of plans to USA-1, and I traced an SV-11 airfoil in place of his thin airfoil that can't take a lot of weight.  Someday, I keep saying, someday I will either build my version of USA-1 with the thicker airfoil or the classic version.

Bill Wright & Jim Dunkin used to tell us stories when they would return from the World Champs in the European countries.  Like stated some are best left out of print.  Nothing like our clean cut all out competitors from the good ole USA.

The 2008 US team management kept a tight rein on the stunt team and allowed no unseemly shenanigans.

HOWARD....WOW! 2008...TELL US MORE?

The 2008 US team management kept a tight rein on the stunt team and allowed no unseemly shenanigans.

There's such a thing as seemly shenanigans? 

The one I think I can relate was the early year of when we could send a Junior entrant.  Seems a lady of the night was getting friendly with him before he was enlightened.   

These are great photos, Matt! Thanks for posting them. I believe many of them were originally taken by Claus Maikis.

The first photo, listed as "Billy's first Geo" is actually a photo of my son, Robby's, Geo-Star. That photo was taken at the 1994 World Championships in Shanghai, China. Robby was our Junior F2B team member that year. He placed third (Bronze Medal). With that ship Robby also won the 1995 Nats in the Senior division. It was powered by an OPS .40 with a Future Force tuned pipe. It featured a totally original wing design and was built in the Lost-Foam system as a Warren Truss type. We both liked that wing so much that I incorporated it into my Genesis Extreme design.

We have the pencils for the Geo-Star and have been considering publishing it in Stunt News. We have received a number of requests for the plans over the years. Billy's Geo-XL was in the 700 square inch range, but Robby's Geo-Star was 620 square inches in area. It weighed in at 52 ounces. The model still exists and belongs to a modeler who lives in our area. Robby has had thoughts about buying it back from the current owner and converting it to electric power and using it as a practice ship.

Thanks again for posting these photos, Matt!

Bob Hunt