Of the United States Model Airplane flyers lets try to list all that have caught lightning in a bottle and have been dominant during various previous stages.

Here are the ones I think have done so:

 Lightning in a bottle finders:

#1  Davey Slagle,  1946,47,48
#2  Lew Andrews, Unknown what years
#3  George M. Aldrich 1954, 1957
#4  Bob Palmer 1955, 1959
#5  Bill Werwage 1958, 1963, 1972, 1980, 2004
#6  Les McDonald 1978, 1980, 1982
#7  Paul Walker 1983 - present
#8  Jim Cassel 1977, 1979, 1981,1985
#9  Ted Fancher 1972, 1978, 1995, 2000

P.S.  There are many single time US Nats winners, but the only one who could take up the handle and be a great threat to win again immediately is Bart Kaplinski.

In my defense this was thought up on the spur of the moment, there could be a couple others that have caught lightning in a bottle!

Jim Pollock   

Has anybody passed Windy Urtnowski on number of top five's???

Yup Howard,

Good ole Pipe puffin' Bob Gieseke I forgot. Shucks..

Well, since I'm limiting this to 1st and 2nd places, I guess I should add ummm  Gene Shaffer?

Jim Pollock  

    I don't think I fully understand the meaning, but any list that doesn't contain David F is probably quite amiss. The run he is on now is at least in the ballpark with Paul's, and he's far from done. Aside from those two, NO ONE else's "run" is even close as far as winning goes. Paul has 10 and a WC, David has 13 or 14 (counting the Jr. Sr. and Open, I think) and a WC.

     Brett

I didn't even notice that David wasn't on the list.  I guess I just assumed that he was. 

Thanks Brett,

Like I said, I was doing it without looking up anything so I knew I'd foul it up somehow.

Let's see Dave Fitzgerald 1977 to present - I think that's close to everything for Dave.

I agree, Dave is nowhere near done.  He could end up with 20 Nats wins and 6-7 WC's before being done!

Jim Pollock      

How about Jim Vornholt, NATS Stunt winner 1960 and 1961.  And if you include CL Scale there is Steve Ashby with three straight NATS wins in Sport Scale in the 1980's and Steve Couch 2007, 2008 and 2009 NATS winner in FAI Scale.

These are just the ones from Indianapolis.  LOL
Clancy

Well Tom,

Not Bob Hunt he has only won the Nats 1 time.  Were not paying homage to someone who has one less that 3-4 times.  I also forgot good old Billy Werwage.  I think 3 World Champs and 3? Nats wins qualifies as Lightning in a bottle!

Jim Pollock   

. You would think that a Nats win and a World Champs win would add up to at least as much as two Nats wins. Guess I'll have to try harder.

See, and I just let this one go:

"P.S.  There are many single time US Nats winners, but the only one who could take up the handle and be a great threat to win again immediately is Bart Kaplinski."

 I am still not even sure what the meaning of "lightning in a bottle" night be.  This thread is clearly one of those "winter threads", I wouldn't lose a lot of sleep over it!

   Brett

   I don't think I fully understand the meaning, but any list that doesn't contain David F is probably quite amiss. The run he is on now is at least in the ballpark with Paul's, and he's far from done.

Word (that's street for "true")

It qppears David will ultimately surpass them all.

Bob G won 5 Nats and one WC, Paul only beat him by one Nats win.  Bob would be top 3 (second?).

It qppears David will ultimately surpass them all.

I hope to put a stop to that

Word (that's street for "true")

It qppears David will ultimately surpass them all.

Bob G won 5 Nats and one WC, Paul only beat him by one Nats win.  Bob would be top 3 (second?).

If you go by Walker Cup wins alone (and not Jr/Sr/Open wins, which I don't have handy at the moment), this is what you wind up with:

Paul Walker: 10 wins
Dave Fitzgerald: 6 wins
Bob Gieseke: 5 wins
Jim Casale, Ted Fancher: 4 wins
Bill Werwage, Davey Slagle: 3 wins

Every other Walker Cup winner either won it 1 or 2 times.

Paul, Dave, and Bob also each won the World Championships once, as did Bob Hunt (who won the Walker Cup once). Bill Werwage won the Worlds three times, as did Les McDonald (who won the Walker Cup once).

What does this all mean, apart from these guys - and others like them - are outstanding flyers and competitors?

I have no idea.   

Of the United States Model Airplane flyers lets try to list all that have caught lightning in a bottle and have been dominant during various previous stages.

Here are the ones I think have done so:

 Lightning in a bottle finders:

#1  Davey Slagle,  1946,47,48
#2  Lew Andrews, Unknown what years
#3  George M. Aldrich 1954, 1957
#4  Bob Palmer 1955, 1959
#5  Bill Werwage 1958, 1963, 1972, 1980, 2004
#6  Les McDonald 1978, 1980, 1982
#7  Paul Walker 1983 - present
#8  Jim Cassel 1977, 1979, 1981,1985
#9  Ted Fancher 1972, 1978, 1995, 2000

P.S.  There are many single time US Nats winners, but the only one who could take up the handle and be a great threat to win again immediately is Bart Kaplinski.

In my defense this was thought up on the spur of the moment, there could be a couple others that have caught lightning in a bottle!

Jim Pollock   

Hi Jim,

Not that it matters much but I believe that Art Palawski won the Walker Trophy in 1958 & Billy won it in 1959 as a senior.

Bill Byles

Now that you brought it up.  How many have won the NATS in each age catagory(Jr, Sr, Op) while competing? 

  Only one.

    Brett

He used to fly with us in North Virginia, he's a pilot for one of the commuter airlines flying out of either Regan or Dulles.

Jim Pollock      

He used to fly with us in North Virginia, he's a pilot for one of the commuter airlines flying out of either Regan or Dulles.

    Incorrect, I think.

     Brett

One other this,

The person I'm thinking of holds the record for most Jr. and Sr. wins with 7.  Soooo, who is it I'm thinking of??

Jim Pollock   

Jim P., it is bad getting old and memory is going at times, but didn't the individual young lad also win the Worlds as a Junior in FAI.  Can't remember his name and he was so tall.

Hi Bob,

Unfortunately I did forget about your WC win.....please forgive  my inaccuracy.  You also deserve to belong in
"Bottle" club as I now call it!  This club is the people who have risen to the top of the sport and held that spot for lengthily periods of time.

Jim Pollock,     Unless something really spectacular happens in the rest of the world, I expect Dave to continue his
exceptional run this year.  I wounder if Paul is going to fly his electric Impact this year??

Now that you brought it up.  How many have won the NATS in each age catagory(Jr, Sr, Op) while competing?  I think I know of a couple that have done it in Jr & Sr, but are still trying for the Open.

Dave is the only one to win all three so far as far as I know.

  Not to brag but I have won Jr, Sr. plus Advanced and a Jr. WC. Still have not got the Walker Cup (I was close once). And no Open WC yet but I am trying. Maybe one day I will have them all.

In response to the question of who was it that I was flying with in NVA that has 7 Jr and Sr. wins!!!!


It is non other than the incredible ::  N  A  T        G  I  F  F  O  R  D  !!

Of course he was a little out of practice and his flying schedule didn't always let him fly when he wanted
but he did show the abilities that made him a 7 time champion.  If he ever gets some time off and
some practice  watch out!  Oh yeah, I also sold him my PA .51 so I could buy a PA .61 from Randy.....

Jim Pollock  

I got wound up and wrote the wrong first name...... Oh well, just proves I mess up a lot!

If we are including dominant Junior and Senior fliers, how about my son, Robby? He won 5 Nats crowns in a row starting in 1991 with the Junior crown, and then he reeled off 4 Senior wins in a row to go with it.

Bob Hunt

Does a  NW COUGAR OR SEAHAWK POOP ON OUR NEWLY MOWED LAWNS?
Or will Paul fly his some of his  beautiful Electical CLPA ART?

Well, I have a new one done.  61.8 ounces this time, and in a smaller size. Same power system.  Yes, I would like to try it out against all at the Nats this year, BUT, I have other obligations during that time this year. I will thus be unable to fly at the Nats this year.

However, I plan on being back in '11.  I'll have my own personal flying site in by then, and time to practice. You youngsters may have to wait!! 

P Walker

However, I plan on being back in '11.  I'll have my own personal flying site in by then, and time to practice. You youngsters may have to wait!! 

P Walker

I hear ya Paul.

Great looking photos...from 88-89! Gee...Look how young these guys were....humm???

"TIME FLIES WHEN YER' HAVE CLPA FLYIN' FUN!"

Paul,

How close is you wing to that of Dave's MoonGazer??    

Jim Pollock