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And no, no, no you can't say Checkalaroma...... You know the one that won in 46,47,48......... It was a clark Y airfoil airplane and I don't think it was flown inverted?

My pick would be.......well, lets see...... The, oh, fuey, the Gobbleswantz......  
Another I would pick second to the gobbler would be.......gosh....The stock Nobler  

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Jim Pollock  

Jim,

Maybe I am reading your post wrong, but the Checklaroma flown by the Junior Davie Slagle and won the Walker cup those three years did have a symmetrical airfoil.  Bill Netzeband built won based on the plans published in the April 1947 issue of Air Trails and flew it in OTS at least once at a VSC several years ago.  By most standards, it could be said that it was perforamance challenged.  I think Bill's model is now in the AMA museum.

The "Junkers Gobleswantz" is a Charles Macky twin boom design that won the Nats around 1958 flown by Bob Randall.  Lou Wolgast competed with one in the Southwest in Classic for several years.  By all accounts and its ability, it is a "nice" perfoming airplane as are all of Mackey's designs.

I think it wouild be difficult and somewhat meaningless to compare the generally poorer performance of airplanes prior to the mid 50's to those after that period.
 
Keith

(Edit for typo)

To me the Nobler was not the most glamorous of stunt planes, but look at its record across the nation.  I have had four of them and the ARF is still in the shop.  There were/are so many that built the Nobler and improved the flying ability with it.  Also I think any model that won a NATS had to be a great flying plane in the hands of the pilot.  I know of one designer that would not give out or sell his plans as he didn't want someone messing the build up and then telling every one what a horrific desing it was.   Did talk to a fellow modeler this past weekend that is building a Rabe Mustang.  Stated he talked to Al quite abit before Al would sell him the kit.  He also had to buy the videos and the construction photos.  He said it was well worth the money. 

I have always been confused about this. Maybe somebody of Sr. position in this crowd could shed some light here.
The beloved Fox characteristic seemed to carry the Nobleresque/ Palmer models for nearly 20 years. At the end of that era in 69'.....OS 35S, McCoy 40, Tigre 46s...had the power to make a big size impression. Had size been refined instead of what seems simply increased. Back in 62 if a Veco 45 with a NEW sleeve could have swung an 11/4 on an airplane a little smiggen smaller than the Shark.....whoa ho. Seems to me like decades of baby steps. Rules often hampered possible gains.

I love all these Classics, but it just seems that size happened before adequate power. Crap flying conditions were negated a bit, and greater field presence was gained. But I would still put an even bigger motor in a USA-1, Shark, Eclipse, what have you. Of course, I was in the field out back flogging a hot Mc Coy on a Ringmaster about then. No disrespect intended here but, everyone could tell the Sea Fury's were massive compared to Gieseke's Noblers and danged sure must have had some grunt...Tigre 60s had some poopby comparison in those days. After all it hauled 11 pounds or more of fiberglass, radio and symmetrical foam core wings not unlike stunt ships...very fast. The RC Pattern crowd was schneurling all over the countryside.

I hope we give some of this new technology coming along some time to develop before we make any hard and fast rules for the entire stunt community. In the long run I bet that the majority of us would find that medium sized and over powered is as good as it gets for seven minutes in the circle. Oddly enough, I dont think we are going backwards here anymore, but this bigger is better deal should really only have gone so far. Maybe now it has