Author Topic: A legend has died, Lew McFarland has passed. (Read 6149 times)

Bob Hunt · « **on:** March 31, 2011, 05:34:47 PM »

This is very sad news.

I just received word from Wynn Paul that legendary stunt pilot and airplane designer extraordinaire, Lew McFarland passed away last night.

This is the end of an era...

Bob Hunt

Dave Adamisin · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2011, 05:52:13 PM »

Very sad. He was a sweet and thoughtfull man. Always a big help to us when we were getting started.

Les McDonald · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2011, 06:18:42 PM »

Little by little the pieces of our lives are slowly chipped away.

Bob Kruger · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2011, 06:20:14 PM »

Oh my. My prayers go with his family.

V/r

Bob

Quote from: Bob Hunt on March 31, 2011, 05:34:47 PM

This is very sad news.

I just received word from Wynn Paul that legendary stunt pilot and airplane designer extraordinaire, Lew McFarland passed away last night.

This is the end of an era...

Bob Hunt

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2011, 06:41:44 PM »

I'm saddened to hear that. My prayers to the family.

"Big Art" · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2011, 06:57:57 PM »

My heart is heavy tonite after hearing the news of Lew's passing. My codolences to his family. This was a man among men a pleasure to know. He always had words of encouragement when we were starting out. Many of our early designs had Lew's influences in them. I will always remember Lew's second flights he would look straight down his arm pointing at each manovuer. Forever the judge I also once judged his take off with Donna as they were leaving the NAT's.
R.I.P Louis "THANKS A LOT" for all you did For Us Too Us and With us.

"Big Art Adamisin"

John Miller · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2011, 07:11:59 PM »

Gentle winds, and fair skies.

James Mills · « **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2011, 07:17:39 PM »

This is very sad news. I spoke with him a couple of times and he seemed like a real gentleman. We'll pray for his family.

James

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2011, 07:26:56 PM »

This is sad news. Lew was a very special, quiet man. I never heard him say a negative word. Rest in Peace our friend.

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2011, 07:43:33 PM »

This is profoundly sad. Lew was my role model, one I fell short of, for his combination of being such a tough competitor AND consumate gentle-man. I do not think it is much of a stretch to say that his Shark created the trend toward larger stunt models, at a time when the engine choices were pretty slim.

I think of him often, and that will never change...

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2011, 08:02:00 PM »

My prayers for the family.

proparc · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2011, 08:25:59 PM »

When one of us passes away, I feel like I am losing a part of myself. One of our greats is gone. God bless him.

Jo Ann Keville · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:27:19 PM »

My thoughts and prayers go to his family in their time of need. This is truly sad news.
JoAnn

wwwarbird · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2011, 11:04:58 PM »

A major idol and icon in my personal modeling history, this one leaves me speechless at the moment.

PJ Rowland · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2011, 04:53:55 AM »

That club is getting some great members.

May all the greats whom have left us Live long in our hearts and memories.

Hoss Cain · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2011, 07:13:42 AM »

Lew was a Gentleman first, last, and always. There is a well worn Spinks Acromaster hanging in my barn from a kit I purchased from him in his shop back around 1980. I will now be sure it gets better care.
May his family know peace as they had the best.

Pat Johnston · « **Reply #16 on:** April 01, 2011, 07:41:43 AM »

Lew's designs were my favorite from my start in the late 60's. His Shark 35/45 were an inspiration to for my Shark 402 and Mako Jet which are dedicated to him. May God's face always shine on Lew.
Pat Johnston

john e. holliday · « **Reply #17 on:** April 01, 2011, 08:09:04 AM »

What can I add that hasn't already been stated. It is a shock to me. What few times I met him, he always treated like he knew me all his life.

Derek Barry · « **Reply #18 on:** April 01, 2011, 11:18:25 AM »

Very sad.

Larry Cunningham · « **Reply #19 on:** April 02, 2011, 06:32:09 PM »

I'm saddened by Lew's death. I've always been impressed with his Shark which I consider a truly significant (and beautiful) design. Lew was definitely a pioneer and a great positive influence on our hobby. God bless him.

L.

Jim Pollock · « **Reply #20 on:** April 02, 2011, 06:41:15 PM »

I called Lew almost daily while I was building my Shark that I got from his Xcell Models Hobby shop. We will all miss him hugely.
He was a great friend to talk to about his Sharks!

Jim Pollock

RogerGreene · « **Reply #21 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:40:37 PM »

I learned to fly stunt on his Ruffy by Sterling. Very nice flying plane. It was my second kit built plane when it came out on the hobby shop shelf. I will miss him. A trully great man. My prayers go out to his family.

Roger

Bill Little · « **Reply #22 on:** April 03, 2011, 12:35:30 AM »

I just saw this, and I, too, am saddened to hear the news. May God Bless his family and friends.

We have lost one of the truly great persons that have been involved in this hobby. It is definitely a loss.

Bill

Will Hinton · « **Reply #23 on:** April 03, 2011, 04:19:15 PM »

Not that I didn't value it before, but my Ruffy with Lew's autograph on the wing will get even better care and never fly again.
Lew was such a sweet man, we all could take lessons from his example.

Bart Klapinski · « **Reply #24 on:** April 03, 2011, 07:18:47 PM »

I met Lew only once, years ago. He was a gentleman to say the least. I didn't get to speak with him for long but, he seemed so kind with a huge positive attitude. I wish I knew him better. My prayers go to his family and even though it will be from a distance----Lew will be missed greatly.

Bart

jim ivey · « **Reply #25 on:** April 03, 2011, 10:24:41 PM »

I knew lew. nice guy only spoke to him a few times at the nats. He and Hi were good friends. jim

Mike Gretz · « **Reply #26 on:** April 03, 2011, 10:53:32 PM »

Godspeed Lew.

When I remember Lew it is very easy and perfectly natural to say "I loved that man!"

My relationship with Lew was more in the line of business than on the field. Lew was SIG's supplier for several model products, as well as a longtime SIG dealer (hobby shop). I worked with him for several decades. Many words I am reading here ring perfectly true in my memory of Lew McFarland ... "sweet .. thoughtful .. very special .. a quiet man .. a real gentleman".

Rest in peace.

Mike

John Sunderland · « **Reply #27 on:** April 04, 2011, 01:46:47 PM »

Saddened by this! I knew he was not in good health for awhile now. A man who was at THE very top of my stunt heroes list. Very much admired this man. I and my fathers condolences to his family. He will be missed by so many. Nicest guy ever in the hobby and he mentored a lot of us in some way or another.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #28 on:** April 04, 2011, 02:49:25 PM »

Quote from: Bob Hunt on March 31, 2011, 05:34:47 PM

This is very sad news.

I just received word from Wynn Paul that legendary stunt pilot and airplane designer extraordinaire, Lew McFarland passed away last night.

I haven't even known what to say about this. Suffice it to say that without Lew McFarland, I almost certainly wouldn't be flying stunt, and certainly not at a high level.

Brett

Shultzie · « **Reply #29 on:** April 04, 2011, 08:41:55 PM »

Quote from: Bart Klapinski on April 03, 2011, 07:18:47 PM

I met Lew only once, years ago. He was a gentleman to say the least. I didn't get to speak with him for long but, he seemed so kind with a huge positive attitude. I wish I knew him better. My prayers go to his family and even though it will be from a distance----Lew will be missed greatly.

Bart

Thanks Bart....
1967 was the first time that I met both you and our brotha' Lew McFarland in person...and the first year that I entered my new Sting Ray.
Lew came up to me just minutes before my qualification flight and asked what happened to my beautiful old White Shark 45's with the gold trim that I had been previously using as my favorite AXE'S up in the NW with good success?
Wonder if that was gamesmanship?

He has been an inspiration to soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many of us CLPA grunts over the years....
He lives in my heart and soul until we meet again...between the earth and sky...where the angels dare to fly.
Lew made our world a better place to live and made a difference for the better good for so many.
www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10436059/tm.htm

Author Topic: A legend has died, Lew McFarland has passed. (Read 6149 times)

Dave Adamisin