Though not a CL person he was a GIANT in the FF circles.

[Ty Marcucci]

Just got an e-mail that Sal Taibi passed away in his sleep last night. If you have ever done any free flight, then you know he is the designer of the Star Duster series and owned Superior balsa for a time. A legacy gone.
Thermals Sal.

[proparc]

If I can, I will post picture of me buying balsa from Superior. As a child in New York i used to read about Sal Taibi. He was freeflight's George Aldrich.

[Mike Keville]

I knew Sal rather well when I was Free Flighting in the '70s.  He was a kind, helpful and modest gentleman.

[Larry Renger]

Truly a fine man.  I knew him somewhat and he was always ready to help trim a model.  The listing of his designs would fill a page, I'm sure.  I still own a 1/2A Spacer.  Guess I better rezzurect it!

[EddyR]

I new Sal since we were both young men. Last time I saw him he was still driving his vintage Chevy. 1955 or 56 I can't remember.  Sal sent me the plans for his Starduster 900 before it became a kit. I had the first 900 on the east coast. He drove all over the country in that old Chevy.
Ed

[Marvin Denny]

  Gone!!! another GOOD ONE!!  The only time I met Sal was at a Dallas Nats in the early 50s.  I was a young GI struggling with a Zipper A.  I could NOT get it to not do loops.  He saw I was having troubles and just came over and started helping.  A truely a great gentleman.  We All will miss him.

  bigiron

[bob whitney]

the Starduster was the Ringmaster of Free Flight  ,Every Free Flighter has built at least one and if you couldnt get it to fly  shame on you.  i have built two of them , the only FF' i ever got to Max Out.another Good One Gone

[Ara Dedekian]

   My all time, favorite model to fly is the 80" Sal Taibi Powerhouse on three channel RC with a Saito 50. Among my collections of FF, C/L and RC planes the Powerhouse is hands down the most relaxing, enjoyable, quiet, crowd pleasing,( keeping it low and close in)  and consistent flyer I have. With its huge undercambered wing it flies effortlessly, is capable of mild aerobatics, and when you go for altitude and kill the engine, you can go thermal hunting. She'll easily stay up another fifteen minutes deadstick. My kind of model; big, quiet and slow.

Ara Dedekian   

[dankar]

Sal Tabi was a fine/ decent person of great ability. I use to fly with him at Miles Sq. Also seen him many at Meca meets in So. Cal.  Last time I seen him years ago at S/W regionals swap meet in Casa Grande, Az.

[Randy Ryan]

Oh Man! What sad news. I met Sal in 1968 in Colorado. What a great guy, always had time for everybody. He signed my Powerhouse for me and helped me trim it. I had an O&R .60 on it because at the time I didn't have a Forster .99. He sketched the prop he carves for Forsters and gave it to me (not the one from Air Age Gas Models). He also complimented me on the quality of my building, I was 18 at the time. I still remember being out on the field at the Aurora airport with my Dad and the Powerhouse, Sal saw my first flight and came out and said to add some right tab and it would be perfect. I did that and won my first ever trophy, Senior High Point, 1098 seconds, that is one score that has never escaped me.

RIP Sal Taibi, your freinds world wide have lost a great treasure, you are missed already.