Australian WC 76 entry by Doug Harlow from down under

[Shultzie]

Thanks to Les McD again...for taking this old Kodachrom from the WC 76 in Holland.Hey Grunts...Take a look at what appears to be a VERY THICK WING and blunt LE...
Hey Les!!!!
Got any stories about this great looking jet styler from the Mid 1970's?
Any of you lurkin' lurkers who has some old slides that you can scan and send to the Grunt Section...
Start diggin through those old shoe box's...Huh?

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Very nice photo.  What a blast from the past. There is more about the first team of Aussies participating at WC 76 at www.Vicstunt.com http://www.vicstunt.com/Aerobatics/World/1976/1976-World-DougHarlow.htm and http://www.vicstunt.com/Personalities/DougHarlow/DougHarlow.htm 
I have never met Doug and he ceased flying CL in 2003. Others who were there were Dallas (Herb) Hanna and John Tidey, both of whom I still see and fly with.

[Russell Bond]

The model is called "Atlantis" and was designed by Peter White who lived in Victoria but has now moved to Western Australia.
Peter White still competes in aerobatics and he came 3rd at the Australian Nationals last month.

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hey Russell, whats your story? I noticed you won and placed in a few SA & Vic State Champs in the 80s.  What are you up to these days?
Regards
Warren

[Russell Bond]

Hi Warren,
Just competed in my first comp for 25 years!!  (Aussie Nats)
Got back into flying a few years ago.
Trouble is, my model's a bit heavy so I have ordered a Yatsenko Model. This will be the lightest model I've ever owned, maybe now the plane will go where I point it....Hahahaha.

Going over to the Vic and NSW State Champs this year, I need to get competition practice.

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi Warren,
Just competed in my first comp for 25 years!!  (Aussie Nats)
Got back into flying a few years ago.
Trouble is, my model's a bit heavy so I have ordered a Yatsenko Model. This will be the lightest model I've ever owned, maybe now the plane will go where I point it....Hahahaha.

Going over to the Vic and NSW State Champs this year, I need to get competition practice.

Well done.  How did you do at the Nats?  I haven't seen any of the details yet other than who won. Waiting for ACLN to come out next week so I can read the gos' and see who was there.  I should have gone to the Nats, the weather was crap up here, but I will be there next year and I will be at the NSW State champs so I will more than likely meet you there if you go.

Yatsenko eh!  Getting serious then.  How long do they take! I've heard you have to wait ages to get one of those unless you get a 2nd hand one.

So do you fly with Peter Angleberger? I met him at the 2006 Nats. Top bloke.

Cheers

[Russell Bond]

Haha, taught Peter "Anglegrinder" everything I know!!..........No seriously, I turned up at the field one day and saw this guy flying level and made him do loops with my help. (Then inverted).

I did crap at the Nats, I just didn't have my heart in it till the last flight. I kept telling myself "Why am I here, I need more practice" then I snapped out of that and put in a great last round. BIT LATE!!!!!  Hahahaha.
(Still beat Peter though.....I haven't really taught him ALL I know  )

The Yatsenko will be ready in about June.

[Shultzie]

Great stories...attachements, photos....Thanks be to Les McD's for his beautiful old Kodachomes.

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Great stories...attachements, photos....Thanks be to Les McD's for his beautiful old Kodachomes.

Thanks Les! Got any more nice old Kodachromes?

Cheers

[Dallas Hanna]

Here's another old one from that year closer to home Warren.  My model from that year with "a bit of USA-1" influence!  Model still hanging on the wall.  Last flown in 1985.  Many of the old slides are fading quite a bit now and changing colour.  Maybe they weren't Kodachrome as some of them are still ok.

Also one of Gene Schaffer starting. Also Geoff Higgs (Canada and ex UK).  Great memories.

HH

[Dallas Hanna]

May as well add another couple!!   John Newnham (UK) and Josef Gabris.

HH

[afml]

Is that the "Nimrod 7" behind John Newnham??

Remember reading the linage of that design.

"Tight Lines!"

Wes

[Dallas Hanna]

Is that the "Nimrod 7" behind John Newnham??

Remember reading the linage of that design.

"Tight Lines!"

Wes

Yes.  Jim Mannall holding model below.

HH

[Les McDonald]

What a great bunch of guys. The Australian planes were always interesting to inspect on the ground and watch in the air.
The one exception was Doug Harlow. I don't think anyone ever saw his Overhead Eights, we always watched him.
He would do his overheads laying flat on his back looking straight up at his plane.
The only time I ever saw a man "levitate" was the time Dougs' motor quit in the Overhead Eight.(He saved it!)
All their planes flew extremely slow and were always very well built. I appreciated the fact they danced to their own drummer by using home grown ideas in their designs. Always distinctive graphics and never covered with all the cartoons, doodles and tatoos that everyone else used.
 These guys were brutally honest, fun loving and respectful. It was an honor to compete against them!

                                                                                                                        Les McDonald

[Matt Colan]

Seems like Bill Werwage's USA-1 had A LOT of influence abroad!