Best pilot(s) you've ever judged.

[Robert Zambelli]

I thought this might be an interesting topic.
I've done quite a bit of judging in the last thirty five years or so and had the opportunity to judge some really outstanding flyers.
Judged at:
GSCB
Philly Flyers
KOI
Hunterstville
VSC
Brodak
Joe Nall
Canton
and maybe a few more.

Some of the best that come to mind in no particular order: Bob Hunt, Paul Walker, Mike Palko, Dave Fitzgerald, Joe Gilbert, Kent Tysor, Derek Barry, Dan Banjock, Mike Waldron, etc.
Note that I said SOME of the best - there are, I'm sure, many more but I just can't remember them all.

Do any of you share my opinion and want to add some some of your own?

Bob Z.

[RandySmith]

I thought this might be an interesting topic.
I've done quite a bit of judging in the last thirty five years or so and had the opportunity to judge some really outstanding flyers.
Judged at:
GSCB
Philly Flyers
KOI
Hunterstville
VSC
Brodak
Joe Nall
Canton
and maybe a few more.

Some of the best that come to mind in no particular order: Bob Hunt, Paul Walker, Mike Palko, Dave Fitzgerald, Joe Gilbert, Kent Tysor, Derek Barry, Dan Banjock, Mike Waldron, etc.
Note that I said SOME of the best - there are, I'm sure, many more but I just can't remember them all.

Do any of you share my opinion and want to add some some of your own?

Bob Z.

Dave Fitzgerald
Derek Barry
Paul Walker
Ted Fancher
Bill Werwage
Bob Hunt
Jimmy Casale
Bill Rich

Most of these  were at the  US Nats, There are many more  great pilots  I have never  judged

Randy

[Frank Imbriaco]

Gene Schaffer

[Larry Fernandez]

I have had the pleasure and honor of judging the west coast flyers for a number of years and the best, in no particuler order would be,
Paul Walker
Dave Fitzgerald
Ted Fancher
Brett Buck
Howard Rush
And Chris Cox

Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

[Robert Zambelli]

Yes, I might have judged Ted Fancher at VSC but I can't really recall.

Frank - I never met or judged Gene Schaffer but I did see him fly at a Navy base on Street Rd in PA, early 70s. Can't remember the name of the field.

An AMAZING pilot.

Bob Z.

[Frank Imbriaco]

Johnsville NAS  in Pa ?
Base now  long gone, but it was the site of an annual AAA competition known as the Eastern States Championships.

[Phil Spillman]

Hi Bob ET Al, I'd like to mention the late Buddy Weider, and Gary Tultz, plus Jerry Phelps still with us I hope, Windy Urtnowski, Tim Stagg, and Jon Saunders! I am sure many others would be qualified to join this esteemed list and oh my gosh! how could we forget Danny Banjock? Any way they're my instant nominees!

Tally Ho!

Phil Spillman 

[Robert Zambelli]

Johnsville NAS  in Pa ?
Base now  long gone, but it was the site of an annual AAA competition known as the Eastern States Championships.

YES, that's it - Johnsville.

Bob Z.

[John Leidle]

  The best :  Ted Fanchier , Howard Rush , Cris Cox .  The best flight I've judged was Gordon Delany at the Nats maybe 2002 flying the Colossus with a Tiger .51 the year he won Classic , smoothest flight I've ever seen.
         John L.

[Larry Wong]

I have had the pleasure and honor of judging the west coast flyers for a number of years and the best, in no particuler order would be,
Paul Walker
Dave Fitzgerald
Ted Fancher
Brett Buck
Howard Rush
And Chris Cox
             
me to I also had the pleasure to judge them in the West coast

Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

[Gordon Van Tighem]

  The best :  Ted Fanchier , Howard Rush , Cris Cox .  The best flight I've judged was Gordon Delany at the Nats maybe 2002 flying the Colossus with a Tiger .51 the year he won Classic , smoothest flight I've ever seen.
         John L.

I sent a copy of your post to Gordan Delaney, he responded:

“Hi John, Thank you for the kind words. I use to fly with Jim Tichy in WAM back in the mid sixties. Thought his was the prettiest plane I had ever seen. Jim was a great builder. Miss him a lot.”

[Skip Chernoff]

Best flight I ever witnessed was by Mike Palko at Philly 3 years ago flying his electric Mustang.

[Ken Culbertson]

My trip down memory lane has only one answer to this question.  It was the running duel between Gieseke and Rabe during the late 70's.  I judged them many times and it was a seminar on talent and dedication to their sport.  I can't remember who won when, but that doesn't matter.  They were the masters of a discipline that has long since vanished.  Each had a different strength which made them near equals.  If I had to pick it would be a tie.

My favorite pattern ever was Al flying one of his Sea Fury's.  It stretched the elevations a tad, well maybe a bit tad, but the smoothness and perfect shapes made you a bit forgiving and the landing made you want to go back and erase some other sores since 40 was all you could give it.  He was better with his Mustangs but never really captured the shock and awe of the Sea Fury.

The best pattern I have seen flown was by Bob at one of our local "creative judging" contests somewhere around 1980.   I would love to have seen Bob fly his Bear when he was in his prime except for one thing, Bob's strength was that he was an "all weather fighter" and the newer planes and power plants really took most weather out of the equation and all of the fun the judges had watching the pilots antics at the center of the circle.

Ken

[Matt Colan]

I haven’t judged yet, but the best flights I’ve ever seen in my opinion came from Dave Fitzgerald at the NATS. Mind blowing consistency, and the plane went everywhere it needed to go. This flight I recorded during the 2017 walker fly-off is the standard I want to be up to eventually

[Ken Culbertson]

This flight I recorded during the 2017 walker fly-off is the standard I want to be up to eventually

I stopped watching after the RWO. 

Ken

[Randy Powell]

Paul Walker, Ted Fancher, Howard Rush and Chris Cox. Others have had really good flights, but these 4 are consistently very, very good.

[Robert Zambelli]

Another one I forgot: Bill Suarez (sp)
As I recall, judged him once at Middlesex.

Nice guy and GREAT flyer.

Bob Z

[Larry Renger]

How about the best judges you ever flew for?  I had the privlege of presenting to Bob Whitely and Dave Fitzgerald and flying my only over 500 point score ever. Talk about a peak experience! Those score sheets are framed in my office. 😄