Bob Gieseke Bear

[Leonard Bourel]

Hi guys I am currently building a Bob Gieseke Bear Does anyone out there in stunt land know when Bob started flying this design I am wondering if it is nostalgia 30 legal yet Maybe some of you know when Bob stopped flying the smaller Gieseke Nobler and went to the Bear Any info would be appreciated Len

[Ken Culbertson]

Hi guys I am currently building a Bob Gieseke Bear Does anyone out there in stunt land know when Bob started flying this design I am wondering if it is nostalgia 30 legal yet Maybe some of you know when Bob stopped flying the smaller Gieseke Nobler and went to the Bear Any info would be appreciated Len

Your best source for the date would be Steve/Doug Moon or Mike Scott.  Best I can recollect it was the early 90's but how early I don't know.

Ken

Update: Word I get was that the early Bears arrived around 1995. The ones we are used to seeing around 2001. You may be confusing the oversized Gieseke Nobler that was the interim between the 35 ships and the piped Bear.  Sorry but it is still a few years off.

Ken Again

[Dennis Saydak]

Here's a picture of one that was flown at the Fargo contest in 2013. I believe the builder was from Minneapolis. Nice work.

[Dave_Trible]

Here's a picture of one that was flown at the Fargo contest in 2013. I believe the builder was from Minneapolis. Nice work.

I just noticed the picture.  That's Bob Baldus' AMA number.  Bob was from Des Moines.

Dave

[John Park]

The plan I have (obviously the piped 'Bear') carries the name GIESEKE NOBLER '97 and is marked: INKED BY STEVE MOON 10/98.  Hope this helps.

Regards
John

[Dave_Trible]

I don’t have a solid answer for you about it’s date of origin but somebody from Dallas would know.  From the plan date/name I’d guess around 1995.  That would still require several more years to pass for N 30 status.  I have those plans and might build one when the time occurs.

Dave

[Phillip Nickles]

Just verified with Mike Scott that the Bear image first appeared on Bob’s 1999 airplane which we also refer to as the 97 version. From then on all of Bob’s planes sported the Bear image/name. Mike knows this is true as Bob had found this image on a can of Skoal and asked Mike if he could make him some decals. Mike still has the 99 Bear hanging in his shop.
The story goes that Billy Werage started calling Bob the Bear because he snored like a bear.
Bob was a mentor to all of us that flew with him and to share information of those days always brings back fond memories.

[SteveMoon]

Leonard: The plans I drew for Bob were of the ‘97 Gieseke Nobler, commonly
known as The Bear. I had bugged Bob for quite awhile to let me draw the
plans for his plane as he worked off of a basic pencil drawing and changed
something with each year’s model.

If my memory serves there was also a ‘96 version and a ‘94 version. I believe
the ‘94 was the one he called the Mule and used it as a test bed. I saw that
plane literally disintegrate in air. It had about 2500 flights on it and was very
light; about 49-50 oz!

My brother Doug or Mike Scott should be able to shed more light on the
subject as well.

Later, Steve

[Leonard Bourel]

Thanks guys for all the great info It is great hearing about Bob and how and when he developed the Bear I have been working on the Bear kit for about a month now that I got from a friend who had it in storage for a number of years Steve I believe it is one of your kits. Today it is all framed up except for the wheel pants and I am really happy to say it is 29 OZ with nothing in it It will be my first pipe ship with a Rojett 61 I have to give a shout out to Sparky for telling me to keep sanding and carving those blocks The top block ended up at 1.5 OZ all the bottom blocks together were another 1 OZ including the cowl I never made more wood chips and sanding  dust in my life I will send some pics when I can Thanks Len

[Dennis Adamisin]

Those if us who attended the Stunt Hangar Chat last night got a sneak peak as Leonard  showed off the Bear in ready to cover mode.  I think he said it's 30 oz. in that stage, with a big RoJett for power. Leonard builds well, and match it up with good poiwer - easy to predict success for this one.

[Leonard Bourel]

Thanks Dennis Len

[SteveMoon]

Looking forward to seeing some pics.

Steve

[Naomi Macklem]

Here are some photos of it ready to cover.  I cant seem to attach more than one at a time though.

[Naomi Macklem]

another photo

[Naomi Macklem]

photo

[Naomi Macklem]

photo

[Naomi Macklem]

hopefully more photos will follow soon once it is finished

[Dan McEntee]

  Mark Hughes will have another Bear stalking the circles this coming year. His is a foam wing version, electric power, and is in the final painting stages and weighed in at 39 ounces last night with no running gear in it yet. I can't do pictures and neither does he but I'll figure out a way to get a photo on here.
   Type at you later,
     Dan McEntee
 

[Ken Culbertson]

hopefully more photos will follow soon once it is finished

Cheers from Bear Country - Looking Good!

Ken

[Dave_Trible]

  Mark Hughes will have another Bear stalking the circles this coming year. His is a foam wing version, electric power, and is in the final painting stages and weighed in at 39 ounces last night with no running gear in it yet. I can't do pictures and neither does he but I'll figure out a way to get a photo on here.
   Type at you later,
     Dan McEntee
 

Electric Bear?   Bob is watching.... just sayin’.  👀

[Dennis Adamisin]

Electric Bear?   Bob is watching.... just sayin’.  👀

Poking the Bear?

[Ken Culbertson]

Poking the Bear?

With some of the new timers you can get artificial Gorilla Balls.  Maybe he would have come around if he had more time!

Ken

[SteveMoon]

Ken: Don't count on it! The last time Doug and I saw Bob, about a week or so
before he passed, the first thing he said to Doug was: You're not going electric
are you?!. Say it with a gravelly, ornery voice and you'll get the gist.

Naomi: Your Bear looks great! It looks like a hot rod ready to jump off the line
and it makes me want to build another one.

Steve

PS: For anyone that may be interested, Brodak has The Cub (15 size Bear) kit
in stock. From a just pure fun standpoint this plane is a blast to build and fly.

[Ken Culbertson]

Ken: Don't count on it! The last time Doug and I saw Bob, about a week or so
before he passed, the first thing he said to Doug was: You're not going electric
are you?!. Say it with a gravelly, ornery voice and you'll get the gist.
 
The Electric then was like the Fox 35 compared to today but I have heard that voice - he was serious.

Naomi: Your Bear looks great! It looks like a hot rod ready to jump off the line
and it makes me want to build another one.

Makes me want to build my first one.  It sucks being the only one that doesn't have one!  Do you think Bob will know if it is electric?

[Leonard Bourel]

Hey Steve Not Naomi's Bear. Lens Bear Naomi posted the pics for me