Evolution of A Stunt Champion And His Airplane

[Dick Pacini]

Quick intro:  I met Bob Hunt at the '73 NATS.  It was my first NATS and the First time Bob had entered PA at the NATS.  We struck up a friendship and vowed that we would both qualify, which we did.  Bob went on to greatness and I gave up the hobby after a couple of years due to a new job and a move.

I have been tinkering lately and have been fooling around with flying again.  I built a pull test device that allows me to test alone, since I fly with a stooge launch.  I have talked to Bob a couple of times in the recent past and I did a write-up on the pull test device which Bob is going to publish.  I had furnished him with pix and he called me a few days ago to say the pix were too small, so I will have to adjust my camera and take them again.

I talked to Bob for almost an hour.  He has a wealth of knowledge that he is more than willing to share.  The fact that 40 years has passed since we first met doesn't matter.  He is still as pleasant as the day I met him.

After we hung up, I was fooling around on the computer.  Just for kicks and giggles, I brought up YouTube and typed in Bob Hunt.  There were a couple of videos of him flying PA.  The first was his 3rd round flight at the 2012 NATS, where he flew his electric powered Crossfire.  It was an exciting video for me to watch.  Bob seemed so relaxed in his blue jeans as he strolled out to the handle.  Soon, his plane was in the air, smooth, quiet and deliberate.  He flew an impressive pattern and put up the best triangles I have ever seen.  I was amazed at how slow the plane seemed to be flying.  So graceful and disciplined in the air.

After I watched that video, I saw his flight from the 1991 NATS where he also flew a Crossfire powered by glow.  He was a little quicker out to the handle in his white pants and soon his plane was on the wing.  It was LOUD and fast.  I am sure he was running a muffler, but it was so loud that it distracted from (in my opinion) his flight.  I would also say that his flight was good but paled to his latest performance.

So, the years have gone by and the Crossfire has evolved.  The powerplant has evolved.  Bob Hunt has evolved.  He is a very talented individual that I consider a stroke of luck to have as a friend.  And he doesn't need to wear white pants anymore.

[PJ Rowland]

" And he doesn't need to wear white pants anymore. "

He leaves that to others..........

[peabody]

And a handsome devil he was, too.....

[john e. holliday]

Yes Bob Hunt is one of the greats and also down to earth.   First remember meeting him at Lake Charles LA NATS when we were making lines for F2C competition.   When asked what we were doing, my partner at the time told him it was flags for a tall masted schooner.  Then he got serious and asked what the purpose was.    What a gentleman Bob is.