NATS Champs

[Clint Ormosen]

Could some post a list of all the past National Champions in order, and the models they flew? I can't seem to find an online list.

[Dennis Adamisin]

Clint:
If you go to the PAMPA website, search under "Resources" then "Documents" you can get a list of all the Walker Cup champs and World F2B Champs.  Most of them list what they flew.

except mine...!

[Will Hinton]

So Dennis, what DID ya fly?
Will

[Paul Smith]

Could some post a list of all the past National Champions in order, and the models they flew? I can't seem to find an online list.

That would be a very big list, usless it was limited to one particular event in one particular nation.

[Clint Ormosen]

That would be a very big list, usless it was limited to one particular event in one particular nation.

 I was asking about U.S. stunt champs, of course.

Thank you Dennis, I couldn't find it before.

[Dennis Adamisin]

So Dennis, what DID ya fly?
Will

Thanks Will, with my EGO I was DYING for someone to ask! 

The airplane was a semi scale Fouga Magister powered by an OS 35S; 55" span, 630 squares, about 56 ounces...

[Doug Moon]

1972?  Were you flying sr or open? Cool plane!

[Dennis Adamisin]

1972?  Were you flying sr or open? Cool plane!

I used to be young & studly  ( well, young anyway..  ) 

I was the last Senior to win the Walker. 

[Doug Moon]

That is so cool!  Not only to win the walker but to be the last sr to do so.  That gives you a very exclusive win!  I dont think a sr will do it again.  The numbers in the classes just dont work out.  Way to go!!  Once a champ always a champ!!
 

[Dennis Adamisin]

Doug - thanks.  "The older I get the better I WUZ!!!"   

All seriousness aside, back then the top 2-3 Juniors and 3-4 Seniors could hold their own with the top 10-15 Open.  Back several yers earlier than me, Werwage, Palowski, Cipra, Slagle et.al. were even more prominient as Jr & Sr winners.

You are right-on target, the numbers among the younger flyers make it hard to reach that critical mass needed to really drive the competitiveness within the age group - plus their time within a certain age group is short.  I flew 4 NATs in 5 years as a Junior, 3 NATs in 3 Years as a Senior then it was on to Open...

[Will Hinton]

Dennis,
I'm glad I asked if only to see the great cockpit detail on that fabulous ship.  Now tell us the truth, who's the good lookin' young guy holding the airplane?  (Only kidding.)
So many years, so many memories,
Will

[Trostle]

I do not want to say anything that in anyway diminishes the accomplishment of Dennis and his win of the Walker Cup in 1972.  I was there and saw it happen.  It was close between him and Al Rabe, but Dennis won and deserved the win.  I think the only person that was more proud of Dennis than me on that day was Art.  That is one of those moments that I will always remember and cherish.

It was unfortunate in that period of Walker Cup flyoff history that by the time the flyoff occurred, about the only people that stayed to watch were personal friends, pit crews and maybe some family.  It was a shame really because the competition and the importance of that event was and is intense.  At least with the current format used at the Nats, there is more interest shown by a significant number of bystanders.

The achievement by Dennis in being the last Senior to win the Walker Cup is significant.  There is another story that is worth mentioning, again, not intended in anyway to diminish Dennis' achievement.  Rob Gruber almost took the Walker Cup in 2004.  Rob had just won the Junior category in the FAI World Championships held in Muncie just prior to our Nats.  (The FAI age category for Junior fliers overlaps our AMA Junior Senior divisions.)  Rob won the Senior event at the Nats and then flew against David Fitzgerald, the Open Champion, for the Walker Cup.  The Walker Cup flyoff is a best two of three flights affair.  Rob completed his third flight and his score was posted just as David was preparing to fly.  Unknown to David, Rob's best two of his three flights was a higher score than what David had on his first two flights which meant that David needed to improve on at least one of his previous flights.  David put in an excellent flight and won the Walker Cup by a few points out of a total of over 1,100 points.  Both flew very well.  Both received excellent scores.  This is another of those stories where Rob Gruber's achievement received little attention in our model press.

(There is something about these young guys with reflexes, no fear of the ground, and excellent training with excellent coaching that makes a formidable combination.)

Keith Trostle