NATS Winners

[RC Storick]

Is this list correct?

2008
ORESTES A HERNANDEZ
 Shark
 Discovery-Retro 60
 Muncie IN


2007
ORESTES A HERNANDEZ
 Shark
 Discovery-Retro 60
 Muncie IN


2006
 BRETT W BUCK
 Infinity
 RO-Jett 61 BSE
 Muncie IN

2005
 Paul Walker
 For Reals
 OS 40 VF
 Muncie IN

 
 2004
 Dave Fitzgerald
 Star Gazer IV
 PA 65
 Muncie IN

 
 2003
 Dave Fitzgerald
 Star Gazer IV
 PA 65
 Muncie IN

 
 2002
 Paul Walker
 P-51 Miss America
 Saito 56
 Muncie IN

 
 2001
 Dave Fitzgerald
 Star Gazer IV
 PA 61

 
 2000
 Ted Fancher
 Final Edition
 PA 61
 Muncie IN
 

 1999
 Dave Fitzgerald
 Star Gazer III
 PA 61
 Muncie IN

 
 1998
 Paul Walker
 Impact
 OS 40 VF
 Muncie IN

 
 1997
 Dave Fitzgerald
 Star Gazer I
 PA 61
 Muncie IN

 
 1996
 Bob Baron
 Pattern Master
 Super Tigre 60
 Muncie IN

 
 1995
 Ted Fancher
 Great Expectation
 OS 46 VF
 Pasco WA

 
 1994
 Paul Walker
 Impact
 PA 40
 Lubbock TX

 
 1993
 Paul Walker
 Impact
 OS 40 VF
 Vincennes IN

 
 1992
 Paul Walker
 Impact
 OS 40 VF
 Westover AFB MA

 
 1991
 Paul Walker
 For Reals?
 OS 40 VF
 Vincennes IN

 
 1990
 Paul Walker
 Impact
 OS 40 VF
 Vincennes IN

 
 1989
 Jim Casale
 Spectron-Columbia
 Super Tigre 60
 Pasco WA

 
 1988
 Jim Casale
 Spectron-Columbia
 Super Tigre 60
 Tidewater VA

 
 1987
 Paul Walker
 Bad News IV
 Super Tigre 60
 Lincoln NE

 
 1986
 Ted Fancher
 Citation V
 Super Tigre 46
 Lake Charles LA

 
 1985
 Jim Casale
 Spectrum Mk III '85
 Super Tigre 60
 Westover AFB MA

 
 1984
 Paul Walker
 Bad News I
 OS 45 FSR
 Reno NV

 
 1983
 Jim Casale
 Spectrum Mk III
 Super Tigre 60
 Westover AFB MA

 
 1982
 Ted Fancher
 Intimidation
 Super Tigre 46
 Lincoln NE

 
 1981
 Bill Werwage
 USA-1
 Super Tigre 46
 Seguin TX

 
 1980
 Les McDonald
 Stiletto 660
 K&B 40
 Wilmington OH

 
 1979
 Bob Gieseke
 Gieseke Nobler
 Fox 35
 Lincoln NE

 
 1978
 Bob Whitely
 Derringer
 Super Tigre 46
 Lake Charles LA

 
 1977
 Al Rabe
 P-51 Mustang
 
 Riverside CA

 
 1976
 Bob Hunt
 Genesis Mk III
 Super Tigre 46
 Dayton OH

 
 1975
 Bob Gieseke
 Gieseke Nobler
 Fox 35
 Lake Charles LA

 
 1974
 Bob Gieseke
 Gieseke Nobler
 Fox 35
 Lake Charles LA

 
 1973
 Al Rabe 
 Sea fury
 Super Tigre 60
 Oshkosh WI

 
 1972
 Dennis Adamisin
 Fouga Magister
 OS Max-S 35
 Glenview Il

 
 1971
 Bill Werwage
 USA-1
 Super Tigre 40
 Glenview Il

 
 1970
 Keith Trostle
 Focke-Wolf
 OS Max 35
 Glenview IL

 
 1969
 Bob Lampione
 F-86 Sabre
 Fox 35
 Willow Grove PA

 
 1968
 Bob Gieseke
 Gieseke Nobler
 Fox 35
 Olathe KS

 
 1967
 Barton Klapinski
 Tempest
 McCoy 40
 Los Alamitos CA

 
 1966
 Bob Gieseke
 Gieseke Nobler
 Fox 35
 Glenview Il

 
 1965
 Bob Gialdini
 Eclipse
 Veco 45
 Willow Grove PA

 
 1964
 Jim Silhavy
 Nobler
 Fox 35
 Dallas TX

 
 1963
 Bob Gialdini
 Sting Ray
 Veco 35
 Los Alamitos CA

 
 1962
 Gerry Cipra
 Nobler
 Fox 35
 Glenview Il

 
 1961
 Lew McFarland
 Shark 45
 Veco 45
 Willow Grove PA

 
 1960
 Jim Silhavy
 Nobler
 Fox 35
 Dallas TX

 
 1959
 Bill Werwage
 Ares
 Fox 35
 Los Alamitos CA

 
 1958
 Arthur P. Pawloski
 Atom
 Fox 35
 Glenview Il

 
 1957
 George M. Aldrich
 Nobler
 Fox 35
 Willow Grove PA

 
 1956
 Bill Cummings
 
 
 Dallas TX

 
 1955
 Bob Palmer
 Thunderbird
 Veco .35
 Los Alamitos CA

 
 1954
 Hill Hutchins Jr.
 
 
 Glenview IL

 
 1953
 Bob Elliott
 Black Tiger
 
 Willow Grove PA

 
 1952
 George M. Aldrich
 Nobler
 Fox 35
 Las Alamitos CA

 
 1951
 Don "Buzz" Ferguson
 Cheek Cowl Barnstormer
 Fox 35
 Dallas TX

 
 1950
 Lou Andrews
 Trixter Barnstomer
 Fox 35
 Dallas TX

 
 1949
 W. Howard Thombs
 Di-Doe Profile Bi-plane
 O&R .29
 Olathe KS

 
 1948
 Davey Slagle
 Checkala Roma
 Super Cyclone
 Olathe KS

 
 1947
 Davey Slagle
 Checkala Roma
 Super Cyclone
 Montcello MN

 
 1946
 Davey Slage
 Checkla Roma
 Super Cyclone
 Wichita, KS

[Robertc]

I've wondered if the '63 StingRay was a Merco instead of the Veco.  Who knows?

[Dan McEntee]

   Didn't Davey Slagle win it the first time using a whip powered model? I'll have to dig in the magazines to check this out, but I seem to remember reading that in the magazines of that time, might even be in "Do You Speak Model Airplane?"
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Brett Buck]

Kind of looks cut/pasted from the PAMPA Website.

   Infinity is spelled with an I, not an E. The engine was a RO-Jett 61 BSE. Orestes' engine is a Discovery-Retro 60 both times. I think that at least the last two of David's wins were with a PA65, not  a 61.

     Brett

[Brett Buck]

   Didn't Davey Slagle win it the first time using a whip powered model? I'll have to dig in the magazines to check this out, but I seem to remember reading that in the magazines of that time, might even be in "Do You Speak Model Airplane?"
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

    I don't think so, it was the Checkala Roma, which was an original modified from some kit (by taking two flat-bottomed wings and gluing them together flat-side-to-flat-side to make a symmetrical airfoil, reportedly). I think Keith even tracked down which kit was bashed - I want to say some Ercoupe kit available at the time, but I could be wrong.

       Brett

[Shultzie]

I've wondered if the '63 StingRay was a Merco instead of the Veco.  Who knows?

The Merco 35 is correct.  I think when Brett checked out the magine and article plans...A Veco engine was shown...instead of the Merco..(see photos in article...it clearly shows a Merco.)

I have only built and flown 2 StingRays...BOTH WITH MERCO 35s (same engines as in his Sting Ray.)
 I remember clearly ASKING BOB ABOUT THAT VECO when I saw the plans with the Veco drawing instead of the Merco's that he had been using.
(here is the detail from the plan...illustrating where the Veco idea came from.

Although in Bob THE BOB GIALDINI BIO article...I too was really confused when I saw the reference  made made that it was a  VECO 35 that he used for his winning 1963 Nats airplane?
Guess only BOB GIALDINI really knows for sure?

[Matt Colan]

I believe Bob Gialdini's Stingray was powered by a Merco .35  Brett Buck's Infinity was powered by a Ro-Jett .61 and Orestes Hernandez' Shark was powered by a Discovery Retro .60

Other than that I think you are correct.

[Shultzie]

Dug out my old magazine...Guess it boils down to truth in the written word...Brett was only quoting what was written...(right or wrong) in the Bio.
I too heard about the "engine noise sound tests that Gialdini conducted with both the Merco and Veco engines. 
here is what the Sting Ray AAM 64 issue  article clearly shows in print... which leds me to believe that the Meco was the 63 nats winning engine???

(but again...only Gialdini knows for certain?)

[RC Storick]

Kind of looks cut/pasted from the PAMPA Website.

   Infinity is spelled with an I, not an E. The engine was a RO-Jett 61 BSE. Orestes' engine is a Discovery-Retro 60 both times. I think that at least the last two of David's wins were with a PA65, not  a 61.

     Brett

It is cut and paste except for the winners after 05. Anyone knowing about the entrys that are not filled in with a engine please post a reply here.

[RandySmith]

I am not sure David used a PA 65 for his last 2 wins, about 3 or 4 years ago he took the 61 out of his plane just after winning the NATs and gave it to me for rebuild, I remember this clearly  because he said something about it had over 1600 flights on that engine
I guess  we need to ask David

Regards
Randy

[dale gleason]

Bill Cummins flew a Black Nobler with a Fox 35 at the '56 Nats. I'm pretty sure Bob Gieseke told me that. I sent that info somewhere, PAMPA? 
 dg
Edit: Then again, it may have been Gene Hempel who told me. Gene and Bill were close friends as teenagers and were flying buddies.

[Brett Buck]

The Merco 35 is correct.  I think when Brett checked out the magine and article plans...A Veco engine was shown...instead of the Merco..(see photos in article...it clearly shows a Merco.)

  Huh?  I don't think I ever commented on this part  - and I sure as heck don't know! I was 2 years old when this happened.


     Brett

[Brett Buck]

Is this list correct?

...
 
 1996
 Bob Baron
 Pattern Master
 Super Tigre 60
 Muncie IN

 ....

    I seem to recall Mike Rogers emailing me and telling me that this was actually a Double Star 60 prototype, not an ST. Ran pretty good, no matter what it was.
   
     Brett

[Shultzie]

  Huh?  I don't think I ever commented on this part  - and I sure as heck don't know! I was 2 years old when this happened.


     Brett

Wow Brett...
See what happens when ya get as old as I am...and speed read through these posts..
Sorry Ace!

[Steve Helmick]

I thought John Lenderman won sometime in the early '50's. Not long ago, I asked PW if I didn't remember seeing JL's name on the Walker Cup, and PW replied "Most Certainly" (as I recall). He used a Still Stuka with a Fox .35. Do ya suppose JL won the Walker Cup as a Sr.?  Steve

[Trostle]

I thought John Lenderman won sometime in the early '50's. Not long ago, I asked PW if I didn't remember seeing JL's name on the Walker Cup, and PW replied "Most Certainly" (as I recall). He used a Still Stuka with a Fox .35. Do ya suppose JL won the Walker Cup as a Sr.?  Steve

According to Wynn Paul's record of the Nats and Team Trials, John Lenderman won the Open Stunt event in 1952.  George Alrdrich was the Senior Champion and won the Walker Cup as the National Stunt Champion in 1952. 

John Lenderman flew to third place in the Open event in 1959.  That is the only record of his Nats participation. 

Keith

[Bradley Walker]

    I seem to recall Mike Rogers emailing me and telling me that this was actually a Double Star 60 prototype, not an ST. Ran pretty good, no matter what it was.
   
     Brett

Not in 1996.  That was a ST 60.  It looked like an old one.  It had a Merco muffler on it with the back end cut off.

I think he switched a year later.

[Shultzie]

According to Wynn Paul's record of the Nats and Team Trials, John Lenderman won the Open Stunt event in 1952.  George Alrdrich was the Senior Champion and won the Walker Cup as the National Stunt Champion in 1952. 

John Lenderman flew to third place in the Open event in 1959.  That is the only record of his Nats participation. 

Keith

Here is the shot of Ben Madsen at the 67 Delta Downpour contest...(just before his offical flight in that "Oregon mist")... that soon turned into a steady downpour right in the middle of Ben's last offical flight of the day.

The gentleman in the middle of the photo.... is our beloved brotha'-in-CLPA, the late John Lenderman.
 Open champion at the 1952 nationals.

[Jim Pollock]

Gosh,

Who was it that flew Charles Macky's Gobbleswants in 1956 again?  Someone named Randolph?  I can't remember but I guess Bill Cummings was a senior and beat him in the Walker Cup fly off???

Boy my memory is getting bad, bad, bad!

Jim Pollock   

[Howard Rush]

Bob Randall, as I recall.  I think it was 1958 at Glenview. 

[Steve Fitton]

Not in 1996.  That was a ST 60.  It looked like an old one.  It had a Merco muffler on it with the back end cut off.

I think he switched a year later.

Indeed.  It had a Big Jim ST 60 in it at Muncie that year.  Later that summer or autumn they tested the DS 60 in it, and quickly came up with the 10% reduced Patternmaster (Time Machine) for the DS.

[Michael Floerchinger]

What is amazing is Paul Walker's record!

[wayne scruggs]

Hello Mr. Storick:
     A fine job as usual, but under the 1981 entry Seguin, Tx is mispelled, it has no e after it. Thanks!

   Wayne Scruggs
   AMA 849241

[Trostle]

Gosh,

Who was it that flew Charles Macky's Gobbleswants in 1956 again?  Someone named Randolph?  I can't remember but I guess Bill Cummings was a senior and beat him in the Walker Cup fly off???

Boy my memory is getting bad, bad, bad!

Jim Pollock   

Bob Randall flew at one Nationals.  He won the Open Championship in 1958.  The 1958 Senior Campion was Arthur Pawloski who then won the Walker Cup as the National Stunt Champion.

Bob Randall flew the Charles Mackey design twin boom Junkers Gobbleswantz.  Plans and construction article were published in the June 1959 issue of American Moceler.  Plans are available from the AMA and Randy Smith.

Keith

[Brett Buck]

What is amazing is Paul Walker's record!

    Pretty amazing, also note that there is a world championship in the middle of the NATs run. BTW, you also might want to look at David's record - I don't think he gets nearly the credit he is due. And neither is done.

     Brett

[Matt Colan]

    Pretty amazing, also note that there is a world championship in the middle of the NATs run. BTW, you also might want to look at David's record - I don't think he gets nearly the credit he is due. And neither is done.

     Brett

well Dave has won 5 walker cups since 1997 and last years worlds.  I don't think this is as much of a feat as Paul Walker winning I think it was 5 walker cups and a World Championships in a string of 5 years.  That I consider amazing 

[Howard Rush]

Art Pawloski won both stunt and combat at the same Nats.  I always thought that was cool. 

[Steve Helmick]

Back to the intent of the thread...I believe the post on the PAMPA website was about Walker Cup Winners, not Open Winners, which is a different subject. So, Sparky needs to revise his list some more.   Steve  

[Howard Rush]

I thought the list was swell, whichever it is.  I spent about an hour on it, going over each year, thinking about what I was doing then, and remembering each of the Nats I attended.  Thanks for posting it, Robert. 

[Mike Keville]

The gentleman in the middle of the photo.... is our beloved brotha'-in-CLPA, the late John Lenderman.
 Open champion at the 1952 nationals.

The late John Lenderman was better known as a top-caliber Free Flighter (Wakefield, mostly), although he did in fact win Open Stunt at the '52 Nats with a Still Stuka.

[Bob Whitely]

Another bit of interesting history that is very cool.  Keith Trostle is the only one to win Open, the Walker Cup and Precision Scale.  Some others have come close but he is the one that did it.  RJ

[Howard Rush]

From the looks of his Bear bomber, he hasn't lost his touch.

[RandySmith]

BTW, you also might want to look at David's record - I don't think he gets nearly the credit he is due. And neither is done.

     Brett


Right you are Brett,  and  you need to add  maybe 4 or 5 more  NATs Championships from Davids earlier years !!

Randy

[Brett Buck]

BTW, you also might want to look at David's record - I don't think he gets nearly the credit he is due. And neither is done.

     Brett


Right you are Brett,  and  you need to add  maybe 4 or 5 more  NATs Championships from Davids earlier years !!

Randy

  More like 7 - 5 junior and 2 senior, I think.  The only person to win as a Junior, Senior, and Open as far as I know. Aldrich and Billy did Senior and Open, but not Junior. But the mere fact we are talking about David in the same sentence as GMA and Bill Werwage says something.

    And anyone who thinks he's not the prohibitive favorite for 2009 are deluding themselves - not that we aren't going to make him earn it! 

    Brett

[Jim Pollock]

Didn't Les McDonald win the Nats and the World Championship in the same year 1980?
I think that's a petty good accomplishment since he had won at least one other World Championship
before winning a Nats.  I've also been a bit curious weather he's coaching Orestes?

Jim   

[Jim Pollock]

I think the next one to win in Jr. Sr. and Open will be our GA Buddy Derek Barry.  Believe me, it's coming soon, might have already happened if their shop hadn't burned down!

Jim Pollock   

[Steve Fitton]

I think the next one to win in Jr. Sr. and Open will be our GA Buddy Derek Barry.  Believe me, it's coming soon, might have already happened if their shop hadn't burned down!

Jim Pollock   

Yeah, that Derek ain't bad!

Anybody heard anything about Robby Gruber these days?  He's still up at Yale, isn't he?  Will he return to stunt or defect to Major League Baseball?

[Brett Buck]

Didn't Les McDonald win the Nats and the World Championship in the same year 1980?
I think that's a petty good accomplishment since he had won at least one other World Championship
before winning a Nats.  I've also been a bit curious weather he's coaching Orestes?

    Please don't take my comments on David's success as taking away from anyone else! But yes, I think you are right, and once again, we are talking about David in the same breath as Les McDonald. Pretty good company.

    I don't know one way or another about Orestes, but I would tend to think not.

     Brett

[Trostle]

The record of Les McDonald:

Open at the Nats:  72 - 7th,  73 - 3rd,  74 - 5th,  75 - 2nd,  76 - 7th,  79 - 3rd,  80 - 1st and Walker Cup

World Championships:  76 - 1st,  78 - 4th,  80 - 1st,  82 - 1st  84 - 5th 

An interesting footnote about Les being on the United States team in 76.  At the 75 Team Trials, Les finished 4th and Bob Gieseke finished 2nd.  Following that Team Trials, Bob decided to defend his 74 World Champion title at the 76 World Championships as an independent, leaving his position on the United States team.  That allowed Les to join the team as the next alternate.  The results are shown above with Les winning the 76 World Champion title.  The United States team won the World Team Champion title with Les leading the way with his 1st, Bill Werwage was 2nd and Gene Shaffer was 6th.  Bob Gieseke finished 3rd, but his score/placing did not contribute to the Team Championship standing.

Keith

[RandySmith]

Another bit of interesting history that is very cool.  Keith Trostle is the only one to win Open, the Walker Cup and Precision Scale.  Some others have come close but he is the one that did it.  RJ

That is the mark of a true Master Modeler, It takes a very talented craftsman to build models for a scale competition and Stunt ,and excellent piloting skills to fly in  and win Both. Keith may never have anyone compete with him for that honor.
 Some of the scale ships I have seen are simply works of art. I was blown away with Ron Burn's very scale-like stunt ships , and his ablity to make the same fly that well

Randy

[Matt Colan]

  More like 7 - 5 junior and 2 senior, I think.  The only person to win as a Junior, Senior, and Open as far as I know. Aldrich and Billy did Senior and Open, but not Junior. But the mere fact we are talking about David in the same sentence as GMA and Bill Werwage says something.

    And anyone who thinks he's not the prohibitive favorite for 2009 are deluding themselves - not that we aren't going to make him earn it! 

    Brett

I'm not going to the NATS this year and I think this is my last year eligible for Junior (I'm 14 now).  We plan to go to the NATS in 2011 when I can drive.  So for the time being, we're going to be going to Brodak's instead.

[john e. holliday]

Matt, it depends on your birthday.  If not 15 before the NATS, you are still a Junior.  Remember when you renew check the date on the renewal.  But, also as a Senior you will probably have less competition.  DOC Holliday