Author Topic: The guys from New York (Read 2767 times)

Robert Zambelli · « **on:** December 16, 2018, 11:46:24 AM »

In particular, the area around New York City - Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx, Long Island, etc.
I remember attending some contest in the late 60s, early 70s with my close friend, Mike Haravitch.
A number of names come to memory as so:
Bob Lampione
John D'Ottavio
Gene Shaffer
Vic Macaluso
Jim Greenaway
____ Simmons
Larry Scarinzi

I know that a number of these have passed on but I was wondering, who's left and are there more to add to the list?
And, if so, are any of them still involved with model aviation in any way at all?

Let's find some memories!
Bob Z.

Andre Ming · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2018, 01:07:53 PM »

Larry's still kickin'.

Andre

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2018, 02:42:11 PM »

Bob Lampione just recently passed away. John D'Ottavio left us a few years ago after a move to Texas. The name Simmons should have Bill in front of it, I think, but don't know about him. Big Jim Greenaway went west about ten years ago or so. And I believe Gene Schaeffer has also. I do not know about Vic Macaluso. I'm not a New York guy, just been around a long time and read a lot. Bob Hunt would know for sure on all of them I think.
Type at you later, and remembering those who have gone before us,
Dan McEntee

Chuck_Smith · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2018, 02:54:00 PM »

Bob,

Jimmy Casales was from Patterson, New Jersey, IIRC.

I remember how intimidating Gene looked getting ready to fly. Always with a sharp airplane and he looked like he just stepped out of the dressing room. Flew one of the smoothest patterns I always thought.

Chuck

peabody · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2018, 03:50:22 PM »

Frank McMillan, Gene Martine and Rich Giacobone all grew up flying together around NYC....
John D moved back to NJ and spent the last ten years of his life in Palisades Park....

Bob Hunt · « **Reply #5 on:** December 17, 2018, 06:11:48 AM »

Yeah, there were a bunch of really great fliers in that area in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Just to set the record straight, my mentor's name is Bill Simons. That's with just one m... As far as I know, Bill is still with us, but I haven't had any communication with him for about ten years. I'll try to remedy that.

Other names that come to mind from that era and that area are Andy Lee, Jose Modesto, Will DeMauro, Ray Moore, Hank Forbes, Jim Greenaway, Mike Rogers, Bobby Miller, Ron Pavloer, Vic Macaluso, Hank Womble, Fred Miles, and Bob Baron. There were many more, but my memory has been worked over time of late, and it may be functioning at reduced capacity...

Later - Bob Hunt

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #6 on:** December 17, 2018, 09:13:03 AM »

Quote from: Robert Zambelli on December 16, 2018, 11:46:24 AM

In particular, the area around New York City - Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx, Long Island, etc.
I remember attending some contest in the late 60s, early 70s with my close friend, Mike Haravitch.
A number of names come to memory as so:
Bob Lampione
John D'Ottavio
Gene Shaffer
Vic Macaluso
Jim Greenaway
____ Simmons
Larry Scarinzi

I know that a number of these have passed on but I was wondering, who's left and are there more to add to the list
And, if so, are any of them still involved with model aviation in any way at all?

Let's find some memories!
Bob Z.

Yeah Bob.
Roger V. here.
When you were in Ardsley, we lived about 4 miles apart. I flew at Lord and Taylor's parking lot in Eastchester, won local Plymouth event, sponsored to the 1953 Plymouth Nats in Detroit. Also flew (not well) in a few Mirror Meets in late 50's. Then college and a great career in aviation and aerospace. Resumed CL flying after retirement
Never knew each other until we met at a KOI in FL in late 90's or 2000. Remember?
We later flew together at our IRKS field in Cocoa,FL.
We have had a few of the "find some memories " conversations and I look forward to many more. We can also, as we have in the past, talk about our aerospace memories.
Take care,
Roger Vizioli
IRKS Control Line

Robert Zambelli · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2018, 09:50:14 AM »

What GREAT replies!!!

I'm amazed at how many people were involved in our great sport - thanks for all the names, Bob.
Sadly, I missed a great deal of it as I was out of C/L for around twenty years.
What got me back in was meeting the Philly Flyers in the early 90s.

Roger - when I lived in the Ardsley/Dobbs Ferry area, I used to fly at the VE Macy public park.
It was on Saw Mill River Road, across from the Water Wheel Inn. Remember the Water Wheel inn?

Bob Z.

Andy Lee · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2019, 05:00:58 PM »

I'd like to add Frank McMillan, Tom Niebuhr, Mike Rogers and Chris Lella to the list of NYC fliers. I just had lunch with Mike and Chris today!

EddyR · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2019, 05:51:50 PM »

I was not a NYC guy but I did live in central NYS ,Binghamton and made it to many NY and NJ contest from late 1940's to 1960's I remember Red and Larry.
In the early 2000's I went up to a NJ contest and Larry came over and said " I remember you from a long time ago". Larry launched my Viking for me all day and I won Old time ,Classic and was third in Expert with the viking. He made the comment" just like the old days"
I do remember many from the 1950's I flew more FF contest back then than CL contest.
EddyR

louie klein · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2019, 06:51:14 PM »

Vic Macaluso is active with RC . The Long Island Eagles I think. A club out east on L.I.,N.Y. I flew with him, Don Herdman, Mike Chiodo and Danny Delina. Those were good old pipe days with Vic's Crusader.---Louie

Paul Walker · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2019, 09:46:03 PM »

How about Lou Dudka and Glen Meador?

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2019, 10:26:34 PM »

Quote from: Robert Zambelli on December 17, 2018, 09:50:14 AM

What GREAT replies!!!

I'm amazed at how many people were involved in our great sport - thanks for all the names, Bob.
Sadly, I missed a great deal of it as I was out of C/L for around twenty years.
What got me back in was meeting the Philly Flyers in the early 90s.

Roger - when I lived in the Ardsley/Dobbs Ferry area, I used to fly at the VE Macy public park.
It was on Saw Mill River Road, across from the Water Wheel Inn. Remember the Water Wheel inn?

Bob Z.

Yes Bob, I remember the Water Wheel Inn (we had our engagement dinner there), White Turkey restaurant, LaMandas pizza in W. Plains, Candle Light Inn on Central Ave., Curry Chevrolet (my drag racing sponsor), Westchester Hobbies/White Plains............................. Ahhh, the good old days. .
We lived off Ridge Rd, up the hill above Ardsley.

Roger V.
Tak care my friend

Ken Culbertson · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2019, 11:26:51 PM »

Quote from: Robert Zambelli on December 16, 2018, 11:46:24 AM

In particular, the area around New York City - Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx, Long Island, etc.
I remember attending some contest in the late 60s, early 70s with my close friend, Mike Haravitch.
A number of names come to memory as so:
Bob Lampione
John D'Ottavio
Gene Shaffer
Vic Macaluso
Jim Greenaway
____ Simmons
Larry Scarinzi

I know that a number of these have passed on but I was wondering, who's left and are there more to add to the list?
And, if so, are any of them still involved with model aviation in any way at all?

Let's find some memories!
Bob Z.

There was a Barry Simmons that flew with Larry Scarinzi. I believe he passed away a while ago.

Ken

Jim Mynes · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2019, 05:55:23 AM »

Quote from: Andy Lee on March 30, 2019, 05:00:58 PM

I'd like to add Frank McMillan, Tom Niebuhr, Mike Rogers and Chris Lella to the list of NYC fliers. I just had lunch with Mike and Chris today!

I remember seeing Chris Lella flying a beautiful airplane, Sundance, I think, in Braintree, Massachusetts back in the mid 70’s. It may have been my first contest as a know it all teenager who went home more humble.

peabody · « **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2019, 08:00:30 AM »

Jim Damerell is a past Advanced Champion and, in spite of physical ailments, still builds and flies at top level.
Are we purposely ignoring Windy?

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2019, 09:50:40 AM »

Quote from: peabody on March 31, 2019, 08:00:30 AM

Jim Damerell is a past Advanced Champion and, in spite of physical ailments, still builds and flies at top level.
Are we purposely ignoring Windy?

I met both of those guys at a NATS in Pasco WA in '92 or '93. Windy was a big inspiration for me when I decided I wanted to do nice(er) finishes. Super cool dudes!
I think that was the NATS he brought the Strega to.

Robert Zambelli · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2019, 10:54:07 AM »

Quote from: peabody on March 31, 2019, 08:00:30 AM

Are we purposely ignoring Windy?

A VERY interesting question.

peabody · « **Reply #18 on:** April 01, 2019, 09:03:53 AM »

When Bill Rich was living in the Philly area, he would regularly drive to Flushing to confer with Big Jim

proparc · « **Reply #19 on:** April 01, 2019, 09:14:36 AM »

I'm still alive LOL

I moved to the DWF area. I specifically moved close to the Samuel Hobby flying field here,(about 9 miles away) so I could practice. I was recently at the Team Trials helping my knucklehead brother Jose try to get on the Team. Trying to get him to stop with these battery powered airplanes and get back to the old time religion lol.
Recently, I was working with Bob Howard to help him get re-established in Pro Stunt. Not long ago, I designed and renovated my dear and very close friends, Tom and Linda Neihbur's kitchen.

Right now, I am looking for something MUCH more powerful then my 55AX, that's relatively affordable. My 55AX's can go up against just about any 60 size engine out there (trust me, I have some very powerful 60's) but, I don't think it can hang with the big 75 PA's or the Stalker 76's or the Kaz 77's.

I am looking at this one right now.

Andy Lee · « **Reply #20 on:** April 01, 2019, 06:38:37 PM »

Now you got me thinkin'.
Bill Suarez
Jean Pailet
Moses Quintana (65 Nats 5th Place)
Harold Price (62 Nats 4th Place, 65 Nats 3rd Place)

Bob Hunt · « **Reply #21 on:** April 01, 2019, 07:00:23 PM »

...and Freddy Miles, Chipmunk Joe, Bill Eybers, Hank Womble, and Mike Rogers.

Bob Hunt

bob whitney · « **Reply #22 on:** April 01, 2019, 07:53:20 PM »

Jean Pailet is still going strong down here in Florida building and flying Beautifill Free Flight Models

proparc · « **Reply #23 on:** April 01, 2019, 09:14:54 PM »

Quote from: Andy Lee on April 01, 2019, 06:38:37 PM

Now you got me thinkin'.
Bill Suarez
Jean Pailet
Moses Quintana (65 Nats 5th Place)
Harold Price (62 Nats 4th Place, 65 Nats 3rd Place)

Wow, Andy Lee is still alive lol

peabody · « **Reply #24 on:** April 02, 2019, 10:05:01 AM »

Walt Umland also flew at Flushing

Andy Lee · « **Reply #25 on:** April 03, 2019, 04:26:50 PM »

Tom Baffer, owner of Bruckner Hobbies in the Bronx, also flew stunt.

Andy Lee · « **Reply #26 on:** April 04, 2019, 07:10:50 AM »

Quote from: proparc on April 01, 2019, 09:14:54 PM

Wow, Andy Lee is still alive lol

Still alive but getting older by the day, Milton.

proparc · « **Reply #27 on:** April 04, 2019, 08:36:38 AM »

Quote from: Andy Lee on April 04, 2019, 07:10:50 AM

Still alive but getting older by the day, Milton.

I was there the day you brought your plane, that made the cover of Flying Models out to Flushing Meadows Field. I remember the "unique" rudder. If I am not mistaken, I immediately recognized it as being Genesis derived. A lot of planes were back then. Even Gene jumped on the Genesis train. The plane was a stone cold winner. Bob would go on to prove decisively that is was "ALL THAT AND MORE!!