This old Jan. 1977 issue, although tattered n' torn...was great reading and viewing has a great cover with our 1976 FAI stunt force.
All the Pomp and Pagenantry of the FAI world Championships is shown on this photo...of our US control line teams in Holland of that year.
Gene Shaffer, Bob Gieske, Bill Werwage, and Les Mcdonald are shown with some of the most beautifully crafted models ever shown. Two Classics and two Jet style.
Les was the big winner..
but this year was the FIRST EVER that all three places in aerobatics was won by a single nation.
Followed by Bill Werwage and Bob Gieske.
Actually if Gene Shaffer had not "flew the triangle out of order" it is very possible that we would have seen a full placed order but the SAVING GRACE was GENE SHAFFER.
Gene Shaffer went out an did what only a couple of others have been able to do---
FLY FOR THE TEAM when you are personally down and out (due to his out of order flight) and have NO HOPE of achieving anything for himself. Gene's score of 2926 was forth highest of the entire meet and deserved more of an award than a mere mention of his own 6th place finish.
It was that kind of flying excellence that team titles are made of...and made memorial.
Photo of Gene's beautiful model that REWROTE THE FAI HISTORY BOOK.
Topic: WHAT A STORY WITH THIS PHOTO (Read 1427 times)