Control Line Aerobatics
Ted Fancher
Miscellaneous ramblings
It occurred to me as I struggled to raise my weary bones out of bed and downstairs to my first caffeine transfusion of the day that I'm not the same starry-eyed youth that I used to be. In fact, I may even qualify as a veteran in this business of flying Stunt as an obsession—or hobby.
I attended my first Nats in 1959 as a Junior, fully expecting to be blown away, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that I could be competitive. Of course, you won't find my name in the archives, as I succumbed to my then-and-future nemesis—engine problems. But such memories! My dream was to see my hero, Bob Palmer, do a Rambo number on the assorted pretenders to his throne as King Stunt. He didn't disappoint; he handily won Open over a large group of competitors. He was flying his new design, the Lark, which was destined to become the second and last version of Thunderbird (last, if you don't count Tom Dixon's Big Bird).
Little did I know that, notwithstanding Bob's victory in Open, my whole concept of flying Stunt was about to be changed as a result of the Walker Cup flyoff. To continue the Rambo analogy, Bob was wasted in the flyoff by a skinny kid in a white T‑shirt flying the prettiest airplane I had ever seen. Billy Werwage, the Senior champ (who, as legend has it, rode to the Nats on a bus holding the original Ares on his lap), was simply devastating. He was clearly the victor in the classic three-man flyoff for National Champion.
I was hooked! You can argue otherwise, but to me that was Stunt at its best: smooth, crisp, beautiful to watch, and an airplane that was beautiful standing still as it was graceful in flight. Everything I've done since has been greatly influenced by the Ares and the way Bill flew it.
Since then I've competed in:
- 13 different Nats
- three PAA team trials
- one World Championship
I've flown against, influenced, and developed opinions about most everybody involved in the modern era of Stunt. Since it's my column, and I feel nostalgic, I'm going to talk about people and things that mean a lot to me. These are the best and brightest — in no particular order. It's one man's opinion.
Most beautiful Stunt design
No contest: the Detroiter designs typified by Werwage's Ares and Steve Wooley's Argus (and later Cobra). Second place? Take your pick of hundreds of beautiful machines, but the Detroiters stand head and shoulders above the pack.
Best flier I've seen who never won the Nats
New York's Gene Schaeffer, especially flying his little .46-powered Hallmark with the three-bladed Tornado nylon prop. He's been second a couple of times—but no banana. He deserved one.
Finest craftsman
Really tough. Stunt probably has more true artisans than any other modeling event. I'd put Mike Dietrich on top of a fine field and by a narrow margin. In fact Mike specializes in Cobras, which might influence me a bit. Ski Dombrowski and Joe Reinhart are certainly in the same league, along with Bob ("Mr. Clean") Gialdini and Dave ("Novi") Gierke of the late Sixties.
Greatest comeback
None can compare to Bobby Hunt's rebound in the rain at the 1976 Ohio Nats. After a so-so first-round flight in the finals, Bob inadvertently backed his Chevy station wagon over the front end of his Genesis doing considerable damage. In the midst of a deluge he appeared at the door of Roger Barrett's motor home begging for a dry spot to repair the damage. I'll never forget Bob's forlorn look and desperate determination as he ventured back into the rain for his final flight—a flight that eventually put his name on the Walker Cup. That's Pro-Stunt, as they say in Jersey.
Most influential voice in Stunt
My vote goes to the fertile field of good and great Stunt pilots from New Jersey, the Garden State Circle Burners (GSCB). They may not always be right, but they sure do get their points across. Or maybe you are one of the seven Stunt pilots in the U.S. who doesn't use an OS FSR engine to hold down your papers in a high wind? (Just kidding, guys!) Foam wings? ST .60s? The search for zero-radius corner parts? GSCB legacy.
Most impressive Stunt ship
It's gotta be Al Rabe's magnificent Sea Fury. I think his last Mustang was a considerably better Stunt ship, but nothing has ever matched the art of excitement that was generated when that massive and capable ship took to the air. An impressive achievement not apt to be duplicated. A close second would be Scott Barr's Stunt Fury, a .60-powered ship whose static thrust was about twice its 46-oz. weight. It never got the exposure it deserved because Scott has never campaigned nationally.
The best Stunt engine
It's gotta be the .46. In the properly-sized airplane, the .46 is ideally suited for the space the rules allow us. Perfectly suited for constant four-cycle operation or easily trimmed to provide a helpful—but controllable—break in the corners. If you've got a good one, you'll be tough to beat.
Not the .60? Frankly, no. The .60's great strength is consistency. Unfortunately, properly-suited airplanes are just too big for a 70-ft. circle. A .60-powered ship is all too often overpowered or appears cramped.
Most deserving of the thanks of their peers
Keith Trostle and Wyn Paul, both of whom contributed so much to the birth of PAMPA. Plaudits must also go to all those who have followed in their footsteps in keeping PAMPA a vital and effective voice for our mutual benefit. It behooves all of us to stay informed on PAMPA activities and politics and to keep energetic and committed people filling those shoes.
Best natural pilot
A tie between two Southern California pilots, Bart Klapinski and Bob Whiteley. Either of these guys can pick up a strange airplane and, within a few laps, usually put its owner to shame. I did see a real threat to their prominence after last year's Walker Cup flyoff. There was some big guy who picked up Dave Cook's "backward" (flew clockwise) airplane and flew it for the first time to a standing ovation from the crowd. I think his name was Aldrich!
Greatest Stunt family
We've had many great ones: the McClellans from California, the Coopers from Florida, the Giffords from New England, etc. However, there is just no contest when the name of Aamodtian arises. Big Art, Betty, the boys (Archie, David, Allan, and Denny), and the constant glimmer in Art's eye; beautiful Marie. They are a family who—what else can I say?—classic, championship flying, design innovation, personal skills used unstintingly on behalf of other modelers in the production of engines, mufflers, etc., and an unending willingness to do anything to promote Stunt and Stunt people make the Aamodtians a class act without equal. We're lucky to have them.
Most influential Stunt design
I'm not crazy! What else but the Nobler? There are others deserving of mention — the Zliches, Lou Andrews' Barnstormer, Palmer's Smoothie and T-Bird, the Detroiters, Gialdini's Stingray, and so on. But, in the final analysis, nothing so typifies all that is fundamentally sound in Stunt design as the Nobler.
I gave a good Nobler to any one of the top dozen fliers in the country; within a week he could fly it competitively at the Nats! That's not old-fashioned, that's just fashioned right.
The hardest maneuver
Surprise! It's not the Hourglass. The Overhead Eight is probably the most consistently poorly-flown maneuver in the pattern. Lack of reference points makes even some of the best look foolish. A handful of fliers seem to make them look easy... I ain't one of them.
Scariest maneuver
Here's the Hourglass. The last corner, especially in a wind, really separates the men from the boys... and some of the boys from their breakfasts! Bring lots of guts and a good airplane.
Finest gentleman
Almost without exception, I could put the name of any Stunt flier I've met here. There are a couple, however, who typify what being a member of the human fraternity and a good Stunt flier is all about — as well as exemplifying the term "Southern Gentleman." Remel Cooper and Dave Hemstrought, two class acts who just might also blow your doors off in competition... always with a disarming "Guess I was kinda lucky today" smile on their faces.
Most consistently exceptional flier
This has got to be Bob Gieseke. His record is nearly untouchable. Five Walker Cups and a World Championship over three decades speak for themselves. The one exception to Bob's near-preeminence is Billy Werwage. Three Walker Cups and two World Championships over four decades is an equally impressive record. If there is an award for "Mr. Stunt," these two would have to arm-wrestle for it.
Are these two, then, my best ever? Well, no. That entirely subjective title would have to go to "Mr. Shirt of Stars" himself: Les McDonald. Even though his record—certainly impressive with three World Championships and a Walker Cup—may be ever-so-slightly less substantial than that of Billy and Bob, it is the subjective element, so unique to Control Line Stunt, that in my mind puts Les in a class by himself.
Les had the whole package put together. His magnificent Stilettoes—clearly identifiable as "Les" ships—are incredible beauties and in fact won Les a Concours d'Elegance award at one Nats. He had a finely-honed relationship with Stan Powell which he used to good advantage to provide not only spectacular Stunt engines but also the impression of a team effort.
The impression he projected was always one of a gentleman engaged in an activity in which he desired to excel, but for which he would never compromise his integrity or his sense of humor. Who could ever forget his shouted warning to the judges at the 1979 Walker flyoff as he entered the Four-Leaf Clover in a howling wind? You shoulda been there! No whining or bitching from Les. Only a consistent performance with all the parts in the right places. He knew how to play the game, and that, as much as flying the pattern, is the name of the game.
It's one man's opinion.
Note on OS-40FP availability
I got a note from Big Art Aamodtian indicating that he has finally satisfied himself that the new OS-40FP (as modified by himself) is a viable stunt power plant, and that he is now making them available for sale. Art is the guru of lapped-piston OS engines. His earlier, modified .35s are considered collector's items today... except for those which are still flying Stunters after hundreds of flights.
Art's modifications are extensive and not cheap. He is asking $130 per copy, including an impressive example of Big Art's custom mufflers. Call him at (313) 291-5079 for details.
Ted Fancher 158 Flying Cloud Isle Foster City, CA 94404
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
