Written by Model Aviation Staff (01/2008); Transcribed by JS (02/2008), Reformatted by JS (02/2010)
Career
- Won the Jim Walker Trophy three times.
- Won at the National Championships five times.
- 1958: Came in third in CL Precision Acrobatics, Senior Class, at the Nats.
- 1959, 1961 and 1962: Won first place in Control Line Stunt, Senior Class at the Nats.
- 1971: Won first place in the Junior-Senior-Open fly off event in Control Line stunt at the Nats.
- 1971: Won first place in CL Aerobatics, Open division, at the Nats.
- 1970: Came in third in CL Aerobatics (Stunt), Open Class, at the Nats.
- Held the Individual World Championship Precision Aerobatic title for the United States on three separate occasions.
- Flew on 16 United States World F2B teams.
- Designed the Ares, USA-1, Juno, Junar, Vulcan, Super Ares, and his famous World Champion semi scale P-47 Thunderbolt.
- Published articles in Model Aviation, American Modeler, and Flying Models
Honors
- 1994, 1995, and 2001: Awarded the Concours Award for the best-appearing model at the AMA Nats.
- 2007: Model Aviation Hall of Fame inductee
Bill Werwage Olmstead Falls, Ohio
Bill Werwage, an aeromodeler since 1948, is probably the most winning Control Line Stunt flier in the history of the hobby. He has won the Jim Walker Trophy three times, the National Championships five times, and the Individual World Championship Precision Aerobatic title for the United States on three separate occasions.
Bill’s interest began as a young boy when his father brought home a stick-type Free Flight model for them to build together. The enjoyment they received from building this model moved Bill to start building anything he could get his hands on, including dime Comet and Cleveland sticktype aircraft and Strombeck solid-balsa shelf models.
His next-door neighbor, Bill Macavenna, introduced Bill to Control Line flying and soon he was competing in the Stunt event with models he designed and built himself.
Aside from his wins, Bill flew to berths on 16 United States World F2B teams. He was also awarded the Concours Award for the best-appearing model at the AMA Nats in 1994, 1995, and 2001. This is an award that is voted on by the competitors themselves.
When he is not winning, Bill is designing and innovating. Some of his legendary designs include the Ares, USA-1, Juno, Junar, Vulcan, Super Ares, and his famous World Champion semi scale P-47 Thunderbolt.
Model Aviation, American Modeler, and Flying Models have published articles written by Bill about his model designs. His most popular design, the 1959 Ares, was kitted by Ambroid in 1962; however, the kit was not a specific match for the 1959 design. In the 1990s, Bill had the proper plans published by AMA and the model kitted by Brodak.
Bill has experimented with various facets of model building products. One such is the carbonfiber tuned pipe. Bill was among the pioneers who brought this technology to fruition in the Stunt event.
He worked with Dean Pappas, Rich Tower, and Bob Hunt to develop the idea for use in the Stunt event, and later began producing the resulting successful AeroPipes for sale along with Randy Smith of Aero Products.
Bill embraced the early I-Beam construction techniques first invented by Bob Dailey. Through many years and many models, he developed the construction technique to the level of fine art. Along with close friend Bob Hunt, Bill produced a popular video program on how to properly build an I-Beam wing, and it is available through Bob’s Robin’s View Productions. In addition to a career in model aviation, Bill is an accomplished professional guitarist. He has played lead guitar for musical artists such as Tiny Tim and Bill Doggett. In his annual participation at the Vintage Stunt Championships, Bill and Bob Hunt entertain audiences at the evening gatherings playing their guitars.
Bob is quick to add that it is Bill who is the true artist. Bill’s musical talent could have taken him far in the music industry, but he chose to focus on competitive flying instead. Another of Bill’s loves is horses. He is a partner in a string of 13 horses and teaches horseback riding. Bill’s father was a noted horse handler in the 1950s and 1960s and Bill is proud to carry on the family tradition.
Bill has truly earned the nickname bestowed upon him by the entire Control Line Stunt fraternity: The Man. His building and flying career has spanned more than six decades and he is still at the top of his game. His third gold medal in the F2B event in 2004 came 32 years after his second win in 1972!
Don’t bet against there being more in the future!
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